By Wale Ajetunmobi

The United States President Barack Obama has sent a strong message to Nigeria, warning politicians against resorting to violence if the outcome of the February 14 presidential election is not favourable to them.

Obama said the U.S government and international community are watching political activities in Nigeria closely and would not recognise a massively flawed electoral process.

The U.S. President spoke through the Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, who is in the country to discuss key issues, including security and election, with the government. He described the general election as the largest democratic process in Africa, saying the U.S. government expected the election to not only be conducted peacefully, but also credible and transparent.

Kerry, who also met with leading candidates in the presidential election yesterday, said the U.S. would not support the shifting of the election date, stressing that any politician who organised a widespread “systematic violence” against civilian population will be held accountable, including placing them on diplomatic sanction.

He said: “I came here today to deliver a very simple message and I have met with both major candidates to underscore that international community has paid a very close attention into this election and we are deeply committed to working with Nigerians with the hope that they will have an election that is free of violence and capable of instilling confidence in the future.”

The U.S. envoy said there was need for a long-term and comprehensive global effort to combat violent extremism and to address its underlying causes. Nigeria, he said, knows how such global effort is desperately needed.

He said the U.S was concerned about the effrontery of Boko Haram, which, he said, daily visits its bloody campaign on innocent civilians, and attack villages and military installations in places like Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. He said the U.S. government deeply regretted the toll, which insurgency was taking on the people.

Kerry dismissed the notion that there is an alliance between Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and Boko Haram, saying intelligence before the U.S. government showed the latter sprang up independently.

He said President Obama pledged his support for the Nigerian troops in fighting Boko Haram insurgency. He said there was need for a multi-national strategy that will not only crush Boko Haram and Al-qaeda, but which would also address the environment from where violent extremism grows.

He said: “This is why President Obama announced an international summit next month in Washington on combating violent extremism around the world. It will be held at the White House and it will be at the ministerial level and we hope to bring people together; they will be engaged on the fight against Boko Haram and other entities. So, we can share best practices and we can hear from people about what they need and what they think is necessary to summon stronger global response.”

The envoy said the best way to combat Boko Haram is by organising peaceful, credible and transparent election, which he said is essential for any thriving democracy. Nigeria, which he described as the largest thriving democracy in Africa, cannot afford to miss the opportunity.

“It is imperative these elections happen on time as scheduled and must be improvements over past elections. They must set a new standard for this democracy. That means, Nigerians must not only reject violence, they have to actually promote peace.

“I met with President Jonathan earlier today (yesterday) and separately with Gen. (Muhammadu) Buhari. I was encouraged to hear once again from both men that, this is exactly what they intend to do; to try to press for election that would be held with credibility, which people of Nigeria want and deserve.

“As President Jonathan said in his New Year’s message, ‘none of our political ambitions is worth the blood of any of our countrymen, women and children’. And as Gen. Buhari recently twitted, ‘electoral violence is unacceptable and every Nigerian life is sacred’. Both candidates have also signed on to the so-called Abuja Accord, which commits them to running exclusively issue-based campaigns, refraining from violence before during and after election day;  And speaking out against violence.

“This is a commitment we need to see from everyone. And they are commitments that need to be kept. Many people are stepping out. For example, Comrade (Attahiru) Jega, chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the commission’s employees are taking concrete steps to guarantee these elections are successful. We also urged all Nigerian governors to call for peaceful democratic engagements. We ask all parties, candidates to do the same.”

If any candidate had reason to doubt the outcome of the election, Kerry said such person must explore legal channel, which he said is the most viable option and fundamental to the democratic process.

He said Nigeria remained a strategic partner of the United States and has critical roles to play in development of Africa. The envoy said U.S. government is committed to ensure the general election is successful, noting that President Obama, last week, sent an Electoral Security Adviser to advise INEC on security and risk for any violence that might emerge.

He said: “Let me be clear. Anyone who participates in widespread systematic violence against the civilian population must be held accountable, including ineligibility for American visa. Violence has no place in democratic elections and I guarantee you that, the perpetrators of such violence will not be welcomed in the United States of America.”