POLLS: BUHARI DISOWNS RIOTERS: The defeated candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in Saturday’s Presidential election, Maj.- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has distanced himself…

Posted by admin NNP Spotlight Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

The defeated candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in Saturday’s Presidential election, Maj.- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has distanced himself, the CPC and its supporters from the violence that rocked some northern statess.

The violence started on Sunday when results of the poll showed that President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party was coasting to victory.

Scores of people were either killed or injured while houses, including the family home of Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, were torched by the rioters.

The British Broadcasting Corporation quoted the Red Cross on Tuesday as saying that some 16,000 people were displaced in six of the states where the violence occurred.

Pockets of the mayhem were reported in Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto states on Tuesday. Over 100 suspected rioters were arrested in Katsina and more than 49 others in Sokoto.

Media reports have said that the rioters were the supporters of one of the political parties whose candidate lost in the presidential election.

But Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, condemned the violence as “totally unwarranted.”

He said, “In the last 24 hours, there has been a spate of violence across certain parts of the country. What started mainly as a political protest reportedly included the burning of worship places.

“It is a sad, unfortunate and totally unwarranted development. I must say that this dastardly act is not initiated by any of our supporters and therefore cannot be supported by our party.

“I must emphasise that this is purely a political matter, and it should not in any way be turned into an ethnic, religious or regional one.”

Also on Tuesday, the Netherlands as well as religious groups and leaders flayed the violence and advised that political differences should not lead to bloodshed and division along ethnic and religious lines.

Some of the religious groups and leaders are the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, the League of Imams and Alfas and the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Makinde.

They also enjoined those behind the mayhem to sheathe their swords in the interest of the nation.

Admitting that disagreement was natural and a core ingredient of democracy, they pointed out that the resort to violence was a travesty of religious teachings and a betrayal of our faith.

NIREC, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator Secretary, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on behalf of its Co-chairmen, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said the riots which resulted in deaths and destruction in the affected states were very disappointing.

It appealed to aggrieved Nigerians to explore constitutional means of seeking redress rather than taking laws into their hands.

The group said, “It is our opinion that at this stage of our socio-political history, we should be able to address our differences when they arise in a civilised manner without bloodletting.

“As the whole world is watching us, let us be mindful of our actions and reactions. At a point that many observers are commending a general improvement, largely in the conduct of our elections, even if still not 100 per cent perfect, it is unfortunate that a sad commentary is being scripted through the eruption of violence and carnage among our fellow citizens.”

The group urged political leaders to exercise restraint in their actions and utterances and called on governments at all levels to be alive to their responsibilities.

It also appealed to security agencies to be more vigilant and firm in discharging their constitutional duties.

The statement expressed the readiness of NIREC alongside other civil society groups in the country to mediate in the crisis, through dialogue

Also, the League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Edo and Delta states condemned the post-election riots, saying that, “Nigerians must eschew violence and support constituted authorities in line with divine injunctions.”

The league, in a statement by its president, Sheik Mustafa Ajisafe, described the emergence of Jonathan as “God-ordained.”

Makinde, in a statement by the Media and Public Relations Officer of the church, Rev. Oladapo Daramola, urged aggrieved parties to seek constitutional means of expressing their grievances.

He said, “The news filtering in since the conclusion of the presidential election, especially in the North is disheartening and shocking. We have worked so hard to move this nation beyond this manner of barbaric and insensitive actions which only portend danger for our democracy and unity and if not stopped could set us back as a country.

“There is need for this madness to stop immediately and I urge our security agencies to do everything to nip the crisis in the bud before it further escalates.”

Also on Tuesday, former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, described the violence as primitive.

Babangida, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Kasim Afegbua, urged Nigerians to shun uncivilised conduct such as violence, religious intolerance and killing in the name of politics.

The former dictator also congratulated Jonathan on his victory at the presidential poll, describing it as “a collective victory for the country.”

In Abuja, the Netherlands, through its Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Bent Rohaar, said that post-election violence was inimical to democracy.

Rohaar, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, urged aggrieved politicians and their supporters to seek legitimate means to express their grievances.

He stated that the violence was counter-productive and could retard gains of democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, the police in Sokoto State has confirmed the arrest of 39 persons in connection with the riot in the state.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Solomon, who spoke with journalists, added that more suspects were picked up for participating in fresh violence in Sokoto on Tuesday.

“We had earlier arrested 39 suspects during the beginning of the protests around 9 pm on Sunday. Around midday today (Tuesday) again, a group of some hoodlums also began the protests in some parts of the city and its environs. We have also arrested some of them who will soon be charged to the courts,” Solomon added.

-Punchwp_posts