BY EMMA NNADOZIE
The South-East, South-South Professionals, SESSP, a development and advocacy group, has bemoaned the loss of innocent lives in the post-election violence in some parts of north while extolling President Goodluck Jonathan and Professor Attahiru Jega, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  Chairman, “for restoring the confidence of Nigerians in the democratic process by ensuring the conduct of the 2011 general elections was free and fair.”

The group, however described  Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change,CPC, as a bad loser.

The group, in a statement in Lagos by its President, Emeka Ugwu-Oju and the Coordinator, Media Directorate,  Nick Idoko, expressed sadness that nothing was done to provide security to safeguard the lives of the youth corps members and other defenceless citizens and blamed CPC and its principal, Muhammadu Buhari, whom it accused of inciting his followers.

It called for “effective steps to be taken by all concerned stakeholders to support the integrity of the unfolding democratic process in Nigeria.

According to the group, such support included preventing further violence and upholding citizens’ rights to democratic public expression, peaceful public assembly, transparent and fair elections.

SESSP said: “It is encouraging and praiseworthy that leading civil society organizations, political figures, analysts and media in Nigeria and international organizations such as the European Union, EU,  foreign and local observers, have taken important and positive steps in calling for this, while citizens and right organizations are working to re-assert a public space free from all forms of violence.

“We also recognize and appreciate the important and difficult role of the Nigeria police in maintaining public security. We  commend respect and support to the citzens’ legitimate right to peaceful assembly, and the restraint shown by the police at several points during the tragic riots.

Protection of human security, prevention of violence both to property and to people, and support for peaceful and active engagement by citizens and responsible steps by all stakeholders to address the current situation are non-negotiable priorities”, Ugwu-Oju reiterated.”

They described the riots as a throw-back to the cave wars of primitive societies and urged  President Goodluck Jonathan to take decisive action and thoroughly investigate and unravel the immediate and remote circumstances surrounding the uprising and ensure that all actors implicated in the inhuman acts face the full wrath of the law.