A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Nigerian Peace Advocates has faulted calls for Interim National Government to take over from the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The group, which included Citizens for Development and Education (CDE) and Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), said this at a news conference in Abuja.
Spokesperson for the group, Ibrahim Waiya, Executive Director, CDE, said it was unfortunate that some politicians had resorted to unguarded statements following the outcome of the 2023 General Election which was not in their favour.
Waiya said it was important for politicians to apply restraint in their utterances, particularly as Nigeria was going through a critical period of democratic transition.
He called on media to exercise restraint on all broadcast in the interest of peace and national unity.
The executive director urged media practitioners in Nigeria to avoid any form of broadcast capable of creating confusion and or aggravating the country’s fragile security situation.
“It is important for the media to x-ray all contents before airing to avoid the Rwanda experience in Nigeria.
“Nigerians should not fall into the trap of any sentiments to serve the interest of any desperate and greedy political leader.
“Also, all aggrieved politicians should stick to legal process for redress as provided by our legal system.
“They should desist from threatening, intimidating and discrediting the same system they seek to serve,” he said.
Waiya called on international organisations and communities to exercise restraint in submitting to the sentiments of some politicians, who were hell bent on destabilising the country.
“Nigeria direly needs the support of its friends at this critical time of transition to salvage our nascent democracy in the interest of Africa’s stability and the world at large.”
He advised the President-elect, Bola Tinubu to run an all-inclusive government to give a sense of belonging to all groups and affiliations in the country.
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
