Alumni of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, Thursday expressed concerns about the growing tension and heated political space ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The former students, under the aegis of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), lamented that violence, economic difficulties, and heated political space had created social tension, loss of lives and widespread fear.
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President of AANI and former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, raised these concerns at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the 42nd Annual General Meeting and Conference, which would begin today with a peace walk in the FCT.
Abubakar was flanked by the former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen. Sani Usman (Retd); the Director-General of the National Institute for Labour Studies (NILS), Issa Aremu, and some other executives of the association.
He said: “Efforts by governments at various levels to tackle these challenges achieved only marginal success because the challenges are deep-rooted and require comprehensive, participatory, and proactive solutions.
“In response to this AANI as a Think Tank is going to hold a national dialogue on national unity.
“Similarly, as we approach the 2023 general elections, we are calling on the political class to uphold global best practices and focus on the security, welfare, and economic prosperity of Nigerians over and above their personal ambitions and pecuniary interests.”
AANI also enjoined all stakeholders to ensure that the recent assent to the Electoral Act by President Muhammadu Buhari provided a new opportunity for free and fair elections in Nigeria.
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