The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) government was committed to bringing to an end to undemocratic and uncultured activities in the country.
He hinted that the feat would be achieved through the administration of legally justifiable approaches to the perpetrators in order to serve as deterrence to others.
He said that the federal and some state governments had taken precautionary and proactive steps in taming the tide of undemocratic culture and activities.
Malami renewed his call on those still involved in the electioneering process to appreciate the fact that political activities were to be observed in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Law.
The AGF requested them to join hands in making sure all campaign utterances were humane and in conformity with global best practices, thereby contributing to violence-free electoral process.
“As the 2023 election campaign gathered momentum, we chose the theme of this celebration to revolve around ‘Media, civil society and violence-free election in Nigeria.’
“This proactive engagement has objective of enlightenment to shun electoral offences with the sole intention of making healthier processes at all levels of electioneering campaigns.
“It is important to note that recent developments in Nigeria proved that the Federal Government has laudable initiatives to end impunity for crimes against Nigerian citizens.
“The Committee to Protect Journalists’ report says Nigeria was the only country to get off the index of nations with impunity for crimes against journalists in 2020.
“The Federal Government renewed commitment to end impunity for crimes against journalists. The 2020 global index for impunity for crimes against journalists by the CPJ, released on Wednesday November 28 2020, indicated that Nigeria is the only country that came off the index from 2019.
“This achievement is not unconnected with deliberate and committed efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, through the implementation of many reforms in the Nigerian justice sector, to include increased access to justice, speedy justice dispensation, decongestion of Nigeria’s correctional centers and judicious implementation of the Criminal Justice Act.
“Let me express our appreciation to our partners; the Management Conflict in Nigeria programme of the European Union supervised by the British Council and the Kano State Government under the able leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for their support to this programme”, the Minister said.
The AGF urged the participants to make the best use of what they stood to gain by the careful selection of eminent scholars, practitioners and experts in various related fields adding that his office would expect recommendations from the policy dialogue for use.
Also, the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, who was the special guest of honour noted that the peaceful outcome of the 2023 general election lied in the hands of the media.
Ganduje, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Lawan Abdullahi, said the media “will determine whether the election will be peaceful or not. I, however, know that the FG is determined to deliver free and fair election.”
He said, “I believe that Nigerian journalists experience press freedom than some journalists in other African countries. I urge the media to work with the FG to ensure violence-free election which will yield continuous democracy in Nigeria.”
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission said all stakeholders had roles to play in ensuring that the 2023 general election would be violence-free.
Yakubu, who was represented by a National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, said, “We should remember that regardless of our profession, religion or ethnicity, we are all country’s stakeholders of peace and progress.
“Till date, democracy is the best way to achieve this objectives. Journalists and non-journalists have play their roles in ensuring that 2023 elections will be the best in the history of Nigeria.”
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