The Nation Newspaper

Tag: peaceful election

  • When poet preaches peaceful election

    Evelyn Osagie Live on The Mat Carpet was held penultimate Friday at the Apata Canal in Somolu, Lagos State. The event, a poetry performance with the theme: ‘Vote With Ink Not Blood’, was her way of preaching peaceful elections, OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

    It was a day packed full of activities. Oladeinde Street at Apata Canal, in Somolu area of Lagos State, became a gallery and a tourist attraction of a sort as artworks, mainly photographs, doted the street.

    There were decorations with mat with inscriptions such as “Beauty of Africa” and photographs, which depicted togetherness, love, unity and encouragement that all Nigerians should vote, but ensure peace in the elections.

    There were also live poetry, musicals and dramatic performances, chanting and dancing. It was a fiesta to behold. Welcome to the Open-Air Poetry Performances and Together Series Outdoor Art Installation by a poet, Evelyn Osagie.

    It was the second edition of her “Words Meet Images” programme with the theme: “Vote With Ink Not Blood”. It was attended by over 200 people, especially from the community. The residents said it was the first time they were experiencing such. “It was like walking into a different street, I feel like I am in one of those places on the Island with those kind of decorations. We are happy that this kind of event, which encourages us to fight against violence was brought to us. We and our children will not forget this in a hurry,” said Mrs Alao, who also called herself Iya Rosin.

    The event also featured the breaking of kolanuts, drama by Somolu market women, who were part of Osagie’s “human installation” to preach against domestic violence, and a session of prayers for Nigeria in Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa languages.

    “Words Meet Images  (WMI) is a melting point that not only brings together different art forms, but also people from various places and social strata – this time its focus is using  poetry and visual art (photography) to preach peace and unity. The maiden edition was held on February 24, 2018, at Iju Road Agege, a place where people from different ethnic groups have co-existed peacefully for decades,” Osagie said.

    Osagie, aka Evelyn D’POET, took guests round her works of art on the street, saying the images pass across various messages to Nigerians. She noted that “when we stand together we can move the nation forward”.

    Her words:  “Among the messages on these art works is to show the need for the next election to be with ink and not blood, and to tell politicians that Nigerians do not want bloodshed during the elections. I am also using these art works to urge Nigerians and our leaders that there must be peace in the country, we must all get our PVC, everyone, including women, must come out to vote and our vote must count.”

    She also used the art works to explain the value of women in the society, while she urged parent to take the talent in their children with seriousness.

    Osagie, an award winning Journalist and Senior Correspondent with The Nation, held the crowd in awe with her poems titled: “The Sun Rise”, “Women Arise” and “Somolu Symphony”.

    They were poems, songs and musical. They centred on peace, hope, unity, campaign against domestic violence and a celebration of Africa, Nigeria and Somolu.

    She said: “My poetic performances and outdoor installation are to remind us of the need for peace (during and after the elections), encouraging us to pursue peaceful means of making our cases known as we move deeper into another election year. If we forget the reason why we must fight for the peace and unity in our land, let art, nature, our children and animals remind us,” she said.

    The event also featured live musical acts by budding talents, such as Olamilekan Johnson, (Lammy John), Tunde Ara and Voice Empire, a group discovered by the organiser at WMI Agege edition. An Igbo flutist, poet and dance producer, Mazi Osuji, also thrilled guests, presenting his poem in Igbo .

  • Civil society groups call for peaceful election

    The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria yesterday called on all political parties and politicians to be orderly during the governorship election in Ekiti State today.

    The organisations which comprises more than 70 groups, made the appeal in a statement from their situation room, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti.

    The civil society organisations charged all the leaders of the political parties and the politicians to comport themselves well at the polling units and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.

    The organisations equally charged security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure the safety of election observers and the electorate.

    The groups urged voters to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid any harassment by the security officers.

    NAN reports that some of the civil society organisations that jointly released the statement include Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation and Action Aid Nigeria.

    Others are Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI), Enough is Enough Nigeria, WANGONET and Partners for Electoral Reform, among others.

  • Ooni sues for peaceful election in Ekiti

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has called on politicians and voters in Ekiti State to ensure the conduct of a peaceful governorship election on July 14. The foremost traditional ruler said the electioneering and other processes leading to voting and announcement of result must be devoid of chaos and violence. Oba Ogunwusi enjoined the political gladiators to allow the electorate to decide, saying “power belongs to God who gives it to whoever he wishes.”

    The monarch spoke yesterday shortly after he was bestowed with an honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration at the 23rd Convocation of Ekiti State University (EKSU). Others who bagged honorary doctorate degrees are the Odoba of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Alex Olu Ajayi; a philanthropist, Dr. Sehinde Olatunji; a Bank Executive Director, Dr. Falil Ayo Abina; a business magnate, Mr. Israel Ovirih, and an alumnus, Mr. Abiodun Olusegun Oladapo.

    Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose, and wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Janet Olusola, graduated with Master’s of Education (M.Ed) in Guidance and Counselling at the convocation. Governor Ayo Fayose who called out the duo for special recognition “anointed” Mrs. Olusola as the next Ekiti First Lady while Ooni lauded the two women for choosing to do their Master’s programmes at the state-owned university when they had the opportunity to study abroad.

    “We will continue to pray for you (Ekiti people) from the throne of Oduduwa for peaceful election. Let us put Ekiti first and the progress of Ekiti should be paramount. Let us see ourselves as brothers and sisters and let the people decide because it is God that gives power. We don’t want violence in Yoruba land, again, we don’t was chaos in Yoruba land. Power belongs to God Almighty,” the monarch urged.

  • NBA challenges security agencies on peaceful election

    •Police underpaid, says Ekiti cj

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado-Ekiti Branch, has urged security agencies to ensure safety of lives and property before, during and after the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti State. Ado-Ekiti NBA Chairman, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, made the call while addressing a press conference to mark the commencement of the 8th Annual Law Week of the association.

    The theme for this year’s Ado-Ekiti NBA Law Week is: “Insecurity in Nigeria’s Stunted Metamorphosis to Greatness.”

    Those that will be honoured at the weeklong event are Justice Bamidele Omotoso, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, Chief Ibuoye Gbadebo and Mr. Oluwadare  Oluwatayo. They will receive the prestigious eminent lawyers’ awards by NBA National

    President, A.B. Mahmoud.

    Adaramola called for strong legal frameworks on how insurgents can be tackled, describing terrorism as a serious danger to peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

    The NBA boss noted that, although Ekiti is a peaceful state, the security agencies should ensure that there is no breach of peace as the governorship poll approaches.

    Adaramola said: “I have the belief that security agencies are up to the task. For the past four years, there is relative peace in Ekiti State.

    “I believe that security agencies like the Police, DSS and NSCDC have the capacity to curtail any uprising. Ekiti is peaceful and we believe that this will be maintained during the election.”

    In his keynote address, the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, lamented that policemen in Nigeria are underpaid which affects their morale to tackle security challenges.

    According to him, insecurity of life will deny the country of investment and retard its development.

    He said: “Any nation that lacks adequate security of lives and property will remain undeveloped and will forever struggling to make any meaningful impact in the comity of nations.

    “Insecurity is a major disincentive to foreign investments which a developing country like ours seriously needs to quicken its growth.”

  • INEC hails ‘peaceful election’

    INEC hails ‘peaceful election’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expressed satisfaction yesterday with the peaceful conduct of the governorship election in Kogi State.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Halilu Pai, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, that the election was successful and peaceful.

    Pai, who spoke shortly after the conclusion of voting attributed the success to the perfect arrangements put in place by the commission in collaboration with critical stakeholders like the parties, security agencies and the civil society.

    The resident electoral commissioner also lauded the voters for their positive attitude to the election which, he added, was largely responsible for the successful conduct of the polls.

    He said that the preparations for the election were guided by the experiences of the commission in the last general election, saying that the smooth and timely arrival of materials and electoral personnel underscored the success achieved.

    Pai said that the collation of the results from the 3,018 polling units at the 239 wards in the state had also commenced.

     

  • Pupils seek peaceful election

    Davsol Model School pupils and their colleagues in six  schools in Ejigbo, Lagos State, have campaigned for peaceful elections.

    Last Thursday, they took to the streets with placards reading: ”All we need is free and fare election, say no to violence”.

    The Principal of the school: Ugochukwu  Stephen, said: ”The aim of the rally is to seek peace. We want our leaders to desist from every unpatriotic attitude and also withdraw from every plot that may lead to war and allow the fear of God to be their priority.”

    He said the placards  were one way of lending their voices on the need for a peaceful election.

    “The campaign was done to show solidarity and support for a peaceful election and to tell the community that we all have part to play in building up this nation,” Ugochukwu added.

    A pupil of Divine Salvation Comprehensive College Ejigbo AkanbI Mercy, said: ”All we plead for as pupils  is free and fare election from our leaders in order to save the country from violence and avoid causalities.’’

    She appealed to eligible voters, to please vote their conscience and stay out of trouble during and after elections.

    “And to our political leaders, this fortcoming election should not be seen as do or die. Defeated candidates should take it in good faith. It is how God wants,’’ she said.

    The campaign was held with City Changers, a group of individuals committed to remoulding behavioral pattern of Nigerian and coaching people to uphold our true national values.

     

  • No Baga group rallies for peaceful election

    Head of the general elections, a group of practitioners in the creative industry under the auspices No Baga group have been campaigning for nonviolence in Nigeria.

    The group is led by the Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and the co-convener, Kanayo. O. Kanayo.

    Speaking during the launch of the initiative recently, Kanayo called on Nigerians across political divides to see election as an integral part of democracy and popular choice, not a do or die matter.

    ”This particular election has generated too much tension and hate across the country. There is so much ethnic and religious hate messages going on social media and offline that one begins to wonder if this is about service to the people. The NO BAGA Movement as a group will be deploying different communication messages and platforms to preach for peace and non-violence before and after this election. General Buhari and President Jonathan are Nigerians and respected leaders. Their supporters should also remember we must have a country before either of them can be or remain our leader,” he said.

    As part of the advocacy campaigns around Nigeria, the group which comprise Patience Ozokwor, Nkem Owoh, Alex Osifo, Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze, and other notable male and female actors have distributed over 1000 bags of 25kg rice and other essential commodities such as clothes, blankets, plates, among others to the camps of Internally Displace People in Abuja, Jos and in Kaduna to over 3million people in various IDP camps across in the north.

    In her speech, the Anyiam-Osigwe revealed that her motivation and that of the other members of the group was the level of violence in the North East and how Boko Haram insurgents are killing people daily without other Nigerians, particularly southerners showing concerns.

    “The children and women that were brutally killed in Baga, Gwoza, Chibok, Maiduguri, Yobe, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Nassarawa are Nigerians like us. I am an Igbo woman and we Igbos are everywhere in Nigeria. Any violence anywhere in Nigeria affects me because my Igbo brothers and sisters will be victims. We are all Nigerians whether you are Hausa, Ijaw, Yoruba, Tiv, Fulani, Igbo, Itsekiri or Benin. What NO BAGA Group is saying is Vote Not Hate,” she said.

  • Anyiam-Osigwe, K.O.K, others canvass peaceful election

    Anyiam-Osigwe, K.O.K, others canvass peaceful election

    A new Non Governmental Organisation, NoBaga, which said it is committed to promoting the culture of nonviolence and free and fair elections, held its Town Hall meeting, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, urging Nigerians to embrace peace in the forthcoming general elections.

    The meeting which was presided over by Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, was attended by entertainers, students of  tertiary institutions, journalists, as well as NoBaga ambassadors, who were dressed in white Tee-Shirt with the ‘Vote, Not Hate’ inscription.

    In his address, K.O.K noted that the meeting was not a political campaign, but a clarion call to Nigerians to shun violence and focus on crucial issues. He explained that Baga, being the last community in Borno State to come under insurgent attacks, is being used as the group’s name.

    “The point we are trying to make is you have a choice to vote for whoever but we must not fight about it. I’m a very big optimist. I am not predicting that there will be war, but we must not encourage those who are beating the drums of war,” said the actor, who revealed that he was only seven years old when he witnessed the Nigeria/Biafra war. He recounted his ordeals, sayings that those who are fuelling violence and making inciting comments have their visas intact, while their children also school abroad. “This is not about Jonathan or Buhari. Your love for Nigeria should be paramount. This is what is called patriotism,” he said.

    Founder of the group, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, said the idea of NoBaga is a way of taking a stand against violent killings in the country. She revealed that it was a day after Baga attack that she lost her brother, Michael Anyiam-Osigwe, who was killed by gunmen during a rampage which took over 20 others lives. She said she has not stopped grieving and this has made her to realise how families of those Nigerians who have lost their lives in the series of insurgent attacks truly feel.

    “NoBaga, means ‘No More Killings,” she said. “The people dying in the North are Nigerians. We are supposed to be our brother’s keeper. Is it because it is not happening to us? I don’t know what it will take for Nigerians to have compassion. Inciting hate in the manner it has been going on in the nation because of election is a deadly thing. America has predicted that Nigeria will break by 2015. Do you want that prophesy of America to come to reality? Who I am going to vote for is a personal decision, but I’m not going to follow the hate campaign. Vote based on your conviction, vote who you like.”

    She said in addition, the group is organising a forum called Unity Day, having reached out to displaced people from the crisis areas. “This Saturday, February 7, we are going to have what is known as a unity day. It is a day of prayers and a day we are going to remember our brothers and sisters who died in the North East.”

    Nollywood actress, Nkiru Umeh, also urge all to embrace peace, even as notable comedian, Okey Bakassi, noted: “All your aspiration will come to nothing if by February 14, there is war. We are building hate that is gradually crossing the lines of friendship. I have said to myself, I’m not going to lose any of my friends to politics because these politicians were not there when these friendships were formed”.

    Also speaking, Joshua Okoluwa, a student of University of Lagos, advised the youths not to allow themselves to be used as political tugs. According to him, “These politicians do not like us. They say we are leaders of tomorrow, let’s form our own political party then and rule Nigeria. Why can’t we be the politicians ourselves?”