Stakeholders in Plateau have advised politicians to conduct themselves and go about their campaigns in a peaceful manner ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Some of the stakeholders spoke at a consultative meeting organised by the Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace Centre (DREP) on Thursday in Jos.
Alhaji Ismail Temitope, Chairman, Plateau Chapter of the Naswair-Ud-Deen Society, said peaceful campaigns was sacrosanct toward having a peaceful election.
Temitope advised political parties and their supporters to avoid hate speeches, tribal and ethnic politics that usually snowballed into violence in communities.
“Politicians and their supporters must conduct themselves in a peaceful manner as we approach the 2023 general elections.
“Parties must ensure their rallies are organised in a peaceful manner; they must warn their supporters to desist from violence.
“That way the forthcoming general elections will be free, fair and credible,” he said.
On his part, Malam Abdulmajeed Abdulateef, the Coodinator of Al-Muslim and NACOMYO in Plateau, called on security agencies to be proactive in mitigating violence during campaigns.
He urged them against neglecting early warning signs and urged parents to caution their wards against being allowed to be used as willing tools by politicians to cause violence during campaigns.
“Security agencies must be active during party rallies to prevent any outbreak of violence that usually leads to lose of lives and property.
“Parents have critical roles to play in this regard as well; they must warn their children against being allowed to be used as thugs by politicians.
“’Proper modality in dictating early warning signals must be put in place,’ ‘he advised.
On the recent killings in some parts of the state, Abdumajeed advised government and security agencies to prevent future occurrence, saying such ugly happenings were bad omen for the state.
Alhaji Sani Ibn-Salihu, who chaired the meeting, called on religious and community leaders to collaborate in tackling the spate of criminality in the communities.
Ibn-Salihu called on parents to send their children to school, adding that it would enable them to acquire basic education that would enable to see the dangers associated with violence.
Chief L. A. Adejoh, the leader of Idoma community in Plateau, urged citizens of the state to cooperate with security agencies in tackling the spate or violence and other forms of insecurity.
He called on the government to support local security outfits with logistics to spur them to secure communities with minimal challenges.
Earlier, Rev. Fr. Blaise Agwom, the Director of DREP, said that meeting, held on quarterly basis, aimed at bringing stakeholders together toward fostering peace and preventing violence in communities.
He explained that participants at the meeting consists religious and communities leaders, youth and women groups.
