The Director General, National Orientation Agency, (NOA), Dr Garba Abari has reminded Nigerians the need to have peace and stable country to practice electoral processes towards having good leaders at various levels across the country.
Dr. Abari, made the assertion at a media parley on Agency’s general activities and interventions before, during and after the 25th Presidential and National Assembly Elections, held in Kano.
Read Also: Elections: Nation’s peace, unity sacrosanct – NOA Boss
He said politicians who want to lead Nigerians at various levels now and in the future must realise 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.”
He 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 characterised the campaigns must now seize 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.
He pointed out that frequent engagement with the media, the fourth estate of the realm, has become very necessary in continued effort to communicate government policies, programmes and activities and engage with critical stakeholders on Agency’s mandate.
He further explained that before the Presidential and National Assembly Election, NOA had mobilised its structure for massive political enlightenment and voter education.
He revealed that all the Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs) in the 774 local councils, the staff from the 36 states and Abuja and other senior officers from the National Headquarters were mobilised for the exercise.
“All the departments at the Headquarters deployed to markets, motor parks, traditional rulers’ palaces and religious worship centres to spread the message of election 2023. Additionally, and through the accreditation of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) our COMOS and others, totalling about 1500 staff of the Agency observed the election in various units across the country.”
He further explained that before the Presidential and National Assembly Election, NOA had mobilised its structure for massive political enlightenment and voter education.
He revealed that all the Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs) in the 774 local councils, the staff from the 36 states and Abuja and other senior officers from the National Headquarters were mobilised for the exercise.
“All the departments at the Headquarters deployed to markets, motor parks, traditional rulers’ palaces and religious worship centres to spread the message of election 2023. Additionally, and through the accreditation of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) our COMOS and others, totalling about 1500 staff of the Agency observed the election in various units across the country.”
Read Also: Election: NOA urges Nigerians to stop utterances capable of overheating polity
He maintained that ensure free, fair, credible, transparent and rancour free elections, the Agency has carried out sensitization campaign against vote buying and selling to all its platforms on the social media and during engagement with other stakeholders.
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.
“As we approach the next set of elections this weekend, it is important that our people continue to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner as we continue to work together towards violence free and credible elections.
” We are worried by the call for violence by some political actors ahead of the governorship polls in some states such as Enugu, Rivers, Bauchi, Plateau, Abia, Lagos and Delta. We hereby call on security agencies to take these reports seriously and take measures that will ensure hitch free, peaceful elections.” Dr Garba Abari added.
In his remark, the Chairman, Kano Council of Nigeria Union Journalists, (NUJ) Comrade Abbas Ibrahim applauded the NOA Director General, Dr. Abari chosen Kano to conduct its National Media Parley.
