Nigeria’s famous pop singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2baba, has urged youths in Anambra State to be agents of peace and shun violence during the November 6 governorship poll in the state.
The singer made the call on Thursday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, at the ongoing “Vote Not Fight” campaign.
It was organised by the Catch Them Young Community Initiative in collaboration with the 2Face Idibia Foundation.
The campaign is supported by the National Democratic Institute and United States Agency for International Development.
Idibia said: “We are here to dialogue with Anambra youths and campaign for peace, especially as we prepare for election.
“Our youths are critical stakeholders; this is why politicians use them to cause violence.
“I want to tell you that violence has no gain but destroys lives and property.
“As youths, we need to promote peace, because without peace, the election cannot be free, fair and credible, and development too cannot take place.
“Let us be aware that election is not war, but a time for us to participate by voting wisely for the candidate that can help secure our future.”
Idibia urged the independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to discharge their duties without any form of bias.
He also urged the electorate to cooperate with the security agencies to ensure a violence-free election on November 6.
Also speaking, Ben Aga, Programme Director, NDI, said the institute would always support programmes and campaigns that will ensure effectiveness of democratic process in the country.
Aga said the NDI recognised the youth as assets and future of the country as well as key stakeholders in achieving a peaceful election in the state.
Contributing, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Eworo Echeng, said the force was committed to ensuring the safety and security of residents before, during and after the election.
Echeng, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police Emma Ogbuanya, said they were collaborating with other security agencies, CSOs, community and traditional leaders in the area of intelligence gathering.
While appealing to the youth to embrace peace, he also urged the electorate to come out and vote on election date without fear of attacks or harassment.
In his remarks, Nonso Orakwe, the Executive Director, CATYCOI, said the role of youths in election-related violence had been particularly dynamic as they had been perpetrators and victims at the same time.
“Due to eroding societal values and poverty, youths are easy recruits for attacks and violence during elections. With this campaign, we want to change the narratives and become ambassadors of peace in our nation,” Orakwe said.