ILE-IFE – The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday charged the people of Osun to maintain peace and shun violence during the forth-coming governorship election on Aug. 9.
Mrs Bola Morgan, the Osun NOA Assistant Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, gave the charge during a mobilisation programme in Ile-Ife.
Morgan said that the programme was organised to educate the masses on how to conduct themselves before, during and after the gubernatorial election.
“This event is meant to train people on how to behave themselves and to thumb-print on their voters’ card so that their vote will not be voided,’’ she said. She said that on the day of election, accreditation will hold from 8 a.m. to noon, while voting will start by 12:30 p.m.
The Assistant Director appealed to all voters to obey the rules and regulations guiding conduct of election.
She urged them to make themselves available at the polling units nearest to their residence where they had registered and perform their civic right.
Mr Femi Akinpelu, the Ife Divisional Police Officer, appealed to the people to shun thuggery before, during and after the election.
He said that all eyes were on Osun, especially Ile-Ife.
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Akinpelu said the role of the police and other security agents was to ensure violence-free gubernatorial election across the 30 local government areas in Osun.
A cleric, Alhaji Abdulhammed AbdulSemiu, said that no religion believes in violence, adding that they all preach peaceful co-existence.
AbdulSemiu, who is the Deputy Chief Imam of Ife community, urged the masses to show Godly virtues in exercising their civic right.
He appealed to the people of Ile-Ife to give peace a chance and avoid ‘do-or-die’ politics.
Apostle Julius Aluko, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ife Central, advised the people to pray for peaceful conduct of the election, noting that that “ with God, peace is possible.’’
Aluko enjoined the people to live peacefully with each other, and appealed to politicians to allow God to choose the right leader.
“Many are running the race, but one will win the election,’’ he said.
Mr Julius Akintibu, the Otun Balogun of Eleyele, Ile-Ife, urged the police to create a central phone office on the day of election where they could be reached, if necessary. (NAN)
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