For sustainability of the success recorded in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, participants at a one-day workshop have called for continuous engagement of women, youths and Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in all democratic processes.
The group comprising members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Media, PLWDs and students called for sustained efforts towards consolidating the gains of the 2023 general elections, through sensitisation and advocacy with the various communities.
The workshop was organised by the Global Health Awareness Research Foundation (GHARF) in partnership with the British Council with the theme, “Promoting Inclusion and Enhancing Participation of Youths, Women and People Living With Disabilities (PWDS) in Politics and Electoral process in 2023 and beyond in Enugu state.”
The participants who reflected on the elections of February 25 and March 18, agreed that Nigerians, especially the youths and women heeded to the clarion call and partook in the rigorous processes involved to register for voters card, it’s collection and actually voted in the exercises.
To sustain the tempo, however, they agreed on forming advocacy groups and device information dissemination models to convince Nigerians, especially those living in the rural areas to imbibe issues relating to electoral processes as a culture and their way of life, to enable them participate actively during the elections.
They also tasked the authorities to always create enabling environment devoid of conflict and violence to enable the citizens participate massively in the electoral process.
Speaking on the ‘Young Leaders Connect Project,’ which the GHARF is carrying out in partnership with British Council in Enugu State, GHARF’s Executive Director, Prof. Obioma Nworgu, explained that it had empowered over 240 youths in the state in the last three months.
She disclosed that the project was aimed at promoting inclusion and participation of youths in the electoral and political processes in Enugu beyond 2023.
She said: “The young leaders connect project was a three-month pilot project, implemented with the support of British Council and was implemented only in two states in Nigeria, Adamawa and Enugu states. The project was used to raise the awareness of our youths in the electoral process of 2023 and we are glad that it achieved the desired results with the level of participation of our youths in the process.”
Meanwhile, the National President, All Nigerians Autobike Commercial Owners & Workers Association (ANACOWA), Comrade Emmanuel Deji, yesterday, cautioned against inciting comments even as he advised aggrieved parties to go to court and seek redress.
Addressing journalists in Lagos on the state of the nation, he said in every election, there must be winners and losers, adding that the nation’s constitution has put in place how losers of elections can go about their case in court.
He advised Nigerians not to allow selfish politicians set the country on fire. “We must not allow what is playing out in Sudan, where citizens are killing themselves like chickens and rams. We have no other country to run to.
“Nigeria should be watchful of desperate politicians who are making inciting statements through their followers.”
Deji added that most of the politicians do not mean well for the country, saying politicians should learn from former President Goodluck Jonathan, who accepted the outcome of the presidential election in 2015 and has now become a hero of democracy in Africa.
Speaking further, he noted that most of the family members of these politicians do not reside in Nigeria, urging Nigerians to be wise.
He insisted there must not be vacuum in governance as the constitution has said the president-elect should be sworn in without any delay on May 29th 2023.
He recalled in 2003, the Apex court ruled that according to the law, if an elected president were being challenged in the court, the candidate would be sworn in and remains in office until the court determines the case and makes a final decision.
He observed the issue was raised between President Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.
‘It was the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore, who wrote the leading judgment in the case. So we urge that Tinubu be sworn in without hesitation on May 29th,” he stated, calling for peace, love and harmony.
