By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo
Ahead of the 2023 general election, The Akwa Ibom state government in partnership with United States Agency for International Development ( USAID)- State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness, (State2State) Activity have intensified efforts to curb violence and mitigate conflicts in the area.
At a Two Day quarterly dialogue on conflict prevention and mitigation in Uyo yesterday, the State2state Team Lead (STL) Mr. Borve Paago-Imabel disclosed that while working to increase responsiveness of citizen priorities, S2S activities also have the mandate to improve stakeholders capacity to manage societal conflict through prevention, mitigation and reconciliation.
Pagoo-Imabel posited that the aim of the dialogue was to facilitate inclusive and responsive multi-stakeholder analysis of identified hot spots of electoral violence and identify likely impact of electoral violence on political and socio-economic peace and stability in the state.
Paago-Imabel said its partnership with the stakeholders was to design an electoral violence prevention strategy including action plan to prevent and mitigate the impact of electoral violence in the state and follow up action plans.
In a keynote address, State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Ini Ememobong lauded USAID, State2State Activity for what he described as a timely response dialogue against the 2023 general election.
Ememobong who was represented by a Director of his Ministry, Mrs. Grace Akpan, advocated for the use of emotional intelligence, the principle of the 4-way test, in addition to creating an Early Warning System (EWS) during electioneering.
“This EWS can either be an independent agency or a unit in INEC, which monitors the political space and identifies triggers of conflict and issues public warnings to and sanctions against the culprits.
“This will serve as a discalation technique that prevents full blown conflict. This agency or unit must be manned by people of impeccable character who are knowledgeable in conflict dynamics.
“When democracy shakes, no sectoral foundation can be stable- which is why political scientists postulate that the worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship.
“The ballot is the source of authority of our elected officials and therefore must be undertaken without fear and coercion. Pre and post election conflict must be consciously prevented by everyone concerned with the entire process.
“The players must adopt FairPlay as a principle while the umpire must make transparency their foundation, navies conflict in election sprouts when there is a suspicion of unfair play-field or attempts at rigging.” Ememobong explained.
In a remark Head of Operations, Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Vincent commended State2State said the outcome of the dialogue would enhance the work of the commission.
“Election violence is peculiar to democracy even in advanced societies. However, the more we practice democracy, the better we are. What causes electoral violence is that our politicians have not found their root of convergence which is public interest.
”We are glad that there is a new sheriff in town, Biometric Voter Accreditation System ( BVAS). It makes the polling unit the centre of the universe. Power has returned to the street and politicians have been handicapped.
Dignitaries who graced the events include youth leaders, Persons Living with Disability, religious leaders, Government officials, Civil Society Organisations, the Media among other stakeholders.
