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2019: INEC urges religious leaders in Kwara to preach peace to members

- Religious leaders in Kwara state have been urged by the Independent National Electoral Commission to preach peace to their members ahead of the forthcoming general elections

- The electoral body says religious leaders are in good position to preach peace and non violence

- According to INEC, the problem of violence during elections can be solved if the people imbibe the teaching and practice of religion

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resident electoral commissioner in Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami, has appealed to religious leaders to always preach the message of peace and non violence to their members ahead of the general elections.

Attahiru-Madami made the appeal in Ilorin on Tuesday, January 15, while speaking during an interactive session INEC officials had with religious leaders in the state, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Legit.ng notes that Attahiru-Madami said: “Religious leaders are in good position to preach peace and non violence during the upcoming elections in the state.

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“We can solve the problem of violence during elections if we imbibe the teaching and practice of religion.

“As religious leaders, you should preach the message of peace to your congregations. Tell them to shun violence during the coming elections."

The REC appealed to the religious leaders to always impress it on their followers to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the elections.

He assured the religious leaders that INEC is ready to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in the state, adding that this may not be possible without peace.

Attahiru-Madami added: “My mission in Kwara is to conduct free and fair election that all of us in Kwara will be proud of, but this can only be possible when there is peace."

In his response, Prof Timothy Opoola, president, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), commended INEC for the interactive session.

He said Christian leaders in the state had been doing some of the issues the national commissioner and REC raised in their addresses.

Opoola said: “We have been praying, we just ended a week prayers for the success of the coming general elections.

“We have been preaching the fear of God to our people because if you have the fear of God, you will not hurt, maim or kill fellow human being."

According to him, CAN as a body once invited leaders of the various political parties to a meeting, but they did not turn up, adding that the Christian body would again call them for a meeting before the elections.

Reverend (Dr) Samuel Adedayo of ECWA Church, Olorunsogo Parish, said INEC should do something about hate speech as this may cause crisis during campaigns.

He added that Christian leaders had been talking to their followers on the need to maintain peace during the elections.

Rev Adedayo, however, appealed to religious leaders not to allow their personal interest override the general interest.

He added: “We should all put national interest as a priority over our individual interest. Let us see ourselves as Nigerians as we are all equal before God."

A representative of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Malam Shehu Baba Oniyangi told the resident commissioner that Islamic religious leaders in the state had started sensitisation of their followers in mosques.

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He said peace is very important to achieve credible election, adding that without peace, noting can be done.

Oniyangi added: “We will not rest until our goal of credible election is achieved."

He appealed to REC to ensure that all materials needed for the election are available on the day of the election so as not to delay the process.

Hajiya Salmot Titilayo Jimoh, representing Federation of Muslim Women, appealed to the leaders to talk to their people on the evil of selling their PVCs.

She called for a law to make hate speech an offence and anybody or media house caught making hate speech should be penalised.

Jimoh advised INEC to properly screen ad hoc staff to ensure that they don’t have political leaning, adding that most problem from voting units are caused by ad hoc staff.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave assurance that over 190,000 internally displaced persons in various camps in Benue state would be allowed to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

The electoral body said provisions had been made to ensure that IDPs are not disenfranchised during the elections.

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Source: Legit.ng



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