FG launches ‘Wage-Peace’ campaign ahead of polls

 

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has launched its anti-violence social campaign tagged:  Do the Right Thing, WagePeace 2015, with a view to sensitize Nigerians to shun violence before, during and after the elections.

This was even as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that over 900,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) had been registered.

While saying he was not praying to witness any post-election violence in the coming elections, the Director General of NEMA, Mohammed Sani-Sidi, said the agency was prepared to tackle the situation should there be any.

Director General of NOA, Mike Omeri, who performed the launch alongside the representative of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, stressed the importance of peace campaign in view of the atmosphere of fear of violence that had enveloped the polity ahead of the rescheduled general elections.

He urged Nigerians to obey simple instructions from security agents and be polite to them, especially in times of crisis, saying it would not only ensure safety of Nigerians and property, but also curtail violent situations.

“The Do the Right Thing WagePeace 2015 provides an over-arching platform to bring together all stakeholders and advocates of peaceful, violence-free 2015 election outcome.

“I believe that what we are doing here today and what we will do in the coming weeks before and after the elections will greatly impact on the desired, violence-free election outcome irrespective of who wins at the polls.

“The Do the Right Thing, WagePeace 2015 campaign was drawn from the need to give Nigerians confidence and reprogramme the minds of Nigerians towards a positive narrative which is the possibility of a violence-free elections.

“The idea of bringing different stakeholders together to push this message is to produce the biggest collation for peace where Nigerians can see different aspect of the nation on one platform with one voice having one massage which is for Nigerians to Do the Right Thing WagePeace before, during and after the elections.

“The responsibility of putting this peace massage out there particularly at the pace and consistency we intend to run it (minimum of five media slots a day) is for all Nigerians, because no one is exempted from the effect of election violence, corporate Nigeria, the public sector, international community and well meaning Nigerians to endorse this campaign by putting it on air and supporting other activities of the campaign.

“We shall counter and drown the drums of war by beating the drums of peace; and we urge Nigerians to join us in this effort,” he stated.

Minister of Culture, represented by Mrs Gloria Abumere, also underscored the fact that stakeholders had expressed genuine fears over a possible breakout of violence within the period of the elections.

“We have a sacred duty as leaders in various spheres to advocate for peaceful, violence-free election for our country men and women. If the process is marred by violence, we all suffer in the long run,” she said.

Leader of the Association of Abuja Market Women, Felicia Sani, said waging peace was a collective responsibility of all Nigerians, and particularly for women who constituted the greatest number of displaced persons in refugee camps in the country.