Yoruba Community in Plateau sensitises members on security during election

Ahead of the general elections, the Yoruba community in Plateau State has called on its members to be vigilant during this elections period and remain peaceful and law-abiding during and after the exercise.

This is even as a coalition of Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of Women Situation Room in Nigeria has held a rally to sensitized citizens of Plateau State on the need to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

The Yoruba Community Development Association, YCDA, in a statement issued in Jos and signed by its Chairman, John Ogunmola and Secretary, Taiye Adesola said: “We call on our members who are yet to collect their PVCs to take advantage of the extension period to pick up theirs. Never allow anyone or group of people to induce you to sell your PVCs as that will amount to mortgaging your future.

“We call on all Nigerians to remain united and prayerful for a peaceful, free and fair elections at all levels. We call on our members to remain vigilant, peaceful and law-abiding during and after the elections.”

Meanwhile, the women from diverse tribes and religions marched through the streets of Jos, the State capital displaying messages of peace and appealing to all to be orderly during and after the elections so that the State is not thrown into another round of violence as the result of the elections.

Taking their message to the NUJ Secretariat in Jos, the Coordinator, Women Situation Room in Nigeria, Nanpan John, said the rally was a contribution to voter education and reinforcing the peace process in the State.

“We want a peaceful election and do not want to lose our husbands and children as the result of this election, we have concerns as women that is why, irrespective of tribe and religion, we are here to say that election is not war, all stakeholders must conduct themselves in a manner that the peace of the State is not jeopardised,” she stressed.

Receiving the women, the State Chairman of NUJ, Paul Jatau and the State Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Jennifer Yarima assured them of support in engendering peace and peaceful coexistence in the State as without peace, journalists would not operate effectively.

Jatau stated, “We will always support any peace initiative because as journalists, we need peace to operate effectively” and Yarima added, ” don’t sell your votes, advice your children to be orderly on election days and avoid intake of illicit drugs because if there is a problem, we are the ones that run with children on our backs.”