Sultan Cautions Oyedepo, Tompolo Over Inflammatory Statements

President of Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad has advised the founder and General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo to henceforth stop heating up the polity ahead of the February 2015 elections.

The Sultan also cautioned former Niger Delta militants; Asari Dokubo, Victor Ben Ebikabowei (Boy Loaf), Government Ekpudomenowei (Tompolo) and other militants in the same manner to stop beating war drums if President Goodluck Jonathan fails to win the February 14 Presidential election .

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Secretary-General of JNI, Dr Aliyu-Khalid Abubakar, the Islamic leader said rather than fanning the embers of war, Bishop Oyedepo and the ex militants, should preach peace ahead the general elections.

Acknowledging that elections all over the world is usually associated with anxieties, uncertainty and tension, the Sultan said there is need for all and sundry to refrain from making inflammatory statements that could jeopardise the polls.

The statement further adds that the forthcoming presidential election will be the most keenly contested in Nigerian history, hence the need for all Nigerians, regardless of religion or tribe to shun violence before, during and after the elections.

While calling on the two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Party (APC) to abide by the Abuja Peace Accord, he also cautioned all contestants to accept the outcome of the forthcoming elections in line with the spirit of sportsmanship.

The Sokoto monarch, who called on both Muslims and Christians to demonstrate real and genuine sense of patriotism, responsibility, tolerance and commitment to peace and stability in Nigeria, before, during and after the forthcoming elections, also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be committed to ensuring free, fair and credible elections in February.