In a move targeted at dousing tension in the country, the leaders of the National Peace Committee (NPC) met with former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja yesterday. The closed-door meeting was held in Atiku’s Asokoro residence.
Former military Head of State and Chairman of the NPC, Gen. ; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah and other members of the group were present.
The meeting was convened barely 24 hours after Atiku rejected the outcome of the presidential elections
Shortly after the meeting, Abdusalami said the mission of the committee was to douse the tension that was rising as an aftermath of the presidential election.
2019 elections: CBN to monitor banks’ lending to politicians
Atiku’s running mate, Peter Obi; Senate President Bukola Saraki; PDP Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and other PDP leaders were also in attendance.
Others in the meeting included Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Rev. Fr Atta Barkindo of the NPC Secretariat.
On Wednesday, Atiku had declared his intention to challenge the outcome of last Saturday’s presidential election in court.
To also ensure peace, the presidency yesterday cautioned supporters of Buhari against anything that could incite the opposition to anger as they celebrate his election victory.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, gave the charge immediately after he met with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He also urged candidates for the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections to ensure that the polls are devoid of crisis.
President Buhari Pledges Proactive Steps to End Illegal Tax Collections
Enang, who congratulated Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on emerging victorious at the polls, appealed to all those celebrating the success to be temperate and humble so as not to provoke the already aggrieved opposition.
He specifically told the senators-elect and the elected members of the House of Representatives to prevail on their supporters to work more at fostering unity with those who lost the elections.
“I will advise that all the governorship candidates and the House of Assembly candidates who are going in for the elections should measure their campaign words and should maintain peace better than was maintained in the presidential and National Assembly elections,” he said.
Enang warned that in the forthcoming elections, there might be hostilities largely because the positions being contested are closer to the people.
Source: Guardian Newspaper
