Sarah Domozu, The Sight News
In line with the forth coming general election, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has called on the religious body (CAN) to play its role in designing a peace building framework for the electioneering period.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Garba Abari said this on Friday, when he visited the National President of the CAN, Dr. Supo Ayokunle in Abuja, as part of the work of the National Stakeholders Dialogue Committee for Peace and Non-Violent election.
He told the leadership of the Christian body that it is their duty to plan and work for peace in Nigeria during this period, to ensure that the frenzy of politics does not add to the insecurity in the land.
In addition, he said religious leaders can also use the platforms of their various places of worship to send messages of peace to its adherents in line with the demands of the time and the dictates of their holy books.
In his words: “Nigeria is the largest population of black people with great economic potentials. We have seen how mismanagement of elections have led to crisis in Sierra leone, Liberia, Pakistan as well as other countries.
“No country can take up to 5% of Nigerians refugees in West Africa. Our politicians must be addressed by influential voices. Politicians are not helping matters in many instances.
Security Agencies should be preached to so that they can behave themselves in the best possible professional way. We must also raise our voice about the amount of hate being preached on the social media” Abari said.
On his part, the President of CAN in committing the leadership and their followers, said Nigeria is lucky to have a united body for all Christians with the capacity to reach most of its adherent with a single message.
According to him, the indications in both Ekiti and Osun states and the internal selection process in many of the political parties is a source of concern to all Nigerians who desire peace in the country.
He praised the NOA for initiating the stakeholders dialogue platform, saying nothing is too little or big to build a process that will produce a peaceful outcome for Nigerians. “the Ekiti and Osun elections and the intra party elections have sent jitters to the mind of our people. our politicians don’t care whether you are wounded or killed as long as they get what they want. The end justify the means. But leadership is sacrifice. Those who want to continue by all means are enemies of Nigeria.” He said .
Dr Ayokunle said CAN has already started creating awareness on the significance of 2019 general election through several of its channels.
Members of the National Stakeholders Dialogue committee on free and violence free 2019 election are drawn from the Security forces, International Development organisations, government bodies, Election management body, Civil Society,organisation and religious bodies.
