Politics
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, on Friday charged youths in the state to shun vices and always resist attempts to be used as agents of destruction especially during forthcoming general elections.
Bello made the call during a Peace Walk organised by ActionAid Nigeria in the with participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID) to mark the 2018 World Peace Day in Lokoja.
The governor, who, also charged them to shun acts inimical to the peace and development of the state, urged them to contribute their quota to sustaining the existing peace in the state.
He said that his administration had built bridges of peace across and among all the ethnic groups in the state to foster unity among them.
The effort, according to him, was also aimed at paving way for peaceful co-existence and attainment of progress and development of the state.
The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Edward Onoja, said, “once there is peace, there will be development in terms of infrastructure and provision of basic social amenities to the people by the government.’’
Bello stressed that Kogi State was once the headquarters of armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism, adding that the scenario had changed due to the proactive measures put in place by the government.
Earlier, Mrs Gift Owonipa, ActionAid Programme Manager in the state and Executive Director, PIBCID, ActionAid local rights partner in Kogi, explained that the essence of the road walk was to cerebrate the peace being currently enjoyed by the people in the state.
Owonipa advocated for an improvement in the standard and quality of education in the state saying it remained the only catalyst for the promotion of peace and tranquillity in the society.
“As we advocate for peace, we are also advocating for an improvement in the standard of education to enable government sustain the existing peace in the state,’’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that government officials, representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), youths organisations and students participated in the Peace Walk. (NAN)
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