By Faith Yahaya and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Passion for Peace Initiative (PPI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), have urged the political class and citizens to avoid comments that are capable of throwing the country into turmoil ahead of the 2023 general election.
The Director-General of the NOA, Dr Garba Abari, noted that the country had been “plagued with sectional and divisive sentiments, fueled by rhetoric and innuendoes that play up our fault lines and pitch us against each other.”
Abari, who spoke during the unveiling of the “One Voice Nigeria” project said: “Our nationhood has been threatened by these centrifugal forces that thrive on fake news and hate speech.
“As the 2023 general elections approach, it is not unusual to see a spike in the use of such divisive narratives in our society, especially in the social and conventional media.”
The Director-General, who was represented by Director, Special Duties and State Operations, Mette Edekobi, said the NOA, together with PPI, will engage youths to adopt a peace-promoting disposition in all conversations about the country.
Executive Director of Passion for Peace Initiative, Lekan Jimoh, said the organisation was synergising with the NOA to raise awareness and re-orientate Nigerians on the values of transparency, accountability, nationalism and patriotism.
He said: “As a body, we are concerned about the agitations from parts of the country for a split. We have seen the enormous height we can attain as a country by being together.
“Nigeria is stronger and great when we stay together, work together, prosper together and overcome all divisive tactics together. Let’s speak oneness, peace, and progress together, let’s speak One Voice Nigeria together.”