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Complicating the peace

•It’s time for the National Peace Committee to go


As its name may suggest, the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections has probably outlived its usefulness. The elections have been won and lost across the country. So why is the group still going about with a sense of relevance and giving the impression that it is busy making efforts to maintain peace in the polity?
In particular, the critical March 28 presidential election that produced President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is now history. Considering that the committee was constituted in response to palpable public fears about a possible eruption of disorder arising from the presidential election, the concrete reality of a Buhari presidency should imply closure for its business.
The committee has been useful as an agent of peace, especially in getting Buhari and then President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sign an agreement to maintain the peace, irrespective of the result of the presidential poll. With that chapter over, it is puzzling that the committee seems to have promoted itself to another level of keeping the post-election peace. An explanation by the group’s spokesman, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, concerning its meeting with President Buhari on August 11 is instructive: “We gave a bit of update about the relevance of the Peace Committee itself and how we can help to nurture what God has given to us.”
Curiously, the committee’s visit to Buhari came barely three days after Jonathan had paid him a secret visit, raising public suspicion of its motive. Kukah compounded this suspicion by what he said about Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, which many interpreted as pro-Jonathan. Kukah said: “I think what we are concerned about is process. It is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws everybody is innocent until proven guilty.” Certainly, the Buhari administration didn’t need such a lesson. Also, the logic appeared to be corruption-friendly.
Public criticism of this posture has been vigorous, and it is unlikely that the committee can regain popular confidence. This development is further proof that the committee is no longer regarded as a vehicle for peace. Having lost its initial raison d’être, it should be put to a deserved rest.
Elongation of the committee’s life would mean a continuing association between the Buhari administration and its members, which may have negative implications because some of them have been linked with suspected large-scale scams. Furthermore, the committee’s variegated membership reflects various interests and tendencies, which are likely to create internal divisions outside the primary purpose for which it was started – preventing chaos in the aftermath of the 2015 presidential election.
Present at the meeting with Buhari were former military ruler General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. Also in attendance were Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs Priscilla Kuye, and Senator Ben Obi.
‘The committee has been useful as an agent of peace, especially in getting Buhari and then President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sign an agreement to maintain the peace, irrespective of the result of the presidential poll. With that chapter over, it is puzzling that the committee seems to have promoted itself to another level of keeping the post-election peace’ 
Evidence of conflicting ideas among the committee’s members manifested when the Sultan of Sokoto said at a well-publicised event after the meeting with Buhari: “It is our belief that all those found guilty should not only have their entire assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail sentences.”  It is noteworthy that the Sultan didn’t sound like Bishop Kukah.
There is also the issue of nomenclature as Buhari reportedly referred to the committee as a council, which suggests an institutional capacity that it lacks and should not be invested with.  In the final analysis, instead of complicating the peace, it is time for the committee to cease to exist.

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