By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Executive Director CISLAC, a non governmental organization, Alhaji Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), has commended the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) of Nigeria and allied unions for facilitating the signing and adoption of peace accord in some local government areas of Borno State, despite obstacles.
He also called on all security agents. religious , political, tribal, traditional, civil society, students, traders, unions, associations, clubs and chapters leaders to mobilize their members and subjects for peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election in Nigeria.
The Director who this yesterday at a press conference with at the Conference Hall of Barware Luxury Hotels Kano road Maiduguri.
Represented by the Special Programme Officer, CISLAC, Mr. Solomon Adoga, he noted that the organization has been working in collaboration the Jama’atu Nasril Islam of Nigeria and funded by the European Union in all the LGAs of the state and other states of the federation, to ensure successful adoption and endorsement of a peace accord for a credible, free, fair, smooth and acceptable general election.
According to him, the organization has also concluded arrangements with the JNI for the training of Election Conflict Areas Trackers who will work in conjunction with the security agents and INEC officials towards a successful and peaceful election at all the nooks and crannies of the country as plans are underway to recruit 15 trackers and about 30 observers in each state of the federation.
”The importance of peace in the overall conduct of a free, fair, credible and participatory elections cannot be over-emphasized. It is the guarantee of peaceful conduct of elections that guarantees the participation of citizens, especially women, the elderly and people living with disabilities.
”Moreso, in places where insecurity has prevailed, the need to guarantee citizens of a peaceful election becomes even more imperative. It is in line with this that we commend profoundly the various efforts championed by our partners Jamá’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) at the local government level that has brought about signing of the electoral peace accord in some local governments of the state.
”It is expected that Borno State would initiate the process which brings together the political gladiators and the political parties beyond the local government level commitments to agree to a pact which binds them to upholding the peaceful conduct of the election through-out the electioneering period.
”While it may seem that the elections are already by the corner, it is not too late a time to put this together, especially as lessons can be drawn from the various commitments in some of the LGAs.
“As has been noted at the national level as well as in many states of the federation, peace accords have become very useful and critical tool to upholding peaceful conducts of election stakeholders.
”’The tendencies for political campaigns and other electioneering activities to stoke up violence are usually very high in democracies like ours. Drawing from these experiences, stakeholders have felt the need organize and mobilize for peace agreements.
“For instance, in the run up to the 2015 general election, when the political climate was at a burning degree, the National Peace Accord stepped up to commit the presidential parties to peace agreements, with some of the provisions of the agreement being the commitment to prevail on their respective supporters to maintain peace in their activities.
”The aftermath of that election brought about one of the most historic democratic power transitions in Africa.
“Since then, the process has continued to be improved upon, with the political parties now brought into the frame, while states are also adopting same measure at that level.
”While we again, note that stakeholders in Borno have been working and have completed the process is some LGAs, we are by this brief requesting for a state-wide peace accord on the 2023 elections should be entered into in the state.
”We urge the state to emulate the National Peace Accord, as well as the various peace agreements as has been entered into by several states of the country .
”The European Union through the EU-SDGN2 project and our consortium partners which include Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and SOS Children’s Villages as well as our partners in Borno State are all desirous of a peaceful conclusion of the 2023 elections in Borno state and pledge our commitment to support the process,” Auwal said.
