US seeks credible leadership and violence-free elections in Nigeria in 2015.

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has called for credible leadership and violence-free elections in Nigeria in 2015. The U.S government said the world would was focussing on the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria. It noted that Nigeria cannot afford to disappoint the international community. U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle, spoke yesterday in Kano during his visit to the Emir, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II.

The envoy said the U.S was intensifying intelligence partnership with the Nigerian government to figh insecurity. Entwistle, who dismissed Boko Haram’s affiliation with Islamic doctrine, said the tenets of Islam are devoid of hatred and violence, as portrayed by the insurgents. He said: “We share intelligence information and we have learnt a lot on the counter-terrorism front. We have been sharing lessons learnt in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries with your government and military because we established  that in effective counter-terrorism, there is the military component. But it is much more than that. We believe people should be educated, as well as the provision of economic growth, empowerment, making sure people understand what their needs are,’’ he said.

Sanusi II reminded the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that  security agencies and other policy makers should discharge their responsibility with fairness before, during and after the 2015 elections. The emir solicited effective collaboration between the U.S government and Nigeria to tackle insecurity in the land. Sanusi II said the major guarantee for peace and tranquility is the eradication of poverty, economic empowerment, good health care, development and education for all. The US Ambassador maintained that the claim of the insurgents on Islam is falsehood and cannot depict the good teachings of Islam

‘’Perhaps, most significantly, Nigerians most effectively counter those who will take the message of the beautiful religion,  like Islam, provoke it and twist it into  the message of hatred and violence. If you look at the claim of  Boko Haram, even though I’m not a religious scholar but I can tell that you will never find anything of such in the holy Quran and in Islam and that is the reason why all of us have to join hands and fight them collectively, so as to make sure that the great religion and messages of Islam are not provoked and turned into violence’’. James noted. Responding, the Emir assured the US government of the Emirate Council’s support and partnership to improve economic development and agricultural growth in Kano, which are in line with the council’s objectives.



Source: The Nation