TheCable

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has flagged off its nationwide campaign for peaceful elections.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Garba Abari, NOA director-general, said the agency is reaching out all 774 local  government areas in the country on the need for a violent free election.

The campaign is being organised in partnership with national stakeholders committee on peaceful general election.

“This campaign across Nigeria which will be implemented in the 774 local governments in the 36 states and Abuja will also feature six zonal sensitisation sessions,” Abari said.

“As part of this campaign for peaceful general elections, the National Orientation Agency is deploying peace-building programmes and peace messaging through jingles and flyers to sensitize the public on the need for collective commitment towards peaceful general elections.”

He also decried the rate of violence in elections, especially with youth as major tools.

According to him, “our youth who are easily used by unscrupulous politicians as cannon fodder for the perpetration of violence must be called to order.

“This responsibility lies on parents. guardians, religious leaders, oppinion moulders, traditional rulers and youth leaders across the country as we draw near to the commencement of the general elections.

“It is indeed time for our youth across Nigeria to say no to greedy, selfish politicians who would want to tempt them with the lures of money and other material benefits to lead them to destruction of lives and property, before, during and after the elections.”

The NOA DG also cautioned politicians to desist from sowing “the seeds of acrimony, tribal and religious discord because of desperation for political gains”.

“I want to call on such politicians to embrace patriotism and love of nation. You cannot claim to love our country and yet be plotting chaos and destruction of lives and properties,” he said.

“We must all be reminded that elections come and go. Leaders come and go but Nigeria our beloved country remains permanent. We all need a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria for life to be meaningful and for our businesses and vocations to thrive.

“Democracy as a model of government is a beautiful concept that has succeeded in many countries because of the freedom of choice it offers to the citizen. Ours will not be different.”