From Solomon Attah,Lafia
Group simply identified as 2 Baba Foundation, has appealed to people of Nasarawa state to shun electoral violence during Governorship election.
This is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen by the Foundation in Lafia.
The Foundation categorically condemned the statement using religion to incite electoral violence in Nasarawa state by certain persons, some of whom are community and religious influencers in the state.
” Some group of persons have begun to heat up the polity by making inciting statements in the state ahead of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled to hold tomorrow, 18th March 2023.
“One of the statements stoking violence, and probably the most disturbing of them, was allegedly made by a Senior Special Adviser to the State Governor on religious matters, Imam Muhammad Ali.
“In a recent video making rounds on social media, Ali referred to the elections as a “JIHAD”, this incitement is currently causing panic in Nasarawa State, and capable to cause voters’ apathy and encourage acts of violence toward a section of the populace,” he said.
The foundation said it was necessary for the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, and other leaders within the State to clearly condemn these vile statements
“We call on Gov. Sule and opposition political parties in the state, traditional leaders, religious leaders and youth, to speak out against inciting statements and call for peaceful participation.
“We call on the Governor to also take disciplinary actions against all the authors of these inciting statements, in order to serve as a deterrent to anyone who may want to tow the same lines.
“We also urge the commissioner of police for Nasarawa state to make arrests of persons inciting violence and prosecute them according to the provisions in the electoral act,” the statement said.
According to the the statement, there has been concerted efforts in the last six months, by The 2Baba Foundation along with other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to promote peaceful elections at all levels.
The 2Baba Foundation has renewed its calls for peaceful participation in the upcoming gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections in Nasarawa state, noting that religious leaders, whether Muslim or Christian, should promote peaceful co-existence as enshrined in the holy books.
“Electoral violence benefits no one. The lives of our people are worth more than anyone’s political ambitions. Shun every form of electoral violence, oppression and suppression, and give peace a chance,” the statement said.
