March 24, 2015 – The Trade Union Congress(TUC) of Nigeria has called on Nigerians to go out and vote and desist from being used as agents of violence.
In a statement signed by President and Secretary of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawal, the TUC said that no politician is worth dying for.
“Need not remind us that the elections have created so much tension, taken lives and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed! We therefore urge you all to remember that we owe Nigeria our votes and not our lives. No politician is worth dying for and those using you will never use their own children. It could even be that their immediate families are out of the country at the moment”, it noted.
The TUC said it is happy that the day slated for the 2015 General Elections is fast approaching with the presidential election coming up on Saturday 28th March, 2015.
“We are happier that the country remains peaceful and more united despite the hate speeches, pelting of stones and name calling of unrepentant loyalists of some aspirants, who believe that the only way to make their candidates know they are working is by insulting opponents. This is a testimony to the fact that our unity is divine, and not an error.
“Congress finds it once again very obligatory and expedient to issue this statement, to once again caution the security operatives, aspirants, party agents, electorates and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials on these very important elections”, the TUC said adding that election is not supposed to be a do-or-die affair.
“Unfortunately that is what it has become in our clime. The 2015 elections are the most closely contested since the end of the military rule in 1999. Enough blood have been shed and we cannot afford to have this war of attrition, division along ethnic lines and religion continue.
“How do we explain it that Nigerians are worried because they do not have a valid visa with which to flee to the west if uncontrollable chaos breaks out after the elections”, the TUC said.
It added that everyone who means well for the country should be concerned about its stability.
“We cannot afford to stand more senseless killings. Increasing terrorist’s attacks in the northeast over the last four years have provided politicians with an unprecedented tool to sow mistrust, exploiting the country’s longstanding ethnic and regional divisions. This is strange to us!”, it said.
The TUC urges eligible electorates to go out en mass, conduct themselves in an orderly manner according to the rules. It also charges the INEC, law enforcement and party agents to ensure that there will be no reason to doubt the results of the elections no matter what.
“We have prepared so much Not to fail as far as these elections are concerned. We also encourage eventual losers to take it like sportsmen and women and always remember that ‘he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day’. Those elected should be humble enough to embrace their opponents and their ideas for the interest of the country. In fact, our proposition is to see gallant losers and magnanimous winners, not otherwise”, the TUC said.
