President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged Nigerians to remain calm ahead of the next general elections taking place in the country in 2015.
The President gave this charge at an annual cocktail organised for members of the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Jonathan admitted that he was aware of the tension in the polity, especially with the series of violence and killings in some parts of Nigeria, but assured that next year’s polls will be peaceful.
The President also called for sustained efforts in 2014 through dialogue and other means to check the rising spate of terrorism in the country, stressing that peace was requisite for development.
He noted that there is bound to be apprehensions and tension, but stated that these will all fizzle out as the year unfolds.
“As we progress into the year, some of these tensions will calm down. At the beginning of the electoral processes in most countries, especially developing nations, tensions use to be quite high even in developed countries. That is what we are witnessing now, but all these will calm down,” Jonathan said.
“We will make sure that we maintain peace and security and that elections are conducted in the manner that will be seen as free and fair by everybody,” the President assured.
He added that, “the general elections will take place early next year but the processes that will lead to the elections will commence this year. Parties will select their candidate through primaries this year, campaigns will commence this year, so this year will be full of activities.”
