Violence not part of Nigeria’s democratic culture – Omeri

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri, has called on privileged Nigerians to desist from beating the drums of war with their utterances as that would give a bad impression of the country and its democratic culture.
Omeri made this call while unveiling a new campaign by the Agency and some stakeholders to promote peace and security before, during and after the February general election.
The campaign tagged: “Do The right Thing: #WagePeace 2015 campaign,” intends to mobilise extensive participation of Nigerians from across the country to join the crusade for a peaceful poll.
Omeri explained that reports from the field, especially at the grassroots, indicate the possibility of violence regardless of the outcome of the 2015 elections, hence the Agency will not relent in its sensitization campaign on peace.
The NOA DG said as a result of this, the Agency and its partners have designed a comprehensive and strategic, peace campaign aimed at addressing various stakeholders on the need for peace to reign.
He further stated that the campaign is a media-based effort complimented by grassroots mobilization movement, which will involve a nationwide peace walk by more than 5,000 staff of the agency on February 11, using the Agency’s structures at the 774 local government areas across the country.
In his words: “We need a united country devoid of violence.
“We have equal rights.
“It’s our nation and we have nowhere else to call our country.
“This is a call to action and invitation to public and private sectors, civil organization, international community and well-meaning Nigerians to come and endorse and be part of this campaign.”
Other stakeholders in the project are the Nigerian Television Authority, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Crystal Synergies and other privately-owned media organisations.