Politics
THE National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ebonyi Directorate, has intensified statewide campaign against electoral violence.
The director, Mr Chima Titus, gave the assurance on Friday during a visit to religious and traditional leaders in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state.
He said that electoral violence remained a huge threat to the nation’s political system.
Titus said that the sensitisation campaign became necessary to advance the nation’s democracy and achieve free, fair and credible Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections re-scheduled for March 18.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NOA team visited Mr Emmanuel Nwiboko, the Paramount Ruler of Echara Autonomous Community, and Alhaji Danjuma Gambo, the Sakiri of Hausa Community in Ebonyi.
The director decried the rate of violence during elections and the use of youths as tools.
He said that there was the need to preach peace, urging all hands to be on deck in building Nigeria.
“With electoral violence, bad leaders can emerge.
“We are appealing to you to continue to encourage your people to embrace peaceful elections,’’ Titus said.
He added that the leaders should encourage their subjects to maintain peace during the forthcoming population census.
“We, NOA staff, are doing our best on sensitising people across the 13 local government areas of the state.
“We must all be reminded that elections will come and go. Leaders will come and go but Nigeria and Ebonyi, in particular, remain permanent.
“For life to be meaningful, we all need a peaceful and prosperous nation,” the director said.
Responding, Nwiboko thanked NOA for the campaign, and pledged to take the message his people.
Also, Gambo said: “I want to call on politicians to embrace patriotism and love for our nation.
“ You cannot claim to love our country and be plotting chaos and destruction of lives and property.
“We have heard the message and we are going to disseminate it,” he said. (NAN)
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Tags: Chima Titus Emmanuel Nwiboko National Orientation Agency
