The National Peace Committee (NPC) has pledged to forward security concerns raised by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to the police and other security agencies ahead of the state’s governorship election scheduled for August 15.
Chairman of the committee’s delegation and former Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onayekan, disclosed this on Thursday during the symbolic signing of the Peace Accord in Osogbo.
Speaking at the event, Cardinal Onayekan said the committee had earlier paid a courtesy visit to Governor Adeleke, who expressed concerns over the security situation ahead of the election.
“Earlier, we paid a courtesy call to His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State. I must say he expressed strong concerns and anxieties, which we shall also pass on to the relevant authorities, especially the police and the other security agents,” he said.
He explained that the National Peace Committee’s role was to encourage political parties and candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and in accordance with the law, noting that elections are temporary while the unity and stability of the state must endure.
“In every race, in every election, somebody will win, others will lose. That is normal. Life will continue,” he said.
Cardinal Onayekan also stressed that the peaceful conduct of the election would depend not only on political actors but also on the professionalism and impartiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.
“The security agents are there to secure all of us, not to secure any political party or anybody. It is absolutely important that they try their best to be professional in what they do and to be completely impartial,” he added.
Fourteen governorship candidates were invited to sign the Peace Accord. Representatives of 13 political parties attended the event, while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, was absent.
The committee’s delegation included retired General Martins Agwai, representing former Head of State and National Peace Committee Chairman, General Abdulsalami Abubakar; Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; Reverend Attah Barkindo; INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN; and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Fasuba Olabode, who represented the Inspector-General of Police.
Concluding his remarks, Cardinal Onayekan urged all stakeholders to sustain peace before, during and after the election.
“During this period, until August 15, let there be peace. And after August 15, let there be peace and prosperity. May peace and prosperity be upon Osun State, upon our country Nigeria, and upon our whole world,” he said.
