The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, Alhaji Auwal Musa, has commended the Jama’atul Nasirul Islam (JNI) of Nigeria and allied unions for facilitating the signing and adoption of Peace Accord in Borno State.
Alhaji Musa, who gave the commendation while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Maidugiri, called on security agents, religious, political, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) amongst othersto mobilize their members for peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election.
The Executive Director, who was represented by The Special Program Officer, CISLAC, Mr. Solomon Adoga, said the organization has been working in collaboration the Jannatul Nasirul Islam of Nigeria and funded by the European Union in all the LGAs of the state to ensure a successful adoption and endorsement of a peace accord for a free and fair election.
According to him, the organization has also concluded arrangements with the JNI for the training of Election Conflict Areas Trackers who will work in conjunction with the security agents and INEC officials towards a successful and peaceful election at all the nooks and crannies of the country as plans are underway to recruit 15 trackers and about 30 observers in each state of the federation.
”The importance of peace in the overall conduct of a free, fair, credible and participatory elections cannot be over emphasized. It is the peaceful conduct of elections that guarantee the participation of citizens, especially women, the elderly and people living with disabilities.
”More so, in places where insecurity have prevailed, the need to guarantee citizens of a peaceful election becomes even more imperative. It is in line with this that we commended profoundly the various efforts championed by our partners Jamá’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) at the local government level that has brought about signing of the electoral peace accord in some local governments of the state.
”It is expected that Borno State would initiate the process which brings together the political gladiators and the political parties beyond the local government level commitments to agree to a pact which binds them to upholding the peaceful conduct of the election through-out the electioneering period.
”While it may seem that the elections are already by the corner, it is not too late a time to put this together, especially as lessons can be drawn from the various commitments in some of the LGAs.
As has been noted at the national level as well as in many states of the federation, peace accords have become very useful and critical tool to upholding peaceful conducts of election stakeholders.
”’The tendencies for political campaigns and other electioneering activities to stoke up violence are usually very high in democracies like ours. Drawing from these experiences, stakeholders have felt the need to organize and mobilize for peace agreements.
”We therefore urge the various states to emulate the National Peace Accord, as well as the various peace agreements.
”The European Union through the EU-SDGN2 project and our consortium partners which include Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and SOS Children’s Villages as well as our partners in Borno State are all desirous of a peaceful conclusion of the 2023 elections in Borno state and pledge our commitment to support the process,” Auwal said.
