Country Director of Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, has cautioned religious leaders to stop making statements that are capable of causing tension in Nigeria Ahmed of the May 29 inauguration. Reverend Hayab said, there is nowhere anybody stops inauguration of people that have been duly declared as winners by the electoral body, adding that, what is allowed by the law, is that, anyone that is aggrieved goes to court to seek redress.
The Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria Country Director stated this in Kaduna while addressing a sensitization meeting organized for religious leaders in Kaduna State against the rising tension ahead of the May 29 inauguration. Speaking further at the meeting tagged: ‘The Role of Faith Leaders in Dousing Post -Election Tension’, Rev. Hayab said, Global Peace Foundation in understanding and appreciation of the role of religious leaders in speaking to their followers, put the engagement together.
“We have just come out of a tensed election. Global Peace Foundation through the support of KVI and Republican Institute, is working with these religious leaders to douse tension before and during the elections. Now that the elections are over, we also feel that we should meet with them to make sure that the atmosphere remains peaceful before and during the inauguration.
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“We have tried to speak to ourselves to clear the air on some of the misgivings, the misconceptions and misrepresentations that are going on out there. Nobody stops inauguration of anybody that has been declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) according to our laws.
“So, we are simply saying that religious leaders must not make statements that will cause tension, and those who also twist the words of religious leaders as we have seen with one of our respected religious leaders, we warn them not to do that.
“What we want is that, those who have gone to court should pursue their case in court and if the court rules in their favour, good. Those who have been announced as the winners at the moment should be allowed to be inaugurated. So that, they will continue; this country must move on, we will respect the rules, we will also promote peace.
“So, we must respect the rule of law and promote peace, so if at the end of the day, the court rules that the person that was inaugurated on the 29th May is not the winner, he will vacate the seat. So, there is no need for counter accusations, attacks on each other and killings,” Hayab queried.
One of the religious leaders at the event and Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna State, Alhaji Ibrahim Kufena, said, as religious leaders, the need to preach peace and unity of the country to their followers becomes more paramount than ever before.
Also, in his own remarks, Kaduna State Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Caleb Maaji said outcome of any election can never be accepted by all since people had preferences during the elections, but once elections are over, the will of God must be allowed to prevail.
The plaintiffs are further seeking a declaration that no candidate in the February 25 presidential election may validly be sworn in as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, without such candidate having obtained 25percent of the votes case in FCT, Abuja.
It was learnt that the case has been assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo who has scheduled Monday for its initial mention.
(Nation)
