The former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Anan, says Nigeria faces critical tests in the days ahead but is confident the nation will overcome.
Anan made the statement in Abuja on Wednesday during a one-day election sensitisation workshop organised by the Inter Party Advisory Council in collaboration with international development partners.
He said: “If Nigeria does well, the region as a whole does well.”
He said everyone had a role to play to ensure success at the polls and protect the country’s image.
Anan said: “Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy but now faces critical tests.
“Boko Haram must be ended because there seems to be no limit to what the group can do to instil fear in the whole populace.
“Other challenges are the forthcoming elections and thirdly the falling oil prices.”
He mentioned five points that he thought would help to ensure violence-free elections.
Anan said: “Elections are not the sole responsibility of INEC, though it has a key role to play but the political parties share responsibility for ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections.
“The populace also has a role to play.
“I heard that less than all eligible voters actually vote and so you cannot complain when you abstain.
“Secondly, avoid inflammatory language and face crucial issues like security, infrastructure development, employment and so on that is what the people want to hear about.
“Thirdly, urge supporters not to resort to violence if they do not win.
“Election violence in Kenya, for instance, has put the country back several years.
“Nigeria does not want to repeat that.”
Anan also said the 2015 elections offered opportunity to confirm Nigeria’s progress in the eyes of the World but “most importantly, in the eyes of your own people.
“Young people’s demands are much higher than the previous generations.
“They own the social media and want to own what their counterparts own across the World.
“Let’s focus on the next generation and not just on the next elections.”
Anan said the last stanza of the Nigerian national anthem: ‘Guide our leaders right,’ was important and expressed optimism that Nigerians could surmount their problems “because they have bright, educated and resilient people”.
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in his remarks, talked about his frustrations in the judicial process over the years.
Buhari: “I have listened to all the messages.
“They are based on hope and pious, probably because of our nasty experiences from 2003 to 2011.
“I am very impressed about the contributions made so far and the fact that we have all seen that Nigeria is so competent on paper and I hope that the elites will help us to make 2015 elections credible.”
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who summarised his paper, said the commission had identified 10 reasons that make Nigerian elections prone to violence.
Jega said INEC recognised conflict areas and had introduced mechanisms to promote peaceful conduct in the electioneering process.
He said: “Lack of internal party democracy.
“This spills or results in violence.
“Lack of effective intra-party resolution.
“Lack of accountability and inability to adhere to rules.
“Others are the uncertainty of electoral outcomes, meaning if the process is free and fair, then my party will win and the unwillingness to accept outcomes.
“There is also the need for moderation by political parties, meaning spokespersons should choose what to say as actions or inaction may aggravate fault lines, lack of trust in institutional redress.”
Jega said the promotion of inclusiveness was important to assuage fears and apprehensions and lastly, training and re-training of staff that would be used in the electoral process.
He promised that 2015 elections would be conducted without partisanship, neutrality and professionalism to ensure a free, fair and credible process.