In the coming months, the 2019 general elections could begin at various levels in the states of the federation and Abuja, the federal capital territory.
As the election approaches, eligible voters are expected to have picked up their voter cards in preparation for D-Days.
However, it has been reported in the media that some anonymous politicians are pressuring the INEC to sell them uncollected voter cards in the millions of thousands.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had previously published the calendars for the elections, in which voters are expected to turn out in droves to vote for the candidates of their choice.
Based on the schedule published by INEC, political parties and their political candidates have started campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels.
However, the federal government, INEC, security agencies and other critical stakeholders involved in electoral issues in the country have been preaching the gospel of a free, fair and credible poll in 2019.
The government frowns on hate speech and unguided statements by politicians and political parties.
However, some politicians from the two main political parties: the Congress of All Progressives, APC and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, are making statements that could be interpreted as hate speech.
However, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has issued a stern warning that the Nigerian Police Force will not tolerate unguided and provocative statements from politicians and others before, during and after the upcoming elections.
Idris had instructed all state police commanders to hold meetings with political parties and politicians on the need to ensure that the upcoming elections are free of violence.
In Lagos, State Police Commissioner Edgal Imohinmi held a meeting with political parties and politicians last week at the Police Officers’ Dining Hall at GRA, Ikeja.
Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, gubernatorial hopefuls from the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party, were among the top politicians who attended the parliament between the police and political parties.
Media reports from across the country also claim that police commissioners from various states met with politicians and political parties.
It is also worth noting that earlier, the leaders of all registered political parties in the country signed a peace agreement document.
Nigerians are therefore waiting to see how the deal will play out, even as some NGOs, government agencies, INEC, ICPC, EFCC and other critical electoral stakeholders are preaching against vote buying.
Yes, the police, the INEC and other security agencies have said that hate speech, life and death politics, violence, bloodshed, vote buying, ballot box theft, etc., will not be tolerated or accepted before, during and after the next elections.
However, some politicians, political parties and public commentators are using social and mainstream media as platforms to make seemingly inflammatory comments ahead of elections.
However, as the leaders of tomorrow, the youth of Nigeria have a crucial role to play in ensuring that the forthcoming elections are clean and credible.
In our beloved country with an estimated population of 200 million people, our young people make up about 40% of these numbers. This is a huge market for local and foreign investors and companies, who are currently doing business in Nigeria.
It is also a promising country for investors contemplating coming to Nigeria to establish their businesses.
But, if our young people allow themselves to be armed, empowered and used by politicians as political thugs, or hired killers, before, during and after the elections, I am afraid this will not bode well for the country.
It is declared in the holy book, the Bible, that what we see today, we will reap tomorrow. This means that for individuals, states, and nations, the good or evil that we do to ourselves and others will surely come back to us.
As the election approaches, it is recommended that our youth become involved in national, patriotic, and godly missions.
They must refrain from violence, bloodbaths, vote buying, and other electoral crimes, and instead volunteer to educate others about the negative effects of participating in these acts.
Furthermore, those who are involved in criminal activities, violence, murder, kidnapping, ritual activities for reasons that they know well, are not doing humanity any good.
Honestly, there are many government agencies, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies, paramilitary organizations, and local and foreign agencies that have done a lot and continue to do their best to ensure that Nigerian youth in Nigeria, turn away from social vices and embrace peace , unity and progress as tomorrow’s leaders.
In all modesty, as the Director General of Harpazo Chaplain Corps International, a paramilitary body registered and approved by the Federal Ministry of Justice, some government agencies and the United Nations Global Compact to protect humanity against dehumanization, we are urgent youth in our beloved country. join us or any humanitarian service agency in working to ensure that Nigeria is violence free, crime free, peaceful, prosperous and united.
Our main service focuses on: Religions and Education. We are official partners of some government law enforcement agencies and the United Nations (Global Compact).
To campaign against dehumanizing acts, conduct investigations, collect activity information, and report suspicious acts in religious, educational, and public places to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
We encourage young people in Nigeria who could volunteer their resources, time, talents and experience to join us or any other similar organization to work to ensure that Nigeria is crime free, violence free, peaceful, united and progressive.
For 12 years, our organization has worked with like-minded people over the age of 18 in Nigeria and beyond to address all forms of dehumanization.
And we know that God and humanity will give us high marks if we partner together in the coming year to work to ensure that our beloved country does not burn down due to violence, political bullying and other forms of criminality.
The benefits of serving the nation are unlimited for the people and the country, since peace, unity, progress and comprehensive development could eventually be ours.
These are the reasons why HCCI’s Harpazo Corps Service calls on all good citizens to unite and support the growth of our great nation, Nigeria. Some join us and make Nigeria great.
Dr. Joseph Joluwaseyi is the Director General of the Harpazo Corps Service.