The Enugu North Zone of the state is rife with violence, and Nsukka Journalists Foundation has expressed great alarm about this situation ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Enugu State.
The foundation expressed concern that some political actors have not learned a lesson from the examples set by the current governor of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who had preached and upheld peace throughout his tenure, in a statement released on Friday and signed by its public relations officer, Emmanuel Ikechukwu.
Describing as depressing, unfortunate, and condemnable the fiery remarks made by political players, especially candidates for office who, to use the phrase “guerillas going to war with the enemies” in their campaign.
The foundation said, “With rumours of political actors stockpiling weapons and mobilising thugs from within and outside the state pervading the social media and the gossip mill, the NJF wishes to caution all political actors and their associates of the dangers in adopting violence and threats of violence in an election designed to help us elect credible and responsible leaders to pilot the affairs of our dear state.
“We are also worried that some of our political actors have taken no lesson from the examples laid down by the incumbent governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, who has presided over the affairs of Enugu State for nearly eight years, with peace and brotherhood as his everyday mantra.
“We note that the Presidential and National Assembly elections, held on February 25, 2023, were largely peaceful and rancour-free, but we are worried that nearly all the conversations ahead of the March elections have moved from the expected campaign promises to the obnoxious language of harassment and intimidation of opponents.”
However, the group emphasized to all political players in the Nsukka cultural zone that they are a unified people with a shared cultural and ancestral ethos that detests all forms of bloodshed and violence.
“Politics and politicking in Nsukka is a process of electing the best among us in the quest for a better society.
“This is why we call on all actors in the coming elections to eschew all forms of violence and threats of violence in thoughts, words and actions, and embrace the more noble and sportsmanlike attitude to electoral contests, in line with the peaceful and fatherly disposition of His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“We also call on our amiable governor to seize this pre-election period to sue for peace and invite all players and stakeholders to emulate the examples of peaceful coexistence that he has long laid in the state, and which is the greatest legacy he has laid for those who would come behind him.”
They added that they are aware that the governor is friends with all the political figures in the state and that they will heed his advice if and when he calls them to order in the name of maintaining peace and brotherhood among the populace and preserving his enduring legacy of having created a peaceful Enugu State.
Thus, they issued a plea on the state’s past and present political, business, and traditional leaders to speak out against attempts and threats to incite violence and crises throughout the state, especially in the Enugu North zone.
“Peaceful elections in Enugu, we believe, will benefit everybody and pave the way for stronger understanding and deeper brotherhood, which is what NJF and all other political, social and even religious groups in Enugu North and the entire state stands for.”
