..sign the VNF and Stop VAWIP commitment placard
Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has restated his commitment and that of his party APC to embrace peace before, during and after the forthcoming election.
Oyetola spoke while receiving the Southwest Vote Not Fight (VNF) being implemented by The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD) along with Osun Stop Violence against Women in Politics (StopVAWIP) Campaign.
The Governor expressed pleasure in seeing the VNF and StopVAWIP teams just as he recalled that the campaign was held in 2018 in Osun state and it proved very effective.
He said: “Everyone wants the growth of the state, so it is important for us to hold a peaceful, free and fair election. It is an era of democracy, a government of the people, for the people and by the people, hence we must ensure that the electoral process is credible and there is equal participation of men, women and youths.
“The youths in Nigeria should desist from being political thugs and being used as instruments of violence by politicians.
” It is high time to have a youth commission that is saddled with the affairs of the youth: youth empowerment, youth employment, development programs.
Gov Oyetola added that to ensure his administration is passionate about youth and women development he had engaged them with different programs, capacity and life building skills.
He appreciated NDI for supporting the programs that will encourage constructive participation of youth and women in democracy in Nigeria.
The Governor thereafter signed the VNF and Stop VAWIP commitment placard to show his desire to maintain peace.
The Southwest Vote Not Fight Team was led by 2Baba Idibia.
The VNF and Stop VAWIP Delegation also had separate audiences with candidates of Accord Party, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi; and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ademola Adeleke participating in the July 16th Osun governorship election to warn their supporters against electoral violence and political acrimony during the conduct of the elections.
The two candidates were also made to sign a peace pact that would make them uphold peace before, during and after the election. 2Baba Idibia urgrd the governorship candidates to support and amplify the VNF campaigns with the slogan ‘Vote Not Fight; Election No Be War’ and enjoined to them appeal to their followers on importance of peaceful and nonviolent conduct during elections.