WARRI/Nigeria: The Women of Agbassa Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have called for violence free Local Government Election, come Saturday January 6th, 2018, at an Advocacy program held in Warri, on Wednesday, January 3, 2018.
The program organised jointly by the Development Initiative for Community Impact, (DICI), and Peace and Community Empowerment Initiative, (PCEI) to educate the community on the benefit of always exercising their civic right, as electorates, and to make sure they will not boycott the LGA Election because of past elected officers.
Speaking to the participants, made up mainly of mothers, and young girls, the Managing Director of DICI, Mrs Rachael Missan-Ruppee, told the participants that the only way they can help change bad representation is through their continuous exercising of their civic rights to cast their votes for their preferred candidates during the elections.
She stressed that boycotting of elections is bad to the development of the society, as it breeds ground for elections malpractices, as those who take part will try to cover up with the boycotters to secure a high vote count.
“If you decide to boycott election, you will only be doing good to those who find joy in rigging, because you boycotting the election will only do nothing but, electing the wrong person to office.”. She said.
According to Mrs Missan-Ruppee, the advocacy is being carried out based on the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda, which seek to promote “just, peaceful and inclusive societies”, stressing that it is only when an environment is peaceful, development will be attracted.
Speaking directly to the women, she called on them, especially the mothers to always watch their children and educate them against the act of violence in elections, as such actions are not sign of good participants in an election.
“Mothers, please watch your children, especially the grownups, they should not be used as instruments of disruption on that day of the election. Many through that process had lost their lives. Encourage them to avoid anything that will lead to loss of lives and properties.” She said.
She called on the women to protect their voting card, as it is their power to voting-in or vote-out any non performing elected person, just as she reminded them that it is only when they vote they can have the voice to criticise those in authority.
“Your voter’s card is your power. Use it to vote the persons of your choice, and if they fail to perform when voted in, also used that same card to vote them out when the time comes.”
“And it is only when you have carried out your civic right that you have the right to question those who are occupying the office”.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of PCEI, Mr. Collins Newuwumi, said that the advocacy program which was jointly financed by the two organisations, was to enlighten the people of Agabassa Community on the need to take part in the January 6th, 2018 Local Government Election, and equally educate them on the need to be peace ambassadors during and after the election.
The advocacy education saw the women generally agreeing to the message of peace in the forthcoming election, as they are ready to educate their husbands and children to allow peace, during and after the election.
The event saw the distribution of various hand bills calling for a peaceful election, and the use of the right thumb to vote and not the left.
One of the flyers that were distributed read, “Let Do it Right! Shun Election Violence”.
