The Cross River State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Islamic community in the state have charged politicians in the country not to engage in conduct capable of breaching the peace and unity of the nation because of desperation to win elections in 2019.

The two organizations have also resolved to work together with relevant stakeholders to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the 2019 polls in the state. 

IPAC Chairman in Cross River State, Sunday Michael and leader of Islamic community in the state, Kabeer Olawolayemo, jointly gave this charge when both leaders met with Islamic faithful at the Ahmadiyya Central Mosque, Calabar, yesterday.

In his speech, Michael said that “if leaders of political parties decide to preach peace to their followers and advise them to play the game by the rules, peace of the nation would remain intact”.

He urged politicians to get a copy of the revised standard IPAC Code of Conduct and go through it in order to be abreast with expectations of every electorate as we approach the general elections and even beyond.

“Our children are here and the elections are approaching, they are not tools. Don’t use them as tools to unleash mayhem during the elections. The politicians have their children abroad and they give our children guns to go and fight for them during elections; my people, do not listen to them. Our politicians should follow the rules and allow the people choose whoever they want to be their leader”.

The IPAC boss admonished Christians and Islamic faithful to avoid doing anything contrary to the teachings of both faiths and charged Nigerians to, at all times, pray for the unity and leadership of the country so that the right thing can be done for the good of the nation.

“Our problem is not religion but doing what the holy books say. I have heard the Imam speak and what he said is not different from what my pastor will say but the problem is that Christians and Muslims listen to these teachings and go back home to do something else”.

“From time to time, we should always intercede for our leaders, for the President, Vice President, Governors and others for God to remind them to do the right things at all times”.

In his remark, Olawolayemo, who is also the Chief Imam of the Ahmadiyya Central Mosque, Calabar, said the meeting was timely as it provided opportunity for both religions to create and tighten the bond between the two bodies and asked them to go home and preach peace to their followers and supporters.

Olawolayemo, drawing inferences from the Holy Koran, said, “According to the holy prophet, the greatest religion of all was to love your country because your faith was not complete until you loved your country”.

The Islamic cleric charged participants to do exactly as prescribed in the second stanza of the national anthem where it was clearly stated “To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign” and said peace was a child of justice and without justice in the land, there would be no peace.

He urged politicians to devote more time to issues that border on nation building instead of throwing cash up and down to campaign for political offices for their selfish and personal interest.

“The only way we can help ourselves is to elect credible leaders and not leaders that will share salt and rice only to go in there and begin to exhibit incompetence and twist the destiny of the people”.

He urged the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organizations (CSOs) and security agencies to carry out their assignments during the elections without fear or favour so that the nation can have credible elections.