By Raphael Ede
Enugu
As the political violence in Ebonyi state continued to rage even before the actual election, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has staged a one-day pre/post-election non- violence awareness and sensitisation workshop in the state to stem the tide.
In a paper, entitled “The Imperative of Violence Free General Elections in Nigeria: “Perspective on the 2015 General Elections” the South-east zonal coordinator of NEMA, Major James Eze, stressed the need for politicians to always put interest of the nation above personal interest.
He regretted that since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria in 1999, every subsequent general election had been characterized by more vicious and violence than hitherto.
Eze said it was based on the culture of political intolerance among the nation’s politicians, which often leads to political violence, that Director- General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, decided to put in place the “Nigeria Electoral Risk Preparedness and Contingency Plan from October 2014- March 2015” via stakeholders.
He said: “All stakeholders must join hands together in avoiding things that causes election violence, such as human rights abuses, impunity of government officials, security agents, and electoral officials, amongst others.
“There are many reasons why we should all work for violence free general elections, it is imperative we do it because electoral violence is a major stumbling block to the consolidation of democracy.
“NEMA is quite concerned and alarmed at the method employed by politicians to solicit support from voters, and the youths should not destroy their own future by fighting battles for people who want to win elections by any means.”
Ebonyi state Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Emma Abah, also delivered a paper, tagged “The Role of Religious, Opinion, Community, Traditional, and Youth Leaders, in Curbing Election Violence.”