A Non Governmental Organization, Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), has called on the youths to shun all acts of violence, saying that everyone must strive to ensure a hitch free election in the state.
The Acting Executive Director of PIBCID, Halima Oyiza Sadiq stated this at Idrinana Hotel Lokoja, during the Kogi youth conference on non violent election
According to her PIBCID is implementing the programme in partnership with National Democratic Institute, (NDI), through her ‘Vote not Fight, Election no be war campaign project’
She said the the campaign is one of the various activities of the Organization aimed at further sensitizing and educating the youths on shunning violence before, during and after the election in the state.
According to Mrs Sadiq, the definition of election is a formal and organized choice by vote for electing a leader into an office and not war
She noted that the youths needs to change their orientation about election, adding that the perception of the youth and the electorates generally towards election has to change, saying that election is not war according to the definition, “neither is Kogi state a war zone”
According to her, the introduction of violence into the electoral space is totally unacceptable, babaric, urging the youth not to toe that line.
She called on the youth of Kogi not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs, but rather put on their thinking cap and vote wisely, instead of fighting and being used as instrument for violence.
Mrs Sadiq charged the youths to rather demand for a conducive environment that will enable them to thrive in their various fields of endeavour.
