The United States and Britain are hoping for a peaceful, transparent and fair election in Nigeria and that-win or lose-all sides should respect the outcome.
In an Op-Ed article by US Secretary of State John Kerry and U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammon, they noted that there are good reasons why the international spotlight is firmly fixed on Nigeria during this critical period.
In the article made available to Daily Trust by the US embassy in Abuja yesterday, they said: “Nigeria is Africa’s largest democracy and what happens there will have an impact well beyond its borders.”
They said a successful election, free from violence and with wide participation, accurate vote counting, and responsible leadership from the candidates would inspire the region and spur future progress and prosperity.
“It would also be a historic show of support by Nigerians for democratic values and an equally firm rejection of the brutal terrorist group, Boko Haram, and others who advocate or perpetrate violence,” they opined.
They urged that the voting for president and parliament go forward as scheduled on March 28 and that there should be no further delay of this crucial vote.
According to the article, “in 2011, more than 800 people died in post-election clashes, and a recent survey shows that half of Nigerians are concerned about political intimidation this time around. The good news is that President Jonathan and General Buhari have repeatedly and publicly stressed their commitment to nonviolence before, during, and after Election Day.”
They added that respect for the constitutional process and the independence of Nigeria’s Independent National Election Commission, (INEC), is the right approach, and the only one that offers a sustainable way to address Nigeria’s many challenges.