Runsewe harps on role of culture in free, fair elections

By Paul Efiong, Abuja

Director General National Council for Arts and Culture(NCAC) Dr Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has again emphasized the role of culture in free, fair and transparent election in the country.
Director General spoke at a stakeholders conference in Abuja yesterday, saying that, the theme of the event,” Building a Culture of Peace Towards 2019 Elections” was carefully chosen to show the importance of peace in every election in the country.
He said that Nigeria’s peculiarity and cultural heritage should be used to build peace among people even during elections.
“As the nation prepares for 2019 general election, it has become highly desirable for us to remind ourselves of the need to eschew all forms of violence,so as to create a conducive. Environment for smooth, peaceful, free and fair general elections in 2019.”
DG concluded his speech by challenging leaders” our leaders have the responsibility of promoting peaceful election by showing good example and leading the people on the part of peace adding that democratic good governance is the bed rock of meaningful development”.
The key note speaker, Alhaji Baba Baraou advised all not to see politics as a do and die affairs.
In his good will message, the Director Voters Education and Publicity of the Independent National Electoral commission(INEC) said his commission always advocate support from all and sundry adding that once peace is bridge during and after election many people suffer for it.
“Peace has no substitute, we wants all families to support us in order to achieve free and fair elections”
He further pledged his commission’s readiness to conduct free, transparent election next year, calling on the NCAC to rise in support of INEC and to propagate basic ideals that will lead to transparent and rewarding election in Nigeria.
Also speaking was a representative of the National council for Women Society(NCWS) Mrs Chinyere Okpara who stated her support toward credible election in the country.
She observed that when crisis rocks, is women that always suffer most in the country.
Barr Suleiman who represented the National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN) urged Youths to cast their vote according to their conscience noting that violence does no good to anyone.
Oba of Yoruba in FCT, HRH Oba Segun Salau in his address supported president Buhari presidential ambitions urging people to avoid electoral violence in the country.
The chairman of the occasion and former minister of Information, general IBM Haruna thanked the NCAC for putting the event together urging politicians to imbibe Nigeria traditional core values such as peace, justice, fair play etc in everything as 2019 draw closer.