A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on
Sunday warned that Nigeria could not afford to bungle the 2015 general
elections because the international community was watching the country.
Obasanjo spoke at a public enlightenment
programme on the electoral process, organised by the Organisation of
Tadhamunul Muslimeen and the Ogun State chapter of The Muslim Congress.
The programme held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
The former president said, “The elections
are crucial and the international community is watching us. We should
not disappoint them, by ensuring that the elections are free and fair.
“This election is for progress and
development of this great country and should be devoid of sentiments,
like religion, ethnic and nepotism.
“This election should be a unity election for all of us.”
He said all eyes would also be on the
Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria Police to
ensure free and fair elections, characterised by prompt arrival of
materials and provision of adequate security where necessary.
He said, “We must not make the mistake of
allowing the international community to make jest of us; as such, those
we want to beg are the Independent National Electoral Commission, who
had just told us here on how the process would go, to assure us that it
shall be well.
“You must be fully prepared. You must be
up and doing. No excuses. You know all the terrain very well; there
should be no delay and late arrival of voting materials.
“Where you are going to use boat to ferry
on the water you know it, where it is going to be bicycle, you know it.
So, there should be no unnecessary delay.
“A situation where somebody at Eggua will
be phoning at 11am that they are still expecting materials will be
unacceptable. A situation where the police will be telling us no fuel to
move will be unacceptable.”
Obasanjo, who was represented by Chief
Idowu Akanle, stressed the need for Nigerians to protect the integrity
of the country with their votes, “so that we could also be like
countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirate where there
was order in governance.”
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