President of the Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray has stressed the importance of democracy in Nigeria.
Touray said democracy in Nigeria means democracy for the sub- region, it means democracy for the continent.
This, he said explained why ECOWAS deployed 250 observers.
ECOWAS President was also positive that the Nigeria’s elections will go well and reflect the will of the people.
Addressing the ECOWAS Observers deployed for Nigeria’s elections,Touay said, ” Recently, I think I’ve been asked one question all over the world. And that question relates to my sense of the forthcoming elections in Nigeria. I was in the US I was in Europe. And the question that invariably came up was, how did I feel? Or what is my sense of the direction of elections in Nigeria and I had only one answer.
“And that answer is we are going to have good elections in Nigeria that will reflect the will of the people.
“Those questions at face value may appear irritating. But when you look at it closely, you would appreciate the importance of Nigeria to the West African region and to Africa as a whole.
“As commissioner has just indicated, this is the largest economy this is the largest country. So what goes on here affects all of us, wherever we are.
“So democracy in Nigeria means democracy for the sub- region, it means democracy for the continent. So this is why ECOWAS attaches a lot of importance to these elections.
“And it accounts for the fact that we have deployed the largest mission in recent years with 250 observers and with a budget that is quite significant.”
He also reminded the observers deployed of the enormous responsibilities placed on them.
“But this is for a good cause. A good reason. You see a number of regions and entities have deployed observers, but most of them would depend very much on what ECOWAS says.
So you should all appreciate the importance of the weight of the responsibility that you carry. “Your mission is very important. Not only to ECOWAS, but to the entire world. So what you say will determine the position of other observers. So we expect you and we know you will, under the able leadership of His Excellency President Bai Koroma that you will report the truth and nothing but the truth.
” You will not be carried away by fake news by disinformation and misinformation which to us in ECOWAS constitute a source of instability.
“And when we are looking at drivers of insecurity in West Africa or in Africa as a whole, fake news is considered one of those drivers. So let us be mindful and work as much as we can against fake news and ensure that fake news does not take over the narrative.
“Fake News must not take over the information space. So we have a lot of confidence in you and we know you will rise up to the expectations.”
He also added, “The challenges are there. Certainly the challenges are there. But with the quality of people I see before me, I am confident that ECOWAS will once again show that we can be leaders and leaders we indeed are.
“I don’t need to emphasise the importance of your mission. You have been selected on the basis of your integrity on the basis of your competence and your resolve to see democracy thrive in the West West African region, if not in the African continent on the African continent.”
On his part, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security,
Dr. Abdel Fatah Musah, said democracy in Nigeria means stability of the region.
This, Musah said was responsible for the interest in Nigeria’s elections.
He said, “Democracy in Nigeria will eventually translate into security and democracy in our whole region, Nigeria is also by far the ultimate engine of growth for our sub-region and you know, also for the continent of Africa being the largest economy on the continent. “So, this is the significance of the moment and we just, you know, hope that we will live up to that expectation to make sure that we accompany our brothers, sisters, the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to go through this electoral process so that it will be credible, transparent, peaceful, most importantly, and that we are going to have a very peaceful transition in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is also so important for transitions in the region.
“Knowing very well the democratic reversal that we have seen in the region of late.
” If Nigeria can do it, then all others should be able to follow suit. And I talk about the situation in Mali, talk about the situation in Guinea, the situation in Burkina Faso, where we have unfortunately seen reversals in trying to build the democratic culture of our region.
“So we are all very interested in what is happening in Nigeria, and we just hope that with your help, we will be able to deliver the largest of the mission for this election.”
He said ECOWAS has come up with two centres that is Lagos for the South and Abuja for the North for proper coordination.
