President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to politicians that elections must not be mistaken for war despite differences and disagreement among political parties.
He made the call on Friday in a national broadcast on the 2015 general elections.
According to him, those planning to unleash violence during and after the elections would be dealt with according to the laws.
“Democracy allows dissent. It encourages differences and even fervent disagreements. But elections must never be mistaken for war or an opportunity to set fellow citizens against each other and tear our beloved nation apart,” Jonathan stated.
“Those who may harbor any intentions of testing our will by unleashing violence during the elections in order to advance their political ambitions should think again as all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons who breach the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws.
“The nation’s security agencies are also fully prepared and ready to deal decisively with any group or persons who attempt to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections or cause any form of public disorder.
“Our dear country, Nigeria is the largest democracy amongst black nations of the world. We are a nation of great accomplishments, with a proud history of evolving affinities.
“Let us go out tomorrow to vote peacefully and set a fitting example of political maturity for other emerging democracies to follow,” he said
Despite the challenges that have faced the nation since 1999, President Jonathan said that the present democratic dispensation has continued to endure and grow stronger in keeping with the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
Stressing that the democracy in Nigeria in past 16 years is about to be put to the test again, he said that he believed without fear of contradiction that all Nigerians will never willingly give it up for any other form of governance.
He expressed appreciation for the opportunity and the support given to him to lead the nation in the past four years.
