PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed sadness over the sporadic unrest in some cities of the North, calling on all our political leaders especially his co-contestants in the weekend polls which he won to appeal to their supporters to stop further violence in the interest of stability, peace and well being of Nigeria.Also, Defence Headquarters affirmed that the Nigerian military was solidly and fully committed to the protection of the countrys democratic credentials and national security.On its part, apex Igbo socio cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the demonstrations in some parts of the country over the outcome of last Saturdays presidential election were unnecessary and was given the country a bad image.And the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has urged President Jonathan to reach out to his opponents who lost in the presidential election to help stem the unrest.Jonathan said the unrest was an unnecessary and avoidable conduct, adding that the political leaders must not allow any loss of life as no ones political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.The President said in a broadcast that Nigerians had sacrificed to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections and that he was encouraged by the comments of the independent election monitors and observers both domestic and international on how transparent and credible the elections have been so far.He, therefore, asked Nigerians to remain calm, law abiding and patriotic at this very crucial moment of our history.Director, Defence Information, Col Mohammed Yerima, said in a Press Conference in Abuja that it will not allow unpatriotic people (to) to take laws into their hands.It blamed the current state of insecurity in some Northern parts of the country on the regrettable actions of some individuals who felt dissatisfied with the outcome of the ongoing electioneering processDefence Headquarters regretted that these individuals have resorted to conscripting uninformed youths to cause public disturbance and unleash mayhem in some states.Defence Headquarters therefore called on all senior citizens, parents and guardian to advice their wards to obey the laws of the land and to desist from any act of lawlessness, forthwith.The military said it is determined to support the current democratic processes in our dear country.It noted that it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Armed Forces to assist the civil Police to restore law and order in the face of any threat to our national security and we do not intend to shirk this responsibility.Ohanaeze asked those involved in the violence to refrain from further destruction of lives and property, as such negative action after an exercise that had been adjudged the best so far in the country was setting a bad precedence in the fledgling democracy.Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nduka Eya, while condemning the demonstrations in parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna and Kano states, said that time had come for Nigerians to address their grievances using the laid down rules and regulations.Jega has used this election to put Nigeria on the world map. This idea of protest and destroying of things and killing is not necessary because, he has also promised to look into the complaints concerning some states where the results were rejected. So I believe he should be given opportunity to do this by restricting ourselves against anything that could lead to crisis, he said.Ohanaeze warned that Ndigbo would not accept any demonstration that could lead to loss of lives and property of the people of the area.The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) equally condemned any action that could draw the country into another battle-field.In a statement by its Executive Director, Ibuchukwu Ezeike, the CLO urged that all those who sponsor the unwarranted crises be arrested and duly prosecuted accordingly to serve as deterrent to future sponsors and perpetrators.CLO called on the ECOWAS, African Union and the United Nations to be on the red alert in order to urgently intervene in the matter to ensure that there was no total breakdown of law and order in the country. Such act of lawlessness will bring untold hardship on not only the Nigerian population but the entire African continent and the world.The spokesperson of the Ijaw group, Victor Burubo, told The Guardian yesterday that the people of the Niger Delta did not expect that a contest such as the just concluded presidential election should be turned into a bloodbath.Burubo explained that while the frustration and disappointment of perceived supporters of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) allegedly involved in the unrest is understandable, they need to take into cognisance that contest like this is bound to produce winners and losers.The INC mouthpiece implored President Jonathan to imperatively reach out to his political opponents to help bring normalcy to the North. According to him, unrest in any part of the country over election result might lead to instability and dent the countrys image internationally.Burubo, while reiterating INCs faith in one indivisible Nigeria, has appealed to traditional, religious and political leaders across the country, particularly in the North, to intervene and help normalise the situation in the affected states, including Abuja.We are disturbed by the unpleasant unrest in the North. We urge General Muhammadu Buhari who had said he abhors violence to call his supporters to order. We urge that they play by the rule, live by the rule and wait for the next election. We are in a law and order country. We expect them to respect the rule of law, he said.INC admonished aggrieved protestors to realise that killing and destruction over election result is not in the best interest of Nigeria, which is still struggling with the challenges of nationhood.Burubo, who described the presidential election as the freest and fairest in the countrys chequered history, described as pathetic the wanton destruction of properties. He also implored security agencies to expeditiously perform their statutory obligation of maintaining law and order in a fair and firm manner required.The INC has meanwhile advised all Ijaws residing in other parts of the country to remain peaceful, law abiding and resist any form of provocation.
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