Traditional leaders neutral over elections – Sultan

Speaking while receiving the director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, who paid him an advocacy visit, reiterated that traditional rulers would remain neutral and unbiased. “We, traditional rulers, we are fathers to all. We don’t and we can’t belong to any political party. But you know politicians, as […]

Speaking while receiving the director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, who paid him an advocacy visit, reiterated that traditional rulers would remain neutral and unbiased. “We, traditional rulers, we are fathers to all. We don’t and we can’t belong to any political party. But you know politicians, as they are, they try to induce our children to persuade them to their sides but I think we should stand firm on our belief,” the sultan said.
He noted that politicians are taking the March 28 and April 11 elections as a do-or-die affair, forgetting to discuss the nation’s future after the election, therefore creating unnecessary tension. He stated that their peace committee chaired by the former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, would soon meet with the major contenders to ensure that they uphold the Abuja Peace Accord, and urged security agencies to give adequate protection to all and sundry.
The royal father added that corps members who would participate in the election process as ad hoc staff should be adequately protected by security agencies and members of the communities and suggested compensation to any corper who encountered problems during the elections.
The sultan advised the corps members to see themselves as patriotic and non-partisan agents of the electoral body, calling on them to resist any material inducement that would compromise them.
Earlier, the NYSC boss said they were meeting prominent Nigerians to appeal to politicians to renounce violence, adding that parents of the corps members have begun to express fear and apprehension over the safety of their children.