The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Friday in Abuja, urged President Goodluck Jonathan and retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to jointly broadcast a message, assuring Nigerians of their commitment to peaceful elections.
The NHRC said that Jonathan, presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, for next month’s presidential election, should assure Nigerians of peaceful contest.
Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman of NHRC Governing Council, who spoke while presenting a report, said the two candidates should send the message telling Nigerians that the poll is a contest between brothers.
The report is entitled: “Pre-election Report and Advisory on Violence in Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections,” Odinkalu said that “The NHRC wants the candidates of the two leading political parties to speak to Nigerians.
“We want them to jointly record a message to Nigerians saying this election is between brothers and sisters and not a war.
“We want the message to be in such a way that all the telecommunication networks will make sure that the message is on the phone of every Nigerian,” Odinkalu said.
Odinkalu said the essence of the message was to send a clear signal to both Nigerians and the international community that Nigerians were capable of conducting elections without killing each other.
The chairman also called on Nigerians to desist from castigating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), its chairman and staff, both in the conventional and social media.
“Nigerians must stop tarnishing the image of Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC and its staff. Election managers must be respected and prayed for.”
According to Odinkalu, if Nigerians continue to tarnish the image of Jega, INEC and its staff, it can lead to electoral violence because people will not have confidence in them and doubt whatever result they announce.
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