NOA calls for peaceful conduct of governorship, assembly elections
The National Orientation Agency,(NOA) has reemphasized to Nigerians the need to exercise restrain and ensure peaceful conduct of the governorship and state assemblies elections that will produce the rightful leaders that will deliver dividend of democracy to the peoPle.
NOA Director General , Dr. Garba Abari stated this in Kano on Thursday at a media parley on the agency’s general activities and interventions before, during and after the 25th February, Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
He said politicians who want to lead Nigerians at various levels now and in the future must realize that “If we lose the peace that we enjoy today, if we descend into violence and chaos, if we engage in acts that can open doors for dark people with ulterior motives to take advantage and wreak havoc on our country, we will all be losers. It is by far easier to destroy than it is to build.”
Abari also said, today, the challenge facing the country is how to sustain the peace and stability, stressing that at times like this, patriots, elder statesmen, women, men of conscience who put country over self must rise up to be counted and preach peace and stability.
The NOA Boss further said reasonable voices should be counted on the side of moderation and temperate conversation.
“We must all be sensitive and circumspect in the things that we say, write or show on our screens. I call on the major stakeholders in the political events that are unfolding to rein-in on their key supporters.”
He stressed that the caustic, insulting narratives that characterized the campaigns must now ceased on all sides.
He said the media parley held in Kano was part of the final preparations of the agency’s commitments to ensure success polls across the country.
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“we engaged all major stakeholders in Kano State to achieve a lasting cooperation towards the success of conducting a successful hitch free elections. The emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the council of Ulamas and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the major stakeholders to ensure that peace reign before , during and after the elections, ‘’Abari emphasized.
‘’Before the election the Agency mobilized over 4000 staff as canvassers to the general public for the success of the election.’’
“As you are aware, our strength lie at the grassroots where our community orientation and mobilization officers work. The agency’s pre-election activities and sensitization campaign focus are derived from our 2019 reports where we isolated a number of issues as problems facing our contemporary democracy.”
Dr. Abari furrher maintained that NOA has also sought the cooperation of security agencies including the EFCC, ICPC and the Police to take action against those indulging in vote buying and selling.
On his part, the Chairman, Kano Council of Nigeria Union Journalists, (NUJ) Comrade Abbas Ibrahim applauded the NOA Director General, Dr. Garba Abari for choosing Kano to conduct its National Media Parley.
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