The Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, PGF, Mr Salihu Lukman, has called on political parties in Nigeria to set up bylaws and codes of conduct to address ethnic and religious campaigns of hatred.
Mr Lukman made the call in a press statement released to journalists in Abuja.
He said this in reaction to unsubstantiated allegations by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom who accused the government of trying to “islamise” and “fulanise” Nigeria.
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Mr Lukman while urging political leaders to desist from making such public statements without evidence added that such statements could promote hatred against a particular religion and ethnic group.
He further called on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to call their member, Governor Ortom to order.
The PGF DG noted that if PDP allows such a campaign of hatred to go on within its ranks, it could affect the party’s chances of producing a credible Presidential candidate in 2023.
“Given Nigerian reality, depending on who will be the major contenders in both PDP and APC, the campaign against so-called ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation’ will mutate against both Yorubas, Igbos, Ijaws, Ishekiris, etc. Based on short-term calculations, it may choose to contract a fluid partnership with the aim of blocking emerging candidates even within PDP. Therefore, as we move closer to 2023, the pangs of ethnic and religious hatred will have a strong manifestation inside PDP. Once the PDP is not able to moderate the campaign of ethnic and religious hatred of so-called ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation’, it will be weak in controlling how it manifests itself internally in PDP.
“In fact, it more dangerous to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Governor Sule Lamido, etc. than it is a danger to President Muhammadu Buhari or any potential APC Presidential candidate from the North. It is also potentially a danger against the emergence of any possible Presidential candidate in PDP from the South-West, South-East or South-South than it is to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Kayode Fayemi, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of APC from the South-West; or former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from the South-South; or former Governor Rochas Okorocha and any other contender from the South-East” Lukman said.
He further emphasised the need for political parties to regulate the conduct of their members in order to promote democracy and national unity.
“There is, therefore, the urgent need for political parties in Nigeria to take steps to discourage ethnic and religious campaigns of hatred. The hard truth is that to be able to discourage ethnic and religious campaigns of hatred in the country would require that parties put in place an internal code of conduct – Byelaws, beyond what is provided in their constitution. Parties, as they are today, are weak in regulating the conduct of political leaders and elected representatives. If Nigerian democracy is to develop and become the facilitator for national unity and political development in the country, regulating the conduct of political leaders and elected representatives cannot be left to chance. In the circumstance, as things are today, the so-called campaign against ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation’ is more a danger to PDP than it is to APC” PGF DG added.
According to Mr Lukman, Governor Ortom’s statements as a highly placed public servant raises the need to review laws regarding leadership recruitment in Nigeria in order to avoid producing leaders with extreme ideological mindsets.
Zainab Said
