Follow Us on Google
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Following the contentious outcome of the 2023 general polls, Peace for Free Advocacy Initiative, has organised a football competition to distract youths from violent activities.
The 2023 Six Aside Super Cup was entitled: ‘Sustainable Peace Beyond Election.’ It was a contest between Team Oji and Team Oluchi.
Founder of the initiative, Dr Chris Over Kalu, told journalists yesterday in Abuja, during a football competition that the country’s democratic process was still evolving which would not need any form of protest or riot.
Kalu said peace and dialogue were the only alternative to violence, adding that Nigerians should give the President Bola Tinubu-led administration a chance to stabilize since it is at its inchoate stage of governance.
He said: “This is exactly our message since the Peace For Free Lecture Series was launched nationwide in February 2023, promoting peace and unity across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
“Our advocacy outreach is now being extended to sports with the goal of engaging citizens, particularly the youths. Sports, particularly the football game is a major driver of unity in Nigeria, and today, we are leveraging on this tournament to unity and sustainable peace amongst the youths of this country.”
While citing the General Assembly and the Security Council adoption of “twin” resolutions on peace building, which outlined a new approach for peace building, he said: “This ensures a defining role particularly for young people who constitute a greater percentage of the Nigerian population. The National Bureau of Statistics estimates that 60 per cent of the country’s population is under the age of 25, placing Nigeria as the country with the youngest population in Africa.
“As we seek to achieve sustainable peace at this critical moment of democratic transition, and most importantly, following the conduct of a recent general election against which many have out rightly voiced, it is recognized that the teeming youth population across the country must be speedily and properly mobilized and enlightened to understand and appreciate the dynamics of our political system in order to positively play its role towards sustainable peace in the country.
“Rather than be left to sway to the whims and caprices of unscrupulous, unpatriotic political marksmanship.
“There is no doubt that this year’s elections, so far have generated a lot of public attention, particularly from Nigerian youths who are remarkably increasing their political participation in our collective struggle for good governance unlike other times in the past.
“Election is an important part of democracy, which in itself, is a process involving human and technological elements not absolutely immune from errors. Like all processes, democracy needs to be allowed to grow, to develop to maturity for most of the population to enjoy the promises and gains thereof.
“Permit me, finally, to remind us all that peace, unity and tolerance and dialogue remain the critical ingredients for a healthy democracy without which no progress can be realized in our great country.”
