From Rose Ejembi and Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a non partisan group, Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has organized an election sensitization in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, with a charge on the people to embrace religious and ethnic tolerance and elect leaders that will move the northern region and the country forward.
The conference has a theme, “Politics of Sentiments, A critical factor militating development of democracy in Nigeria” and a Sub-theme, “Religion and ethnic tolerance, panacea to Nigeria’s survival as a nation.”
The organizers said the conference was to help citizens retrace their steps and refocus their energies in the delicate task of nation building to which the organization is committed to achieve.
Speaking at the event, National coordinator of the group, Comrade Jamilu Charanchi stated that in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies such as Nigeria being faced with increasing crisis of confidence engendered by years of frustrations and disappointments, the temptation to seek refuge “in the comparatively safe heaven of ethnicity and religion is almost obligatory”.
He maintained that when Ethnic and religious intolerance replaces understanding, the society can not prosper.
Charanchi said that the north and indeed the whole of Nigeria’s protracted social problems and conflicts found their origin in the misplacement of religious, ethnic and cultural values of the people stating that the group will not fold its arms and allow the future of the region and that of the children yet unborn to be jeopardized by a few.
As a way forward, the coordinator said people must build bridges of tolerance and understanding across ethnic and religious divide, appreciate the-sensitivity their religion, take care never to offend it as well as understand the ethnic and cultural differences in the Region.
He advised the people to place competence, capacity and integrity above every other secondary considerations in choosing their next leader in the 2023 general elections and called on the youths, the women and all well meaning Nigerians to avoid politics of bitterness, religious sentiments, sectionalism and nepotism but place more emphasis on character, capacity, competence and skills.
The group’s Director of political affairs, Muhammed Muhammed,
said that the essence of the conference was to mobilize relevant stakeholders to form a united force irrespective of religious and ethnic affiliation to elect people who can deliver quality leadership.
Earlier, the state coordinator, Bernard Ekwote appreciated participants and task them to spread the message of the conference to others so as to have a very peaceful 2023 general elections.