The United States of America’s Consulate, Lagos, has expressed concern over Nigeria’s 2019 electoral process, calling for a peaceful, credible and non-violent election in the country.
Speaking with selected Rivers State Journalists at the NUJ State Secretariat, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, the Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Russell Brooks, in an interactive session, said his country will do everything within her power to support Nigeria achieve a peaceful and credible election come 2019 general elections.
He also made it known that after the election, there are a lot of exchange programmes they have packaged to assist journalists do their job perfectly. This include areas like environmental degradation, frequent harassment and assault on journalists, as well as that of human rights.
Mr. Brooks also said that a lot depend on the country’s leaders and the elected representatives of the people of Nigeria must make steady progress and not to depend solely on the International communities.
On the proliferation and movement of arms in the country by various organizations, he stated that the lot falls on the security agencies, whose duty it is to checkmate the illegality.
According to him, “all we can do as a country is to train your personnel in this aspect and as well ensure that through due process, all illegally acquired fund is repatriated”.
On the question of whether US would help Nigerians on value re-orientation for the citizens. Mr. Brooks said that is left for the citizens themselves.
“Nigeria has to be determined to have a value re-orientation for themselves and the country. It is the people who will decide what they want and how they want to go about it”, he said.
The Consulate Public Affairs Officer made it clear that in USA they place limited expectation on their country, while here in Nigeria a lot is expected from the government.
“The government at all levels as well as NGOs and private sectors all have their roles to play in the development of the county”, he noted.
He also made it clear that Nigerian leaders should be held accountable for the outcome of their electoral process. However, he stated that regardless of which section of the country that voted for a candidate, if he/she emerges, it is his/her responsibility to protect and work for the whole in the interest of all.
Mr. Brooks made it clear that shortly after the forthcoming elections, the US has a lot of collaboration programmes to benefit the Nigerian Journalists to enhance their performance.
