By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
As the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, counts down to the Area Council elections coming up on February 12 , the FCT Administration has kick started a youth engagement advocacy campaign to promote peaceful co-existence during electioneering campaign period to ensure a hit-free exercise.
Yesterday hundreds of youth representatives across the 858 FCT communities and students’ groups, who gathered at the Gwagwalada Area Council Secretariat Hall, were admonished to shun violence and remain civil as they individually discharge their political responsibilities before, during and after the election period.
The brain behind the peace advocacy campaign and Special Adviser on Youth matters to the FCT Minister, Isaac David, said that the campaign was conceived in the interest of the teeming FCT youth across the 858 communities.
David noted that the FCT Administration through his office and FCT Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement Department (RCSID), working together with other youth stakeholders reasoned on the need to preach the message down to the various communities within the FCT.
He said, “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,adding that if it had come earlier than now the youths may possibly forget that 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, in his Keynote address stressed the importance of stakeholders involvement in ensuring crisis-free elections.
Maigari, who was represented by Felix Ikwuegbu, urged the youths 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.
Furthermore 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.
