Jonathan, Buhari asked to sign undertaking

IF the proposal is agreeable to both parties, President Goodluck Jonathan and former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, would be signing a commitment to non-violent post-election reactions.

The peace proposal to the two leading candidates in the 2015 presidential election was at the instance of the diplomat and elder statesman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi.

In an open letter to Jonathan, the presidential standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the vice chairman of the just-concluded national conference noted that post-election violence was inevitable in the February 14, 2015, except the duo was committed to a peace undertaking.

He went down the memory lane on how the late national security adviser discarded his proposal to forestall post-election violence during the 2011 presidential election and the attendant tragedy of epic proportion that trailed the loss by Buhari.

He predicted that post-election violence was certain this time around, regardless of where the victory pendulum swung.

Akinyemi, a former Minister of Internal Affairs, listed 10 prominent Nigerians as proposed facilitators of the desired peace deal.

They are the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi; the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha; the Oba of Benin, OmoN’oba Erediauwa; former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

Others included the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye and former heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon and General Abdulsalaam Abubakar.

The appeal was made in an open letter of Saturday, December 20, 2014, to President Jonathan and General Buhari, barely 44 days to the general elections, which kick off on February 14, 2015.