By Christian Njoku
The European Union, (EU) has stated that its oath of neutrality in the Feb. 25 and March 11 general election in Nigeria remains sacrosanct.
The EU Election Observation Mission led by the duo of Robert Hall and Diana Ferrari made the pledge during a visit to the Founder and Spiritual Leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) Leader Olumba-Olumba Obuh in Calabar.
Explaining their mission during the visit, Hall, said it was imperative that they stopped over to see the spiritual leader because from their intelligence he had influenced his large adherents positively.
He commended the spiritual leader for sacrificial efforts at uniting families and communities.
“We are election observers on assignment to Cross River and Akwa Ibom and we received good reports about the spiritual leader and his large followers he has influenced positively in Nigeria.
“Since we are to educate the electorate on the need to participate in the general election by casting their votes, there was the need for us to visit the Leader of BCS.
“Speaking about neutrality during the election, nothing can make us violate our mandate or the oath taken to be neutral in the election,” he said.
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Responding, Obu said he was very happy over their visit and will afford them the desired cooperation adding that the forthcoming election was very important to Nigerians but that he had no preferred presidential candidate.
He told the EU delegation that He had admonished his adherents to freely exercise their franchise to whoever the spirit administered to them.
“I urge Nigerians to be peaceful in the conduct of the general election and it must be devoid of vote buying, rigging, violence and killings.
“On EU’s request to know more about BCS my mission and teachings border on love, forgiveness, peace and unity of all races,” he said
He assured the EU Observers of their safety throughout their stay in Nigeria, adding that he would gladly receive them again since they promised to return to the organisation in continuation of their voter education. (NAN)
