Edo Election Peace Accord : Bishop Kukah’s Comment Misleading 

Edo Election Peace Accord : Bishop Kukah’s Comment Misleading

By Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah

During the Edo Election Security Townhall held in Benin City recently , Bishop Hassan Kukah, a member of the National Peace Committee, made a statement implying that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not sign the peace accord ahead of the 2023 presidential election. However, this statement lacks the necessary context and can easily mislead the public.

It is important to clarify that at the time of the signing of the 2023 peace accord, then-candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not refuse to participate. He was, in fact, out of the country on official engagements with key support groups. His running mate, Kashim Shettima, was fully authorized to represent him and duly signed the peace accord on his behalf, alongside other presidential candidates. This should not be confused with any notion of non-compliance or disregard for the peace process.

This scenario is quite distinct from what is currently unfolding in Edo State. In a shocking development, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo , Governor Godwin Obaseki, along with his party chairman, publicly and deliberately refused to sign the peace accord. This refusal was not due to logistical reasons or scheduling conflicts but was a deliberate act that raises serious concerns about the intent behind their approach to the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Governor Obaseki went as far as to declare that the election would be a “do or die” affair, evoking memories of the infamous rhetoric during the Obasanjo era, which was associated with electoral violence and intimidation. This kind of statement undermines the spirit of free and fair elections and casts a shadow over the democratic process in Edo State.

The difference between the actions of President Tinubu and those of Governor Obaseki could not be clearer. While Tinubu showed respect for the peace accord by sending his running mate to sign in his stead, Obaseki and the PDP have not only refused to sign but have also issued statements that suggest they are prepared to approach the election with a mindset of conflict rather than peace.

This development should serve as a wake-up call to the National Peace Committee, civil society, and all stakeholders in the Edo election to take immediate action and ensure that the principles of peace and democracy are upheld in the forthcoming poll.