Mr. Byel blamed politicians for violence associated with elections in the country.The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Northeast Zone, on Tuesday appealed to politicians to eschew actions that would trigger the 2011 post-election violence in 2015.

The chairman of the association, Shuaibu Byel, made the call in an interview in Bauchi.

He blamed politicians for violence associated with elections in the country.

“Our politicians, in pursuits of selfish interest, have made election a do-or-die affair. As a result people are being killed and properties destroyed whenever there is an election.

“The 2011 post-election violence that led to the destruction of properties and loss of lives is still fresh in our minds. We do not want a repeat of that.

“Politicians must desist from instigating violence every time we have an election. This will save the country from self annihilation.

“They must not take the law into their hands and they must stop using youths as thugs to perpetuate their evil scheme,” he said.

He called on politicians to desist from using religion as an excuse to cause violence, saying “without peace, no one will practice his religion.

“There are as much Christians in the north as there are Muslims in the south. We should therefore, shun violence, regionalism and ethnicity in favour of popular candidates.

“Nigerians should not be instigated to violence. We should not be instigated to regionalism or ethnicity.

“Politicians should exhibit high sense of responsibility while playing politics”, Mr. Byel said.
(NAN)