The Federal Government has once again reacted to comments credited to a former Head of State, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, on the 2015 general election and Boko Haram, saying there is need for civility in the conduct of politicians and all Nigerians.
It said that the peace and security of Nigeria should not be toyed with by anyone, irrespective of status.
The position of the Federal Government was made known by the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Maku said that there is the need to weigh the consequences of violence in politics as being preached by Buhari.
He also urged the media not to promote such statements as “the peace and security of Nigeria is not the foundation upon which anybody can play politics….”
Maku said: “The media is fellow stakeholders in maintaining peace in the nation.
“I believe it will be very good for the media itself to launch a campaign for peace in Nigerian politics for decorum, for good governance and for everything we do in our polity.
“I believe if individual politicians make statements that you believe is volatile, then it is important for the media to take them up and make them part of national discourse such that every politician will come to understand that the nation is greater than our ambitions.
“That the peace and security of Nigeria is not the foundation upon which anybody can play politics and that the safety of every Nigerian is the reason why we seek leadership and therefore it is important to begin a national orientation to begin a campaign for peace in our land.
“We all know the consequences of violence in politics.
“We all know the consequences of lives lost in pursuit of ambitions and the nation is going through a period now that is critical and important that all of us who are critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project should weigh whatever we say such that it would aid national unity, national development and will aid peace particularly now in Northern Nigeria.
“Any statement that is made not only by politicians, all Nigerians have a duty to ensure greater peace, greater civility in our polity because civility is important.
“The different between democracy and other forms of government is that democracy is civil.
“Democracy talks about the rule of law, it does not talk about violence.
“In no major nations of the world will politicians or parties urge people to go and fight in polling stations or defend their votes or threaten violence because democracy is civility.
“Where you have difficulties, the law provides for you to go to court to enforce your rights.
“In fact, more importantly, we are in politics to develop a country. Without peace and security, you cannot develop any country.
“Those of us who live in the Northern part of the country are seeing the consequences of violence, we are seeing the consequences of lack of peace in our community.
“At this time, it is not about the Federal Government.
“It is the responsibility of all Nigerians, particularly those that God has elevated to positions of responsibility in the polity.
“We should do everything to ensure peace.
“Everything that emanates from us should reflect the presence of God, should reflect the presence of good attributes that children can copy, should reflect something that we can train our children to see the reason for peace, integration, harmony and orderliness in the conduct of our affairs.”