Former Ambassador to the Republic of Chad, Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki The Executive Director, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD,) and former Ambassador to the Republic of Chad, Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki, has said politicians, rather than the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), must be held responsible for the steady descent into chaos and instability across the nation. Omaki stated this while speaking at an event organised by the Centre in Abuja. According to him, “We are concerned about the political developments in Ekiti and Nasarawa States as reported by several media outfits. It is obvious that the antics of some politicians are causing the steady descent into chaos and instability of Nigeria. Politicians must remember that what is at stake here is Nigeria’s safety and survival and indeed the welfare and wellbeing of her people and not the interests of a few. “The Centre calls on the two sides to the Ekiti political debacle, as well as what is becoming an intractable political problem in Nasarawa State, to give peace a chance and not allow the interests of a few to return the country to the early experience of 1960s.” Omaki stated that the drama currently playing out in Nasarawa and Ekiti States “clearly depicts that the attitude of our political class is one of the greatest threats to national stability and peaceful 2015 elections. We must understand that building Nigeria is a collective duty for all Nigerians which must be placed above ambitions of particular individuals or parties. “It is indeed a difficult period for the nation in the light of the reprehensible mayhem being meted out by the insurgents upon innocent Nigerians, the economic effect of global oil price drop, high levels of unemployment, insecurity and a general air of uncertainty and fear around the socio-political future of Nigeria now and after the elections in February 2015. Political parties must play by the rules and respect the Constitution and end impunities immediately.” He added that the current security and political architecture of Nigeria paints a very precarious picture requiring carefully calibrated actions that would ensure that Africa’s largest economy is not plunged into a state of preventable chaos and anarchy. “The attitude of the political class portrays that of lack of concern, understanding and sense of patriotism while showing, alarming levels of total disregards for the rule of law, the constitution and disrespect for the people they claim to represent,” he said. He said, “The Centre observes that, while Nigeria’s brand of democracy is tilted more to the American model of presidential democracy, clearly there is a departure from this model as constantly depicted by the quantum of Lawlessness being exhibited by Nigerian politicians all over the nation and all these undoubtedly remain a great source of concern for the peaceful elections in 2015 and stability of Nigeria beyond it. Omaki also called on the security agencies, particularly the Police, to be mindful of their constitutional roles in the discharge of their national responsibilities to Nigeria and Nigerians not to politicians. “To be seen doing otherwise would be tantamount to taking side and not being helpful to a Nation in urgent need for justice and equity. We also call on INEC to handle the issues of PVCs and registration of new voters urgently and to also address complaints by voters, regarding mass-missing or non-availability of PVCs in several Local Government Councils across the nation. “We appeal to our former presidents and our respected traditional and religious leaders across the nation to rise to the occasion to halt the madness that is creeping into our body politics and save our dear country and its citizens from anarchy,” he said.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 06:26:57 +0000
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