'VoteNotFight': KGSG receives 2Baba, reaffirms commitment to a peaceful election »

As the race to the November governorship election in Kogi State gathers momentum, the state government have once more echoed its resolve to maintaining peace throughout the period of electioneering and beyond.

Governor Yahaya Bello made this declaration through his Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja when he received in his office a delegation from Participation Initiative For Behavioral Change in Development (PIBCID), with the Vote Not Fight Ambassador in the person of Innocent Idibia (2Baba)

Speaking, the Chairman of Board of Directors PIBCID, Dr Usman Mohmoh appreciated the government of the state for always availing itself to development partners especially to PIBCID. He said that the State Government through the office of the chief of staff have been partners in development, and today the group is on a courtesy visit to brief the government of its activities in their domain and to also seek further collaboration with the government.

He said PIBCID and NDI have been in the fore in the advocacy for peace, inclusion and good governance in the state and said the peace concert which is scheduled to hold today is a way of preaching peace among the people and sensitizing the electorates, most especially the youths to shun violence and resist any attempt by politicians to use them in perpetuating any act capable of disrupting the forthcoming election in the state.

The Vote Not Fight ambassador, 2face Idibia said for any society to develop, peace cannot be overemphasized, stating that the role that stakeholders play goes a long way in determining the outcome of every election. He said the government holds bulk of the stake in ensuring a peaceful election and urged her to take the lead in the advocacy for peace.

Reacting, the Chief of Staff to the governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward Onoja appreciated NDI and PIBCID for lending their voices to the call for a peaceful and violent free election in Kogi State.

The Deputy Governorship candidate said the vote Not Fight advocacy tally with Governor Bello’s efforts in curbing insecurity in the state. He said security is top on the agenda of the New Direction government as it is evident in the low crime rate being recorded in the state.

He also said the All Progressives Congress believes in talking to people and winning their votes rather than using power to compel people.

“Our party is a party of peace, and our leader Governor Yahaya Bello is a lover of peace. He has emphasized this in every fora. We have commissioned our campaign committees at various levels and they are already on the field talking to people and winning more support for us.

“We believe in the power of the ballot over the bullet, reason why we are strategic in canvassing for support and engaging the electorates by selling our manifestos to them”. Onoja said.

He informed the visitors that Kogi State has invested so much in security and would not engage in anything to distrupt the peace currently being enjoyed in the state, and assured that the forthcoming election will set a standard for a peaceful election in the country.

“Kogi will prove to the nation and the entire world that a peaceful, election is possible”.