By Linus Aleke
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria Matthias Schmale, has cautioned Nigerian politicians against hate speech and electoral violence.
Mr. Schmale gave this warning, at the high level consultations with key stakeholders and signing of Enugu State Peace Accord ahead of the 2023 General Elections, organised by the National Peace Committee, The Kukah Centre, the United Nations, and the Enugu State Peace Committee.
He also, observed that
divisive statements and hate speech, often trigger election violence.
The National Information Officer, UN Information Centre (UNIC), Mr. Oluseyi Soremekun, in a statement said, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, urged all candidates and their supporters in the forth-coming general elections to eschew violence, promote peace and be issue based in their campaigns.
According to the statement, “Electoral violence undermines inclusive electoral processes, especially with regard to rule of law and human rights including women’s participation”.
Mr. Schmale said that it was important to include and maximize the presence of religious and traditional leaders as well as active civil society organisations, including women and youth groups in Enugu State, who could disseminate messages promoting peaceful elections all the way down to the state’s 17 local government areas.
“We know that peaceful elections in Nigeria start with peaceful elections in Local Government Areas and the States. Enugu must claim its status as one of the prominent states in the nation where peace reigns and where political differences and intolerance are managed through non-violent means,” the Resident Coordinator said.
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He warned that the reputation of Enugu would be at stake if violence and insecurity were to take hold in the state before, during, or after the elections.
“Members of the Enugu State Peace Architecture and other stakeholders are already engaged in promoting social cohesion and enhancing the role of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.I would like to pledge the continued support of the UN for these efforts,” he concluded.
Representative of the National Peace Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Nkanka, read out the draft Peace Accord which was also projected on the screen for all participants to see, and urged all candidates and political parties to live by the letters and spirit of the peace accord they signed.
