By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
A Professor of Mass Communications in Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Anthony Igyuve has advised youth not to make themselves available tools for violence on the outcome of the 2023 general elections.
Igyuve gave the advice while delivering a keynote address at “The Peace For Free Lecture Series” with the theme “Sustainable Peace Beyond Elections” held on Thursday in Abuja, organised by a Civil Society Group, Peace For Free Advocacy Initiative.
Igyuve commended Nigerians youth for their uncommon courage, enthusiasm and active participation in the last general election in spite of the challenges, which he described as the demonstration of the commitment to make Nigeria better.
He said that youth needed to know that the dream of better Nigeria that made them participate in the election would not be possible if there was no peace in Nigeria.
Igyuve tasked young Nigerians to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan who sacrificed his ambition for the peace of the country when he contested and lost against President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
“Today your future is more important than any other thing and that future can best be guaranteed under a democratic governance and peaceful environment.
“If there are grievances arising from the outcome of an election, there are institutional mechanisms that we peacefully take to resolve the conflicts that may arise from there.
“So, let no one make themselves easily available for politicians to manipulate by causing unnecessary unrest because those who are manipulating you don’t have good intentions for you.
“They are not doing it because they love you. They are doing it because they want to benefit from you.
“It is when you recognise that, then you will recognise the importance of peace in our societies and in our communities,” he said.
He equally commented those who contested the 2023 general elections that already tolled the path of peace by seeking redress in the court, urged the need for the youth to sustain that.
“The peace building that we are asking to be sustained beyond elections is what we are saying should be done. And I’m happy that the process has already commenced.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Convener, Chris Kalu, said that the teeming youth population across Nigeria must be speedily, properly mobilised, enlightened to understand and appreciate the dynamics of the country’s political system in order to positively play their role towards sustainable peace in the country.
Kalu said that enlightenment needed to be done rather than allowing them to be left to sway to the whims and caprices of unscrupulous, unpatriotic political marksmanship.
He said that what was important especially now that Nigeria sought to achieve sustainable peace at this critical moment of democratic transition, following the conduct of a recent general election.
“There’s no doubt that this year’s elections so far have generated a lot of public attention, particularly from Nigerian youth who are remarkably increasing their political participation in our collective struggle for good governance unlike in the past.
“Election is an important part of democracy, which in itself is a process involving human and technological elements not absolutely immune from errors.
“Like all processes, democracy needs to be allowed to grow, to develop to maturity for most of the population to enjoy the promises and gains thereof,” Kalu said.
He said that peace, unity, tolerance and dialogue remained the critical ingredients for a healthy democracy without which no progress could be realised in the country.
He said that the Peace For Free Lecture Series is a nationwide highly interactive peace building effort, which has already been held in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria including: Delta, Lagos, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Plateau, Borno states, with Abuja as the climax.
The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, commending the group for the initiative, urged Nigerians to come together to promote sustainable peace.
Ojukwu said that as a large nation of cultural and religious diversities, all citizens must learn to tolerate one another and eschew division and discrimination that tend to fuel the embers of violence which is antithetical to development.
“Individually and collectively, we have a role to play to nurture the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria otherwise we will be adversely affected one way or another.
“The ethnic and religious tensions in some parts of Northern and Southern Nigeria respectively are clear testimonies that peace pays while war, violence and conflicts bring destruction in terms of human and material resources,” he said.
