NOA, traditional rulers charge voters to shun violence during Kebbi LGA election

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi

The National Orientation Agency(NOA) and traditional rulers in Kebbi State, have charged electorates in the state to come out enmass to vote for the candidates of their choices in the forthcoming local government election in the state without violence.

They stated this during the sensitization,peace building and enlightenment campaign at the palace of District Head known as Ubandoman Gwandu,Birnin Kebbi, organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA),Kebbi State.

The sensitization,which was held at the open place of the palace,were attended by political parties, civil societies,District Head of Makera, Alhaji Isa Usman Bashar, District Head of Ambursa,Alhaji Isa Haruna Rasheed among others.

While speaking at the event,the District Head, Ubandoman Gwandu,Alhaji Abubakar Saad, who spoke on behalf of other district heads from Birnin Kebbi LGA,praised the NOA for organizing the programme across the 21 Local Government Areas and 225 wards of the state, charged the electorates in his domain,Birnin Kebbi and others at various LGAs to shun violence during the election.

He said: ” while I’m commending the agency for organizing this programme,I would appeal to our people,the electorates to come out peacefully and vote for their candidates. They should not fight,you must not engage in violence. Vote for the candidates of your choice and go home peacefully”.

In his remark, the Kebbi State Director of NOA,Mr. Joseph Yaro Machika, also urged the electorates to come out enmass to vote for their candidates in the August 31 LGAs election stressed that,they need to vote because the Federal Government has given total autonomy to the Councils across Nigeria.

According to him,” this is the right time to come in large number to elect any candidate of their choice. The Federal Government has given full autonomy to the Councils across the country, therefore,this is an opportunity to vote for sensible leaders who have a listening ears. This is the right moment to vote for the leaders who are closer to them and know their challenges.

“You must come out and vote peacefully. Don’t engage in violence and you should be orderly as well obey rules and regulations”.

Machika disclosed that, the agency has deployed all it’s officers across the 21 LGAs and 225 wards to embark of the sensitization on the forthcoming Councils poll, stressed that voters need to fear because, KESIEC has declared her readiness to conduct free and fair election.

In his short remark, Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Muhammad Mera, represented by the PRO of the Commission, Mallam Hassan Musa Yauri noted that the Commission are fully ready to conduct free and fair election stressed that 17 Political Parties have shown their interest to participate in the poll.