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President Jonathan with US Secretary
of State, John Kerry at the State House, Marina, Lagos, today. (Photo: Reuben Abati @abati1990)
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The United States has advised
Nigeria against postponing the general elections scheduled for next month. The
US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, gave the advice after he met the
candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, President Goodluck Jonathan and All
Progressives Congress Maj. Gen. Muhamadu Buhari (retd.) in Lagos on
Sunday.
The Punch reports Kerry said that the US would deny
entry visa to any Nigerian politician responsible for fomenting violence during
the February elections.
He urged the Federal Government not
to postpone the elections as being canvassed by the National Security Adviser,
Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.). The secretary of state said, “Given
the stakes, it’s absolutely critical that these elections are conducted
peacefully.”
Kerry was in Nigeria to urge the
political class to respect the outcome of the February 14 presidential
election.
He explained that Washington was
concerned that post-election violence could undermine the stability of Nigeria
and hamper the fight against terrorism.
It will be recalled that three days
of rioting trailed the 2011 general elections which saw Buhari losing to
Jonathan.
Kerry said, “Nobody gains by
violence, nobody gains by turning a political disagreement into a killing spree
… The proof will be in the actions that are taken in the course of the election
and afterwards. Anyone who participates in, plans or calls for violence against
the civilian population must be held accountable, including by ineligibility
for an American visa. Perpetrators of such violence would not be welcome in the
US.”
In an apparent response to Dasuki’s
call, Kerry said, “It is imperative that Nigeria holds its elections
on time.”
Dasuki had in London last week
called for the postponement of the elections to allow the Independent National
Electoral Commission distribute more Permanent Voter Cards to Nigerians.
An unconfirmed source said Kerry
also spoke with the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega,
on the telephone.
He was said to have urged Jega to
ensure that the polls, which would determine how the US relates to Nigeria in
future, were credible.
Kerry also said that the US remained committed
to helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram.
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