Edo: What Gen Abubakar Told Obaseki On Peace Ahead Of Saturday’s Poll

BY VICTOR BUORO – Former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd,), has described the political temperature in Edo State as alarmingly high in some areas, warning that if there is no peace, there cannot be any successful election.

General Abubakar said it was based on the need for peace that his Peace Committee decided to visit and assist in calming frayed nerves and dousing the unwarranted tensions within the South South state

Abubakar, who spoke at a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said members of his committee were in Edo State to assist in ensuring the September 19 governorship election is conducted peacefully across Edo State.

He further said; “So, your excellency, this is why we are here in Benin together with members of the Peace Committee and Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah is here.

“Like I wrote to you in my letter from the Peace Committee, tomorrow the signing of the peace pact will take place at 2:00pm between you, other candidates and their chairmen.

“As you know the purpose of this committee is to ensure that all those involved in this election get hold of their supporters and party people to ensure that there is peace in the State,” Abubakar said.

Responding, Obaseki noted that the good work of General Abubakar across the world where he had been seeking peace across trouble zones, speaks for him.

In the words of Obaseki; “We just finished the stakeholders meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, where they informed us about the significance of signing this peace pact.

“I just want to assure you that as a government and as an individual, we totally align with your cause. It is in our best interest as a government to promote peace in our land.

“We are committed to ourselves, our monarch, Oba Ewuare II, and our people to do all within our powers to maintain peace. We’re also going to applaud and support you to ensure that we take responsibility to ensure there is peace in this election,” he assured