The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi has called on Nigerians to accept, in good fate, the result of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections to allow for post-election peace.
Obi who stated this in a two page statement containing ActionAid observations during the elections said: “Nigerians are a passionate people but we must never let passion overrun our logic; reacting to the results of an election with violence is deeply illogical.
ActionAid urges all Nigerians to accept the results of the elections in good faith so that we, as a united nation, can move forward in building a better Nigeria.
“For those who reject the credibility of the elections, we encourage them to take appropriate legal action. Violence will not resolve the issues; it will only create new ones.”
The Country Director however, urged the re-elected President to prioritize insecurity, human capital development, poverty eradication and corruption.
“Addressing poverty must be an immediate and long-term priority for the re-elected president. The current levels of poverty in the country are completely and utterly unacceptable.
“We are the richest nation in Africa and yet over 87 million of us live in poverty. It is deeply unjust, but more than that, it is dangerous.
“Boko Haram was able to take hold in Nigeria as a direct result of the impoverishment and marginalisation of the people. It is no coincidence that the insurgents’ stronghold is in the north-east of Nigeria, where poverty is at its worst. It is evident that an effective implementation of pro-poor policies is needed to defeat them.
“To bring an end to poverty and insecurity in Nigeria, Buhari must vastly improve public services and infrastructure, intensify efforts in tackling the corruption that plagues this country, and look for alternate revenue sources, such as the proper taxation of foreign companies.”
She said Nigeria currently loses an average of 15 billion USD a year to illicit financial flows, of which most are harmful tax practices. “This lost revenue could put millions of out-of- school children back in the classroom.”
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She also harped on the need to hold the Government accountable. “Nigerians are a very politically aware people, but for too long, we have chosen to discuss our political opinions and complaints with friends, neighbours and colleagues, rather than actively engage in the political process.
“This needs to stop. Citizenship comes with responsibilities as well as rights; it is now the responsibility of Nigerian citizens to spend the next four years holding Buhari and his government to account.
ActionAid is a global movement of people working together to further human rights and defeat poverty. We prioritise work with the poor and excluded, promoting values and commitment in civil society, institutions and governments with the aim of achieving structural changes in order to
eradicate injustices and poverty in the world.
