By Stanley Onyekwere
Ahead of the forthcoming February 12 FCT Area Councils’ elections, the FCT Administration has kicked off engagement of youth on promoting peaceful co-existence especially during electioneering campaign period, in order to achieve a hit-free exercise.
In particular, hundreds of youth representatives across the 858 FCT communities and students’ groups, who gathered yesterday at Council Secretariat Hall, in Gwagwalada Area Council, were implored to shun violence by always remaining civil in the discharge of political responsibilities before, during and after the electioneering period.
Explaining the initiative, Anchor of the advocacy campaign, Isaac David, Special Adviser on Youth matters to the FCT Minister, said it was conceived in the interest of the teeming FCT youth across the 858 communities.
David disclosed that the FCT Administration through his office and FCT Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement Department (RCSID), working together with other youth stakeholders considered necessary, to have the message preached down to the various communities within the FCT.
According to him: “The advocacy meeting is very important, in order to effectively sensitise the youth on ensuring peaceful coexistence in the Territory.
“As youth, we should know that the future is in our hands, hence there is no point for hating or fighting each others in the name of politics. And hatred doesn’t given room for peaceful co-existence even among members within the same family.
“So we are calling on the youth both original inhabitants and residents to be law-abiding citizens, and they should remember that violence doesn’t put food on the table for anyone.
Also speaking, President of Non-indigenous Youth Residents Association of FCT, Mukhtar Akoshile, described the timing of peace advocacy as very apt, “because if it had come earlier than this time, maybe the youth would have forgotten there is such message of peace during the election.
“This is one of its kind, which means that the young people have come to take their future into their hands, without any deceit from any politician.
“Both Ministers of FCT and the Permanent Secretary are all trying to ensure that they support the FCT youth stakeholders forum to contribute to the development of the society.”
Earlier, in his keynote address, Commandant of FCT Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Peter Maigari, stressed the importance of stakeholders involvement in ensuring crisis-free elections.
Maigari, who was represented by Felix Ikwuegbu, urged youth to be very active in activities that promotes peace and security before, during and after the electioneering period
Similarly, representative of Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Zakari, said the initiative would ease the work of the security agencies before, during and after the electioneering process.
Not left out, Mr. Fatai, who represented the Acting Director, RCSID, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, noted that the peace advocacy, which commenced Wednesday would constructively engage critical stakeholders especially youth, women, community and religious leaders across the Territory.
