SpicyTricks

The quest for peace in the country seems to be of uppermost interest to both national and international governments as well as observers after the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

With the predictions of United States that Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015, many had postulated that the elections will be bloody considering the fallout of the 2011 elections where many died in Northern Nigeria. Though Nigerians were expectant of a new lease of life through a new government, particularly when all economic indices had failed, but one thing was paramount, that Peace is more important than anything. The nation cannot afford to go through another bout of killings more so with the insurgency in the North East.

While Nigerians celebrate the relatively peaceful and successful general elections, with both the national and international communities pouring encomium on the electoral umpire, Prof. Attahiru Jega for conducting a free and fair election and President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat even before the final collation of results, the violence that took place in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states is unprecedented in the anals of our electoral history.

The arson and killings that took place before and during the elections are not such that should be swept under the carpet.  There were reports of high scale rigging characterized by intimidation, unlawful arrests and detention of APC members, carting away of sensitive materials for the polls as well as police partisanship. In the end, the results declared by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State were a clear departure from the claims of the APC that it has more support than the PDP which was declared winner of all the elections.

Many have argued that in the interest of peace, the APC should concede defeat and congratulate the PDP just as the President has done.

But the APC led by its governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside is pursuing justice through the law. The party says it believes in Peace but it would be difficult to achieve peace without injustice being addressed and justice served. Dr. Peterside while addressing the media after the shocking dismal performance of his party had this to say, "The impunity and the charade that took place in Rivers state cannot stand. There was unprecedented violence where our party members and stalwarts were arrested, intimidated and detained on flimsy charges before the elections. We are committed to peace but it must not be sacrificed on the altar of injustice. There cannot be peace without justice".

Continuing further, Dr. Peterside wondered why the electoral body, INEC, and the Security agencies after they had assured the public of adequate security watched as his people were being molested and killed.

But in response to the claims of his rival, Barrister Nyesom Wike of the PDP who has been declared winner of the governorship elections that the APC was not on ground and as such, the results were a true reflection of the wishes of Rivers people, Dr.  Peterside said, "We were asked to come out and vote and not to be killed".

For Dakuku Peterside and the APC in Rivers state, the only road to sustainable peace is when justice is served and for this reason, he has gone to the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja to challenge the decision of INEC. The APC insists there were no elections in Rivers state. The Courts have 180 days to conclude their work. For the Dakuku-led APC, there may be light at the end of the tunnel.