2019: NOA convenes stakeholders dialogue committee to ensure violence free poll

AHEAD of the 2019 general election draw close, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has convened a National Stakeholders Dialogue Committee for Peace and Violence Free 2019 Election, targeted at ensuring a hitch-free general election.

It will be recalled that the NOA in recent times has engaged stakeholders across the country in order to resolve some of the conflicts in the country especially the herdsmen and farmers clash which portends threat to upcoming general elections.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Director General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari said the Committee became necessary following the crisis across the country, especially in the North Eastern part of the country.

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According to him “one lesson we learnt from our engagements on peace and security is that as a collective, we can achieve more and make better impact. It is that reason that we are convening the National Stakeholders Dialogue Committee for Peace and Violence Free 2019 Election.

“The steering committee is drawn from major stakeholders from both public and private sector; security organizations, faith based organizations, CSOs, the media, the third sector including international organizations.

“Truly, our goal is to ensure that the pocket of crisis around the North Eastband other parts of the country do not escalate just because of our democratic tradition of choosing our leaders intermittently”.

Furthermore, Dr Abari said “the impact of today’s complex and multi-dimensional security challenges our shared vulnerabilities to growing risk of threats that are wide spread and cross-cutting. Today threats heighten the recognition that security can spread rapidly within Nigeria, and give rise to more intractable crisis.

He, however listed the aims of the Peace Committee to include “drive the conversation around peace during the election, to provide another platform for internal peace building within the political system.

“Showcase efforts of the leaders, past and present to foster and maintain the unity of Nigeria regardless of our differences in opinion. A reminder to the current political players that the unity, sustainable development and upholding the constitution of Nigeria is paramount to individual or group perception of Nigeria.

“Encourage political players to ensure elections are free, fair and credible in line with global best practice. Encourage political players to play the game by rules and regulations as prescribed in the constitution and the Electoral Act”.