THE Conference of Minority Tribes in Nigeria has expressed displeasure over what it described as inflammatory comments and negative activities of some politicians ahead of the 2015 general elections.
The organisation condemned threat by various groups to make the country ungovernable if their candidates do not win the forthcoming election.
Speaking in Abuja Sunday, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi Shagari, the Coordinator of the conference, described the recent attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign train in Katsina and Bauchi states as unwarranted.
He said the twin events are signs that ethnic bigots are footing plans to visit the peace of the nation with violence and untold hardship based on their presumed outcome of the 2015 general elections.
“In as much as Nigerians and observers of our democracy have unequivocally condemned the unwarranted attack on the campaign train of President Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi states, we will be fast to commend the peace summit organised by the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, knowing fully well that more than 200 ex-militants attended the meeting, at a time that members of the Ijaw Youth Council were threatening retaliating attacks on General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said
The group said Nigerians must learn from history as Boko Haram which has caused the nation grievous national damage is still believed by many to be a product of inflammatory comments by northern leaders to make Nigeria ungovernable should Jonathan win in 2011.
“Nigerians are not in anyway in doubt about the capacity of these repentant militants to resume kidnapping of expatriates, shutting down of oil infrastructure, vandalism of government properties, bombings and other acts of hostilities. Morality must prevail on every actor within the political space that Nigeria does not belong to any particular group,” he said.
Similarly, a non-governmental organization, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) has charged Nigerians to refrain from actions that pose a threat to the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
Speaking at the ‘Say no campaign’ in Lagos, the guest speaker at the rally, Mr. Ezenwayi Nzeagwu, noted that a violence-free election can only be attained if all Nigerians will learn to stop all actions that threaten their neighbours .
According to him, “there are two levels of violence, the first one is the institutional violence when people can’t access their PVC , and when they have registered but they can’t get their voters card.
