Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the
presidential candidates for the 2023 elections to ensure they “prioritise
non-violence” during their campaigns.
Following the conclusion of the presidential primaries, the
campaigns are expected to commence in earnest.
As such, the former president said the onus is on political
leaders to de-escalate tension, given the prevalent insecurity in the country.
In a statement issued by Ikechukwu Eze, his media aide,
Jonathan also congratulated all the presidential flagbearers.
He asked them to run campaigns bereft of rancour and
divisiveness, urging them to ensure that issues and credible solutions take preeminence.
Jonathan said: “I consider you are all aspiring to be
elected as the leader of the country because you are democrats who believe,
like the rest of us, that Nigeria is our common heritage which we should all
strive to protect, prosper and preserve for the future generation.
“As you progress towards the electioneering campaigns, it is
important that the issues confronting the country and credible solutions take
centre stage.
“I urge you to
conduct your campaigns in a manner devoid of acrimony, divisiveness and
treachery so that at the end of the day Nigeria will win, democracy will
triumph and humanity will be better for it.
“As I have always said, no ambition is worth the life of
another. As candidates, you must eschew violence and acts that will encourage
any form of bloodletting or exacerbate the national fault lines.
“We live in a season of unprecedented violence and all
political leaders have a responsibility to de-escalate the tension in the
country. The candidates by conduct and language must prioritise non-violence
and peaceful coexistence.”
The former president also advised all stakeholders to place
national interest above personal interest.
“Nigeria is at a
critical junction in its march to nationhood as it grapples with security and
economic challenges,” he added.
“The 2023 elections present an opportunity to renew our
union, rebuild the dreams of our founding fathers and revitalise our economy.”
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