TCNews

By Our Reporter

The District Governor, Rotary International District 9142, Rotarian Grace Okaro, has sued for peace before, during and after the forthcoming general elections in the country.

According to her while answering questions posed by the press in her office in Umuahia recently, “there is absolute need for peace and tolerance among Nigerians to ensure a credible and hitch-free general elections and for the continued existence of Nigeria as an entity.

She urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to enthrone fairness and transparency, thereby, securing the trust and support of Nigerians.

She called on politicians, with no coherent ideology and development agenda who engage in do-or-die politics just to grab power, to sheath their swords and give peace a chance during this democratic process.

She noted that politics of corruption, intimidation, exclusion and violence have become weapons of political victory in the country and warned that electoral violence has the ability to truncate the democratic process and gains made over the years.

Rotarian Okaro added, “as a Rotary Leader, I am hopeful that the ugly history of pre or post-electoral violence will not be repeated but that will be only if we decide to adopt strategic conversation that appeals to the conscience of the political class.”

According to her, “Rotary has always been in the forefront of Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention across the globe and believes that co-operation, inclusion, and non violence lie at the heart of democracy. While conflict is present in all societies, resilient democracies are capable of managing conflict in peaceful ways. Democracies provide fora, such as public townhalls, parliamentary sessions, and public debates, to negotiate solutions to political and social disagreements. They create channels for citizens to demand change through political action such as advocacy, policy development, and political negotiation rather than violence. There are also opportunities provided for political actors to compete without resorting to violence”.

She further reminded the electorate of their key roles in the forthcoming elections, noting that they are the people who hold the sway in every electoral process and advised them to use it wisely and judiciously.

“Nigerians need to imbibe the habit of peaceful co-existence irrespective of religious, ethnic or zonal linings in order to move the country forward”, Okaro also said.