The apex Islamic body in Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA), yesterday cautioned political leaders and actors against making provocative and unguarded statements capable of dragging the country into unnecessary conflict and anarchy.
The NSCIA spoke hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), and the Labour Party, (LP), attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the collation of results of the February 25 presidential election progressed.
They accused the electoral body of compromise and fraud, a charge the agency has rejected, saying anyone who has verifiable evidence of malpractices in the election should bring it forward for necessary actions.
However, in an issued statement by its Deputy Secretary-General, Salisu Shehu, and Director of Administration, ?????Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, yesterday, the NSCIA urged INEC to remain focused on its assignment.
It also counselled political and religious leaders to avoid comments and actions capable of derailing the on-going electoral exercise and plunging Nigeria into anarchy.
While reckless statements from inconsequential individuals can be easily ignored, this is not so of those from respected political and religious leaders. It is important that patriotic and well-meaning Nigerian leaders should support unrelenting adherence to process and procedure in the on-going electoral process, the NSCIA said.
