Election: NGO cautions youths against violence

THE Useful Youth Vision Concepts (UYVC), an NGO, has cautioned youths in the country to shun thuggery and other forms of violence before, during and after the planned general elections.

The President of the NGO, Mrs Adetokunbo Shonibare, gave the advice in an Interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Shonibare said that Nigerian youths should realise that they were not only leaders of tomorrow but that some of them constitute the structure of today’s leadership in the country.

She said youths owed the nation the obligation to be a good ambassador in any legitimate endeavours they might find themselves, in and outside the country.

Shonibare called on parents and guardians to check the conduct of their children and wards, to dissuade them from indulging thuggery, especially as the country prepares for another election on Saturday.

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“I want to urge youths to desist from any act that will jeopardise the peaceful election, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised Nigerians.

“They should maintain peace and decorum before, during and after the conduct of the general elections.

“The youth should resist the attempt by politicians to use them as agents to achieve their selfish ambition.

However, youths being the future of this country, deserve to be treated as persons with equal opportunities and rights to contribute to the development of our nation,” she said.

She also called on youths to unite against electoral violence, bad governance and sharp practices, adding that such practices were detrimental to the growth and development of the nation.

Shonibare called on them to be agents of peace in their various communities, most especially during the forthcoming general elections, to ensure a free and fair election.

NAN reports that INEC postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections to Feb. 23, citing logistics and operational problems for taking such decision.

NAN also reports that the Governorship and House of Assembly, as well as FCT Area Council elections, have been shifted from March 2 to March 9.