The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Monday called on the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent Electoral Commission in Taraba State to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections without being inconclusive across the state.
The State Chairman of CAN, Rev. Magaji Jirape made the call during the signing of the 1st Taraba State peace accord ahead of the 2023 general elections organized by the Kukah Centre and Taraba-based Independent Peace Committee held at the Catholic Centre, mile six Jalingo.
Represented by Bishop Isaac Phillips, Jirape said “the REC in the end of his speech said and I quote “sorry for this inconclusive speech” therefore, we hope the REC will ensure that the elections are conclusive and we pray it will be peaceful,” the chairman added.
The CAN Chairman also called on the people of the state to avoid fighting during and after elections in the name of any Candidate.
“Elections would come and go but we will still remain together. If any politician come and tell you to fight, tell him to bring his children to do the fighting together.
“Most politicians, their children are staying in overseas while they want to use our children to fight for them, let us not agree and be careful with such politicians”, Jirape warned.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by a Director, Emmanuel Kanta, said that the Committee is working with the INEC and the IGP, Usman Baba Alkali in ensuring peace during and after the elections in the country.
Kanta who also represented the Convener of the NPC, Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah as well as the Head Secretariat of the Kukah Centre, Rev. Father Attah Barkindo at the occasion appreciated the Taraba State Peace Committee, stakeholders and traditional rulers for their hard work in ensuring peace during and after the elections.
“We are reminded that we need peace, for even the elections, without peace, it cannot take place and after election results are announced, Politicians should accept the results in good faith for peace to rain.
“We need peace in Taraba State and the country at large,” Abubakar emphasized.
According to him, politicians use religions and ethnicity to divide the country and urged Nigerians not to listen to such politicians for they are out to cause chaos.
Also speaking, the Taraba State INEC Residents Electoral Commissioner, Umar Muktar said though he was not expected to speak at the occasion but an instant speech were made by the Head of Voter Education and Publicity of the Commission in the state and he reads in parts:
“As we draw near the 2023 General Elections, the need for a greater synergy and collaboration with critical stakeholders in the electoral process becomes more imperative.
“This is to say that the statutory responsibility of the Commission to conduct elections to elect credible leaders to steer the ship of leadership of the country cannot be done by the INEC alone. This explains why relevant stakeholders have pivotal roles to play is the execution of the electoral process,” he said.
On his part, the Taraba State Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council IPAC, Hon. Koria Tafarki called on parents not to allow their children to be use as thugs and urged candidates bear in mind that in every contest there must be a winner and loser, while he commended the organizers for their effort.
The theme was: Deepening Stakeholders Participation and Amplifying Voices of Citizens for a Peaceful 2023 General Elections in Taraba State.
The essence of the event, according to the Chairman of Taraba Peace Committee, Prof. Talla Ngarka was to enable all the candidates “to commit themselves to peace before, during, and after the elections.”
Ngarka said it was also aimed at identifying issues capable of disrupting peaceful elections in the state and factoring ways of preventing such possible occurrence.
The ceremony was witnessed by some of the Governorship candidates, some party Chairmen, Traditional Rulers, NCWS among other key stakeholders.
