AHEAD of the Saturday 16th Presidential and National Assembly election, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has appealed to the political class to desist from comments that could incite violence.
This call became necessary following the already heated up political atmosphere across the country and eruption of violence in some parts of the country.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Director General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari said any politician who uses inciting utterances would be held accountable.
“It has, therefore, become imperative to appeal to all Nigerians, irrespective of political persuasions, to tow the path of peace in the remaining days leading up to the elections as well as during and after the elections.
“We must be conscious at all times of the fact that we must have a country first before we can practice democracy or engage in politicking. We have no other country but Nigeria and therefore cannot afford to set the roof over our own heads on fire because, if we do, we will burn with it and neither the present nor posterity will acquit us.
“Moreover, no political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian; hence the need to keep the peace before, during and after elections.
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“In the light of the very unsettling and highly combustible statements credited to politicians in recent weeks, I call on our politicians, across all divides, to desist from making utterances capable of inciting violence in an already charged polity.
“I also wish to remind our politicians that they will certainly be held accountable for any acts of violence traceable to them, whether they are in power or out of power; if not immediately, then ultimately. No one is above the law, therefore, politicians should be properly guided and do the right thing at all times”, Dr Abari said.
He also called on the youths to prevent themselves from being used as an object of violence, and see any politician who incites them into violence as an enemy.
“I also appeal to the youth to mark any politician who attempts to incite them to violence and have nothing to do with them because such politician is the enemy of their future.
“No politician will ever send his own child to engage in political violence because they know the destructive effects of violence on both the perpetrator and the victim. Our youths must also note that no politician who sponsors them for violence will pay them any true allegiance if he eventually wins the election and gets into office. You should, therefore, shun such persons who endanger you and the society and also shun drug and substance abuse which can predispose you to violence.
“It is noteworthy and commendable that the security agencies have repeatedly assured Nigerians of their commitment to keeping lives and property safe at all times and particularly during the coming elections. Let me, therefore, urged Nigerians to keep the faith in the ability and commitment of our security agencies to ensure that the electorates turn out and cast their votes without fear of molestation”, Abari said.
The NOA DG said the Agency was working in concert with multi-sector stakeholders, to carry out massive sensitization on the need for peace in our country before, during and after the election.
“The national flag off which took place on Monday 21st of January had many of the stakeholders participating actively. From that dialogue, it was clear that election security duties are essentially for the police under the directive of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“However, other security forces remain on standby to assist the police when issues of criminality and breakdown of law and order rear their ugly heads. We have also successfully done the six planned zonal launch of the programme, while community mobilization officers have been mobilized to move to the fields to preach the good news of peace and violence-free 2019 election.
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“On the average, NOA has in the last two weeks deployed about 2000 of its staff to the field to promote peaceful polls. This is in addition to several others from our partners, especially members of the stakeholders’ committee working in the various sectors in the promotion of violence-free election, he said.
Furthermore, Abari said “NOA has embarked on enlightenment programmes to educate Nigerians on the process for voting. On the fifteenth of January, 2019 the 774 local offices of the agency undertook simultaneously a voter education campaign.
“In Borno state, with its peculiar security situation, the agency undertook a road show to promote violence-free polls.
I am delighted to inform you that reports from our field offices are amazingly fascinating. Nigerians are eager to go to the polls this year.
The positive observations about Nigerians’ preparation for this year’s election are several including eagerness to build on the gains of 2015 especially in the area of peace and order; eagerness to gain information on the methods and procedures for election; and constant readiness to participate fully in the whole process.
In line with these observations, the Agency fully mobilised its staff and partners spread across the 36 states and 774 LGAs to carry out mass sensitization programmes that centred on the three critical issues viz reducing voided votes, ensuring peace and order during elections and campaign against vote buying and selling. These target areas follow a very successful though still on-going campaign against hate and fake messages”.
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