United Nations and other world bodies have been urged to mount pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to conduct free and fair elections in 2023.
Newsonline reports that Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, urged the United Nations agencies in particular to continue to advocate for a free, fair and transparent electoral process in Nigeria.
This online newspaper understands that Governor Wike stated this during a working visit by Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Wike said Rivers State believes that strengthening democratic institutions is the way to go.
“In all our activities, we always operate democratically. In the last two local government elections we have had, we had inclusiveness of women not only as vice chairmen, but also councilors. We believe strongly that we have to support democratic institutions in Nigeria, and demonstrate it here in Rivers State, where we have the opportunity to do it, and also to develop strong institutions in education, health, infrastructure and in human capital development”, Governor Wike further stressed.
The governor expressed regret that at a time when the whole country was moving on digital form, we could not agree on electronic transmission of results, which, according to him, would curb insecurity in the country.
“Like you have rightly said, this country has a good role to play in the West African scene, we are condemning what is happening in Guinea, we spoke against what is happening in Mali, we have to demonstrate it here, we cannot allow this country to go into 2023 elections without the electronic voting passed as a bill, we cannot.
“Please whatever advocacy level you can use, I think this is the time to speak loud and clear, because the stability of a democratic nation all over the world is based on its electoral process, and if the electoral process continues to be insincere and continues to be non-transparent, there cannot be any peace”, Governor Wike noted.
Governor Wike, who insisted that his administration is interested in the socio-economic development of the Rivers people, expressed delight with the partnership between the Rivers State government and the UN, while thanking the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and his team for their selfless service in the state.
In his remarks the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said the purpose of his mission to Rivers State was to reinforce the partnership between the United Nations and the Rivers State government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerate implementation of the SDGs to build back better; and continue to create durable solutions for economic transformation in the state, adding that several UN agencies have on-going programmes in Rivers State.
He commended Governor Wike-led administration for its commitment to better the lots of the Rivers People.
