By: Our Reporter
…..Take Advocacy Visits to Police, Civil Defence, plans to meet Candidates, youths, others.
The members of Ondo State Peace Mediation Working Committee in partnership with a nongovernmental organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) have commenced advocacy visits to major stakeholders in order to ensure peace in the state before, during and after 2024 governorship election in Ondo state.
Members of the committee were drawn from critical non-partisan associations including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); traditional institution, religious bodies, market women among others.
In line with our overall goal to increase peaceful participation of stakeholders and citizens in the November 16, 2024 Governorship election in the state, the Committee members have started visiting the stakeholders.
On Friday 9th August, 2024, the committee members visited the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oluyemi Ibiloye; and the Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladipo while the committee will still engage candidates, political parties, youth/students groups and drivers/okada riders associations.
Snr. High Chief Sola Adegbonmire, Asae of Akure Kingdom, who is the Chairman, Ondo State Peace Mediation Working Committee, said the visits were at mediating stakeholders to prevent electoral violence and ensure peaceful, free, fair and credible elections ahead of the Governorship polls through mediation, engagement and various peace building initiatives.
In line with the overall goal to increase peaceful participation of stakeholders and citizens in the November 16 Governorship Election in Ondo State, Commandant Oluyemi Ibiloye, the NSCDC Ondo State Commandant hosted Ondo State Peace Mediation working Committee on the 2024 elections in his office at Akure.
The meeting afford the committee in partnership with Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) the opportunity to brief the Commandant and his team of efforts to prevent Electoral Violence and ensuring peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections ahead of the Governorship polls through mediation, stakeholders’ engagement and various peace building initiatives.
The Commandant, who is a peace expert, assured the committee of peaceful participation and the neutrality and professionalism of his officers throughout the electoral cycle.
Ibiloye said “Election is a process, and it can not hold where anarchy reigns. We are not partisan. What we advocate is peace. I am happy we have this committee in Ondo State, we already received some Intel about the election, and we won’t allow religion and ethnicity to divide us.
“I will work with you sincerely, and we will maintain our neutrality as an agency of the government. This is a very good course, and it is worth commending,” Ibiloye said.
During the second visit to the Police Headquarters, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abayomi Oladipo who expressed delight over the committee, charged stakeholders especially the political class not to arm hoodlums to cause unrest in the state before, during and after the governorship election.
The Police Commissioner also appealed to religious bodies, traditional institution, the media and lawyers to use their influence to promote peace in the state.
On the visiting team were; Snr. High Chief Sola Adegbonmire (Asae of Akure Kingdom), Prince Leke Adegbite (NUJ Chairman, Ondo State Council); Barr. Banjo Ayenakin (Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Akure Branch); Alhaja Medinat Omikunle (President, FOMWAN, Ondo State); Very Rev’d Fr. Anselm Ologunwa (CAN Chairman, Ondo State); Folashade Bamigboye (Secretary of the Committee), and Obalola Jonathan (Lead Monitor, KDI Peace meditation Committee), while the Chief Imam of Akureland and Ondo state Iyaoloja General sent goodwill messages.
