Political actors, journalists and residents have been called upon to embrace peace before, during and after the August 15 governorship election, stressing that violence must not define the democratic process.
The appeal was made on Monday during a visit by a delegation of the Peace and Mediation Working Committee established by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) to the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Osogbo.
Speaking on behalf of the chairman of the committee, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osun State, Reverend John Adeleke, said the state remained one of those attracting significant national attention ahead of the election and therefore required collective efforts to maintain peace.
He said, “Osun happens to be one of the states receiving serious attention when it comes to elections. We need peace before, during and after the election.”
The CAN chairman urged journalists to use their various platforms to promote peaceful coexistence, noting that the media remained influential in shaping public opinion.
“People listen to your platforms, and we plead with journalists to intensify the peace message through their platforms for peaceful elections,” he said.
Addressing political leaders, Rev. Adeleke called on them to fear God and avoid actions capable of inciting violence.
Quoting biblical teachings on peace, he said elections should never be treated as warfare because political contests would end while the people would continue living together in Osun State.
He warned that hate speech could trigger unrest and advised parents to caution their children against allowing themselves to be recruited by politicians as instruments of violence.
“A soul is precious and should not be destroyed,” he added.
The cleric also appealed to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to partner with faith-based organisations in promoting peace across the state. He encouraged supporters to accept the outcome of the election and rally behind the eventual winner instead of resorting to violence.
According to Adeleke, “The Peace and Mediation Committee has engaged CAN and other worship centres across the state. Religious leaders should consistently preach messages of peace in their congregations throughout the election period.”
Responding, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, welcomed the delegation and assured the committee that journalists would continue to promote peace, fairness and responsible reporting before, during and after the election.
Aboderin said, “We will key into the message of peace and tranquillity. Journalists are tools of peace, and we will continue to appeal to political actors to play by the rules so that peace will reign before and after the election.”
He noted that previous elections had claimed lives, making sustained public sensitisation essential.
He also commended the Peace and Mediation Committee for what he described as taking proactive steps to promote peaceful, transparent and credible elections across Osun State.
The NUJ chairman added that the union would continue collaborating with organisations committed to peaceful elections, expressing hope that political stakeholders would honour the peace accord already signed and ensure that Osun’s election became a positive example for other states in Nigeria.
Osun Guber: Mediation Committee, NUJ renew calls for peaceful poll