Rita Odafe
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, who is also part of the National Peace Committee, stated that President Bola Tinubu did not participate in signing the peace accord in 2023.
This statement follows the refusal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to agree to a peace agreement aimed at avoiding violence in the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election set for September 21.
Last week, the PDP opted out of this pre-election convention due to certain accusations against the police.
Seventeen political parties, including the APC, PDP, and Labour Party, are contesting in the elections.
While addressing attendees at a town hall meeting organized by Channels Television, Kukah mentioned that although the peace committee, led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, cannot mandate candidates to sign the peace accord, not participating sends a negative message within the political landscape.
He remarked, “The committee’s role is not enshrined in the Electoral Act; it is a matter of ethics. People cannot be forced to care for one another.”
Reflecting on the past, he noted that during the 2019 elections, PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was initially absent from signing the peace accord but later joined in after public outcry from the opposition.
He also highlighted that Bola Tinubu, during his candidacy, did not sign the peace agreement either, indicating it was not a failing on the opposition’s part.
“While it’s unfortunate, we won’t pursue legal action against anyone for not signing the Peace Accord,” he added. “Nevertheless, not signing can create a negative perception that may be leveraged by opponents,” he concluded.
According to Daily Trust, in September 2022, Bola Tinubu, who was then the APC presidential candidate and former Lagos governor, did not sign the Peace Accord, with his then running mate, now Vice President, Kashim Shettima, representing him at the event.
