By Asuelimen Osasuyi
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, the Foundation for the support of Nigeria veterans and universal peace federation in collaboration with the international organization for youth promoters of peace is to jointly train thousands of youth as peace mediators.
Nigeria Veteran, Brigadier General Lonsdale Adeoye, rtd, said in Abuja that achieving peace before and after the 2023 general election was imperative because other African countries depend on Nigeria for political, social and economic development.
According to him, ‘’the 2023 general election should be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere free of rancor and no body, not even youth should allow themselves to be used to cause political violence. No youth should fight anybody or be used to destroy life and properties. We must say no to destruction on the basis of politics, tribe or religion. Nigeria is one country and this is why we are training youth to mediate in any crisis occasioned by problems that may arise before or after the election.
General Adeoye who is the President of Nigeria Shooting Federation said, “If the youth say no to violence, there will not be destruction. This country is too big and greater than a few that may want to destroy it. Almost every part of the world, every tribe is in Nigeria. There is no need for anyone to contemplate a crisis because that can never be a solution.”
He however, advocated for peace as a veritable tool for sustainable development.
In the same vein, the United Nations Ambassadors of Peace, UNAP, coordinator, Captain Kafu-Ata Hounakey from Togo reckoned that the place of youth in achieving peaceful co-existence was paramount in any society and to that effect, three summits would be held in Nigeria with the first one coming up on September 3 in Abuja, while the second will follow in on September 10 in Abeokuta and the last one will hold on September 14 in Port Harcourt, River State.
While highlighting the leading role of Nigeria in Africa, Hounakey said there was a need to galvanise the youth to champion peace as a way to enrich interactions in playing key part among the citizens.
“Over the years, governments in Africa have taken it upon themselves to up scaling rural development to enhance the alleviation of poverty and unemployment, thereby improving the livelihood of citizens residing in the countryside.
“One of the fastest ways of empowering the inhabitants or our communities to become self-reliant is by providing them with basic infrastructure for them to use, create wealth and better their lots”, he said.
