By Suzan Edeh

Bauchi — Critical stakeholders in Bauchi State have pledged to ensure a violence-free elections and called for the revitalisation of value system in the country.

Those who made the pledge include security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs; the National Orientation Agency, NOA; political parties and religious leaders, among others.

They made their position known, yesterday, during a one-day sensitisation and awareness meeting on the dangers of election violence, organised by the the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Gombe Operations Office, at the state Secretariat in Bauchi, the state capital.

The meeting was to enlighten stakeholders on the dangers violence creates during and after election as well as to develop a Nigerian Election Risk Preparedness and Contingency plan.

Presenting a paper entitled, ‘Value Re-orientation as a tool for curbing Electoral Violence in Nigeria,’ the state Director of the NOA, Sakace Amance lamented that some Nigerians had lost their value systems which had degenerated to the level whereby there was no respect for human lives.

“When we talk about election violence, there are factors that breed it and one of such is that some Nigerians have abandoned their cultural values, thereby leading to bad attitudes. Core values such as respect for elders, respect for human life and patriotism for one’ s nation have been eroded.

“Secondly, when things are not working as they should, there is a tendency that violence can erupt. Issues like insecurity, injustice and electoral manipulation can breed violence during and after elections,” he said.