A Non-Governmental Organization, the Civil Society Organization for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria, CS-CRIN, has commenced sensitisation to prevent acts of violence before, during and after the 2023 general election in Nigeria.
The National Coordinator of the NGO, Adeniyi Aremu, at a one day stakeholders sensitisation workshop with the theme: ” Extra-Judicial Killings, Hate Speech, Politics and Urban Violence,” held at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano State, said based on experiences, there was the need to sensitise people on dangers of violence, especially electoral violence and how to prevent them as the 2023 general election approaches.
“One issue we observe that happens every day is brutality by security agencies, extra-judicial killings, and even within the society people kill themselves for ritual, to gain wealth, and a host of other things.
“Now we are approaching 2023 elections; we will see some elements of hate speeches, political and urban violence, including kidnapping, banditry, and other social menaces in society.
“These things are giving us concerns, and since we have the funding from the EU, we decided to organise people who are stakeholders to sensitise the community on seeing the danger mark. Otherwise, Nigeria will not be a habitable place for all of us,” said Aremu.
He said apart from the CSOs, the community and media efforts are central to the campaign’s success, urging them to contribute their best.
“We are calling the attention of people in the community and the media so that they can raise the message on the need for us to live in peace and harmony. If we get this right, our society will be an excellent place to live.
“The media will need to help us get the message to the larger society. Secondly, the participating CSOs will sensitise their communities to publicise this message of peace.
“We do not want our country to be engulfed will all kinds of violence. We have had the Ife and Modakeke crises in the south in the past. We have the Aguleri and the Umuleri Crisis in the East, now, we have the Boko Haram in the North East, and we have banditry in the North West.
“These are all issues of conflict that we need to address in the society for Nigeria to be a habitable place,” he said.
Panellist Opinions
One panellist at the event, Barrister Abbas Gawuna, Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Kano state branch, said the workshop was handy as the political scene in the next 8 to 9 months might be heated up.
“This type of strategic discussion on extra-judicial killings is essential because the law enforcement agencies are saddled with responsibilities of safeguarding lives and properties of the people.
“They should wake up to their responsibilities so that they won’t be trigger-happy in the conduct of their work because people are scared. If any member of society does anything wrong, the security should allow the courts to do their work appropriately as expected,” he said.
On hate speech, Barrister Gawuna said at forums; people should be wary of their speeches and choice of words used.
“Of course, you are constitutionally guaranteed to express yourself freely, but you should know that our rights stop where that of others begins.
“Whatever we are going to say should be guided with respect for the law, humans, their rights and development. We should eschew whatever that will bring about violence,”
“The message here should be broadcasted in our major languages so that it can go down to the grassroots for a greater, saner and better society for all, especially generation unborn.”
He said the NBA would organise workshops, seminars, talk shows in media houses, print out pamphlets, and sensitise people on how Kano state and Nigeria should be, as we have no other place than this country.
Aishatu Hamid, Assistant State coordinator drugs counselling unit of NDLEA Kano command, in her contribution, said most crimes be it political, are committed under the influence of drugs. So, everything should be done to stem the tide before 2023 and beyond.
“Drugs contribute above 90 to 95 per cent to crimes committed in Nigeria, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, etc.
“If you take drugs, drugs control you. Somebody on drugs can kill because of N5 naira. Drugs go straight to the Nerval system and control your activities.”
She urged people to be vocal in the campaign against drugs, especially parents.
“If you do not talk to your children about drugs, someone else will do it, but in a negative way. Don’t be careless about other people’s children on drugs because they will come to your children or your children will go to them,” stressed Aisha.
She said the anti-narcotic agency will increase the momentum of its campaign against drugs going forward.
“We have been going to schools, motor parks, prisons, remand homes and many more. We will add to what we have been doing before so that everybody will be educated on the dangers inherent in taking illicit drugs,” Aisha added.
The Kano state Commissioner of Police represented by the PPRO SP. Haruna Kiyawa said the law enforcement agency through its community policing structures, will carry the message of peace to the communities and mop up erring ones before the 2023 elections.
Participants including Professor Mohammed Bello Shittu, said the workshop touched the core of what the society needs to engender peace and carry the messages to the communities they represent.
Others who contributed during the panel session include representatives of the National Commission for Refugees and the Legal Aid Counsel.
E/Suzan O.
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