The signing of the peace accord by Presidential Candidates seems yet another overrated farce in the myriad of charades and melodramas heralding the 2019 polls.
This, to say the least, is placing the cart before the horse, as certain prerequisites ought to have been fulfilled before proceeding to invite parties to sign a peace accord.
It is realistic to say that the foundation of peace is justice, and peace precipitated on injustice is a mirage which will always leave one party subdued, oppressed and dissatisfied. Therefore, genuine peace can only thrive upon the premise of justice, equity and mutual respect.
It is against this backdrop that I firmly posit that the following must be guaranteed to ensure transparency, equity and fairplay in the conduct of the forthcoming general elections, as a requisite for real peace:
1. Mandatory use of card reader
2. Abolition of incidence form.
3. An undertaking by the security agencies not to interfere or take sides, as they did in the recently conducted Ekiti and Osun elections.
4. An undertaking or commitment from INEC to remain neutral in all circumstances.
5. Most importantly, a public admonition to all actors in the electoral process to desist from all forms of electoral malpractices and an undertaking by Mr President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces not to use his office to wield undue advantage to his candidacy, and to submit to whatever the outcome of a freely and fairly conducted polls will be.
Only thereafter, at a point where all parties must have gained reasonable confidence in the electoral process and the incumbent powers, would a peace accord suffice as a mere symbolism.
#myopinion
Egbede Jarigbe.
No comments:
Post a Comment