‘Africa watching, as Nigeria goes to the polls’

‎Kofi Annan, former United Nations secretary-general, has urged Nigerians to shun electoral violence, declaring that the future of Africa is in the hands of Nigeria and entire continent will be watching when Nigeria’s next president is decided at the February presidential election.

Annan, who was speaking on Tuesday at the Civil Society Situation Room organised by a coalition of civil society groups in Abuja, noted that the continent would lose a lot if the election results in violence‎.

“I urge Nigerians not to resort to violence because their candidate of choice did not win,” he said.

“You must denounce violence. In many ways, Nigeria has the future of our continent in its hands. And Nigeria’s success in the forthcoming elections will be Africa’s success.”

He urged politicians to moderate their utterances in order not to set the country on fire.

“I entreat to you; Nigeria should not put itself at jeopardy. Politics should be about serving the higher interest of the country and not selfish interest.”

He also cautioned politicians against polarising Nigerians along ethnic and religious lines, citing the 2007 Kenya post election violence as the consequence of intemperance‎ and political intolerance.

Speaking on insecurity in the country, Annan expressed concerns over the spate of Boko Haram killings in the country.

“We must stand as one against Boko Haram regardless o‎f where we are in the world, for we are on the same boat,” he said.

“Boko Haram has no place in society and no cause can justify their brutality.”

On a general note, he decried impunity on the continent, describing it as the greatest problem in Africa.

He called for disciplined, courageous and enlightened citizenship to check impunity‎ in Africa.

‎Also at the event were John Onaiyekan, cardinal and archbishop of Abuja and Omar Abdulwaheed, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).