A Non Governmental Organisation, One Project Africa Reach Out Foundation, has organised a peace walk across Kaduna state to enlighten the people on ‘vote not fight’ in the forthcoming general elections.
The Team leader, Vote not Fight Campaign Kaduna, who is also the Executive Director One Project Africa, Mrs Zigwai Ayuba, said the walk is towards peaceful 2019 general elections, adding that the walk aimed at enlightening the public on the need to vote and not fight during the polls because election ‘no be war’.
Speaking at the police headquarters where they went to deliver message of ‘Vote No Fight, Election No Be War’, Zigwai expressed optimism that police will help in ensuring law and order during the elections. “The police should ensure that people who engage in hate speech and incitement are brought to book. The citizens too should shun violence and avoid vote selling and buying. With the support of police we are optimistic that such would be achieved.”
She however asked the police to call all stakeholders to order for peaceful conduct of 2019 elections. She said politicians should be looked up to as leaders and should ensure they do the right thing while seeking for vote and based their campaign on issues not things that would set people apart.
According to Zigwai, young people in Kaduna are now more enlightened compared to 2015 and they now understand that politicians are always ready to set them apart. “In that regard, we are calling on young people from the 23 LGAs to take the messages down to the grassroots to ensure that everyone is carried along, That means our efforts is already yielding results.
“We had few cases of campaign violence coming from 2015 experience and we are optimistic that going forward we would achieve much more in Nigeria and Kaduna state. The media should ensure that fake news is not being circulated and they should counter any form of fake information with right information.”
Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdul-Rahaman commended the group for their commitment toward passing message of peace and peaceful electoral process to Kaduna citizens. He advised Nigerian leaders to put their heads together to ensure Nigerians lives together undisturbed during and after the elections.
According to him, “Police would continue to partner with NGOs to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2019 general election. The problem with us in Nigeria is not the citizen but the leadership, once the leadership decides to do the right thing for better Nigeria, then we are all going to get it right. People ,who want to take the mantle of leadership of the country are still behaving as if they are in the process of learning.
“How could a politician be so naive to send young children to destroy common posters of opponent and bill boards. There is need to be cautious and engage in the right directions. Politicians should focus strictly on issue based campaign devoid of hate speech which is against the law. No one is above the law and the police would continue to provide level playing ground to sell manifestoes, not hate speeches.”
