The National Peace Committee (NPC) has called on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congess (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and others to stop the open insults and verbal attacks they have launched on one another in the ongoing campaigns for votes in the February elections.
The NPC, on Friday, returned the presidential candidates and their parties to another round-table peace talk during which they were made to sign a fresh commitment to the peace pact they earlier signed ahead of the polls.
The co-chairman of the peace committee and former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, advised the presidential candidates to stop overheating the polity and causing tension in the country.
General Abdulsalami expressed concern that Nigerians are disturbed over the likely outcome of the forthcoming general elections due to their fear that the polls might be inconclusive and marred by violence.
He urged the candidates to stick to issues-based campaigns, and refrain from mudslinging and other inciting comments that heat up the polity.
The warning came amid the lingering caustic altercations among presidential candidates, particularly from the camps of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Atiku Abubakar.
The two presidential hopefuls have been at loggerheads since the commencement of the campaigns for the 2023 polls, attacking each other with vituperations in the ongoing credibility battle.
At the meeting with the candidates and national chairmen of their parties, Abdulsalami said Nigerians must be free to be able to elect the leaders of their choice.
“Our intention is to hear from the presidential aspirants themselves and see how we can rally all our people to ensure that all citizens are able to elect the leaders of their choice.
“It is impossible to have all contestants into one room and so, we hope that whatever we discuss here affects all contestants in these elections.
“On the 29th September 2022, the NPC invited all the presidential candidates and they all signed a Peace Accord at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, but the verbal war between the presidential candidates has been heating up the polity.
“You may also recall that we placed advertisements in all major newspapers and the social media calling on all presidential candidates to be mindful of the concerns of Nigerians, on such issues are the need to use temperate language, avoid raising the tone of violence and to conduct themselves in a manner that does not undermine the electoral process.”
General Abdulsalami said the meeting was to listen to the accusations and counter accusations.
“We are not here to trade blame but to raise issues and concerns so that the forum can explore the best means of resolving the concerns.
“I appeal to you all to be moderate in your language, show respect to the views and concerns of one another and listen to the concerns expressed. We are not here to find out who is wrong, but what is wrong and to see how to correct it.
“We are pleased that there are measurable improvements, and that INEC is assuring us that it has resolved some of the areas that have often caused violence.
“The security agencies have also continued to give us assurances. Our hope is that you can raise your areas of concerns and let us see what can be done to instill confidence in this process,” he said.
General Abdulsalami also called on Nigerians to take the forthcoming general elections seriously.
He said it would be the only way they could contribute to its success.
“I want to appeal to all Nigerians to appreciate the seriousness and significance of these elections. We have gone through many difficulties and survived them.
“The purpose of this initiative by the peace committee is to build up the confidence of our people in the electoral process and to ensure that we do all that is possible to ensure that these very crucial elections are successful.”