Four days to the presidential election in Nigeria, youths under the auspices of the Abuja Residents Youth Association took to the streets of the nation’s capital to caution against suspected moves by a group of people working towards truncating the conduct of the forthcoming elections.
The youths who marched to the secretariat of the FCT Administration in Area 11 to register their displeasure over what they termed as suspected calculated moves to disrupt Saturday’s February 25th election, said they are ready to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of the election.
The youths who were seen carrying placards with inscriptions like “Use your PVC for Peace”, “Vote don’t fight”, “we are not tools in the hands of trouble makers” and “We are for free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections” among others, pledged to partner with the FCT administration to ensure peaceful poll in the FCT.
The President of Abuja Resident Youth Association, Akoshile Mukhtar said they had resolved to cooperate with security agencies to carry out massive sensitization across the FCT to ensure the election is peaceful.
Addressing the protecting youth, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Adesola Olusade assured Abuja residents that the election will be free, fair, and peaceful in the nation’s capital.
While appealing to the youths not to allow themselves to be used for political violence, Mr Olusade appreciated them for sustaining the peace in Abuja.
The FCTA Director Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr Jummai Ahmadu appealed to the youths to shun violence during and after the elections.
“We must not allow our future to be mortgaged, because you are the future of the country. So we should work together as a team to ensure that development is sustainable and the election is peaceful.
“We urge the youths and other stakeholders in the FCT to join us by the way of engaging residents to ensure that the elections are conducted peacefully.
“FCT as we know is the centre of Nigeria and everything must be in order. This is because others are going to emulate what we are doing for the youth and the residents.”
He enjoined the youths to go around sensitizing the residents about the need for a free, fair and peaceful election.
Emmanuel Ukoh
