A TOP Islamic organisation in the North, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged both President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to accept the outcome of the election in good faith in order to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
In the same vein, the Sultan called on other political office seekers to avoid any political wrangling that may plunge the nation into crisis during the polls.
In a statement by the JNI Secretary General, Sheikh Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the Sultan remarked: “JNI implores the political gladiators to take the outcome in good faith and be sportsmanly,” saying: “This is so because, if Allah spares our lives, we shall witness many more elections in Nigeria.
“The polity should not be overheated and the fragile peace in Nigeria should not be jeopardised. All forms of irregularities should be appropriately directed to the competent courts of law, which is in tandem with best-known practices across the globe.
“In the same vein, all Jumu’ah mosques Imams are implored to centre their respective Khutbah-sermons for this coming Friday, March 27 on violence free election and offer special prayers to that effect.”
JNI also called on parents, guardians and other stakeholders to monitor their children and wards before, during and after the elections.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Arewa community in Lagos, Alhaji Kabiru Ahmed, has alleged that thugs suspected to be Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters were behind recent attack on Hausas in Lagos State.
However, reacting to the allegation, Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, said it was a sponsored blackmail by the APC and challenged the party to provide proof.
Ahmed, who disclosed this yesterday while addressing newsmen at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Lagos, said that the attacks weres a result of the support given by Arewa to the APC in the coming general elections.
According to him, “Since we had the mega rally at the Agege Township Stadium, there have been incessant attacks on Arewa people in Lagos.”
Gani said: “APC is jittery because of the elections, they are the ones killing themselves. They should leave us out of it, we are more concerned about the coming polls”
still on the election, an Igbo group under the aegis of Association for the Defence of Igbo Interest in Lagos (ADIIL) has called on Igbo indigenes not to be deceived by the PDP that their interest will be protected if Jonathan is re-elected.
While addressing journalists in Lagos, Chairman of the group, Prof. Chris Nwaokobia said the PDP-led Federal Government is frantically inciting Ndigbo to fight their hosts, the Yoruba for selfish interest of winning the election.
