By Francis Sadhere, Warri
Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS) on Monday tasked politicians, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and security agencies on the need for them to ensure violence-free elections in the future.
To this end, the group launched a campaign geared towards reducing violence against the vulnerable people in the society.
In a press statement by Pastor Bridget Affiah, Co-State Representative, WGWYPS-WAS Delta State and Rachael Misan-Ruppee, Co-State Rep, WGWYPS-WAS, the group said the campaign targets the vulnerable in the society like the youths, women, children, the aged and people living with disability.
The statement which was read by Pastor Bridget Affiah, at a press conference in Warri, noted that “the working group in Nigeria recognizes the state of politically motivated violence, hate speech, arson, pockets of violent conflict and insecurity. All Stakeholders should work towards promoting peaceful post election season.”
The group stated that as part of effort to promote peace pre, during and post elections period, the group had rolled out campaigns in it’s current focus states namely, Aba, Benue, Borno, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Lagos, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, Yobe and FCT.
According to the statement, “Under the hash tag #Workingroupng4peace, the campaign will help to sensitize Nigerians on the need for peaceful elections, contribute to the dissemination of the of the National,State and Local Action Plan (NAP, SAP, LAP) on women, peace and security; advocate for promotion of peace within communities as well as the inclusion and support for the rights of women and young persons.”
The group therefore strongly advised politicians and their supporters to shun all forms of violence.
They also advised INEC to be transparent and security agents to be non-partisan.
The working group also called on party candidates to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship by respecting the results and using legal means to resolve any grievances.
Speaking to our correspondent on the sidelines, Mrs Rachael Misan-Ruppee said the campaign adopted inclusive approach for experience sharing, analysis and participatory evaluation or initiatives and efforts within the West African Region and the Sahel in general and Delta State in particular for the promotion and implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and related ones on women & youth participation in conflict prevention mechanism and peace building.
“Another function of this working group is to educate people in the community on Civic rights.” Misan-Ruppee, said.
Ambassador Chief Mrs Mercy Awhana-Alakis, said the working group did a lot in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, to reduce violence in the area.
She said, “We had a community to community campaign where we moved round most of the communities in Ughelli South. We educated the people on the need to shun all form of voilence during the 2019 election and I can tell you that we had about 85% success because record of electoral violence was minimized this time around.”
The Delta State Deputy Coordinator, Partners For Peace(P4P), Mr Fisher Ogugu, said the campaign was a welcome development, especially with the involvement of women in peace building processes.
The Executive Director, One Love Community Development, Dr Andrew Agboro, appealed to Nigerians to pursue peace at all cost saying that peace brings development.
On his part, the Executive Director, Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, urged Nigerians to cultivate the culture of living in peace with one another, stressing that this will eradicate all forms of crisis in the country.
