Peace advocates, Peace for Free Nigeria have warned the youths not to allow the outcome of general elections to be a source of violence and anarchy.
The Foundation urged them to eschew violence, be circumspect in their actions and allow the peace process in the country.
The Convener of the lectures, Dr Chris Oge Kalu made this call during a lecture organized by Peace for Free with the theme: Sustainable Peace Beyond Elections held in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
He said in recent times, the majority of the youths have turned to social media platforms to express their alleged grievances over the outcomes of the 2023 elections in the country.
“We here in the northeast to tell Nigerians that elections are not war, it is a process so let us support the process. The aftermath of our general election in our country threw up issues that are the potential to disrupt our peace. If we don’t take this initiative to mitigate that, we may have a crisis on our hands in the country.
“Let us eschew violence and display true sportsmanship, the key message to the youths is to embrace peace and to be patient bear in mind that democracy is not an African culture. The youths need to put their head down to be able to learn the process.”Dr Chris appealed.
He said the future belongs to the youths, and advised them not to allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction and violence.
Guest speaker, Prof Anthony Igyuve who gave the lectures on Sustainable Peace Beyond Elections” noted that the Peace for Free lecture aimed at targeted youths who will become peace ambassadors that would propagate the message of peace in their community and the entire state.
“We are targeting the youths because we feel they are the easy weapons for the politicians to use in perpetrating violence. We have told the youths in the hall that we all need peace and they have assured us that going forward no youths willmobilisedlise by the body of kinds to perpetrate violence in Maiduguri and this region.”Igyuve said.
