By Marie-Therese Nanlong
PLATEAU State in the past few years has witnessed series of violent crises with some of traceable to the 2015 general polls.

Residents of Jos, the state capital are still recalling the horror that was visited on the city after the November, 2008 local council election as well as the tension the 2011 general elections generated.

As the country gets set for another general elections beginning on March 28, many stakeholders including individuals, groups, government and non-governmental agencies are making efforts to ensure peace during and after the polls.

Various seminars, workshops and rallies among other things are being held to sensitize residents on the need to maintain and improve on the fragile peace being experienced in the state.

Among those holding such activities is the Institute of Governance and Social Research, IGSR, which organized the second early warning and early response workshop for 300 youths in the six crises-prone local councils in the Plateau North Senatorial Zone.

Similarly, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, organized a seminar for women of the Christian and Muslim faiths urging them to appeal to their husband and children to eschew any act that could encourage breach of peace in the state.

Workers in Plateau State also said they are ready to work with critical stakeholders to contribute to peaceful and credible elections and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to disenfranchise them through non-availability of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

The workers, at a workshop organized by the Centre for Labour Studies and Advocacy, CLASA in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE for federal and Plateau State government workers stated that they will be peaceful.

The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere also held series of meetings for Yoruba residents not only in Plateau state but also the other 18 northern states to sensitize them on the need to ensure peace during and after the elections.

Security agencies like the Police, Special Task Force, STF keeping peace in the state, political parties among others are preparing their officers and men for hitch-free elections.

For the IGSR, youths are vital stakeholders in peace-building process and critical agents of peace as they can mobilize people against violence in communities.

In his remark at the event, the President of IGSR, Prof. Elias Isawa-Elaigwu, represented by Mr. Celestine Ukatu said “IGSR has trained over 5,000 youths through its series of orientation camps and these youths are now Peace Ambassadors.

“As part of output of providing platform for youth interaction and building peace agents, IGSR in collaboration with Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, NSRP and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, DFID is organizing this early warning seminar.

“The seminar is for 300 youths drawn from Jos North, Jos South, Jos East, Bassa, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas. The aim of this seminar is to develop the capacity of the youths ambassadors in conflict early warning and response system.

“It is to extract development at grass-roots level and we hope this workshop will also help the youths to update knowledge and share information among them. These youths, we believe, will work individually and collectively to prevent conflict in communities.”

However, addressing the workers drawn from the federal and Plateau state government Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, the Executive Director of CLASA, Comrade John Odah, said the 2015 general elections have generated unprecedented passion hence the need for every stakeholder to exercise caution.

According to Odah, who was represented by Comrade Ona Iduh: “The general elections have generated unprecedented passion, interest and tension among political actors and citizens alike.”

The neecessity for an equally vigorous civic and voter education among the populace cannot be over emphasized.

“As workers that have been at the receiving end of bad leadership and bad governance, it is in our interest that we have a clean, transparent elections in our country. When we are able to ensure that our votes count in election, we will begin to end impunity and disdain with which elected politicians treat electorates.

The State Chairman of AUPCTRE, Mr. Eugene Manji, assured workers in the state will comply with every directive to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.

To the Afenifere in the northern states, the INEC should not renege on the promise of ensuring that all eligible voters who yet to get their permanent voters’ cards do so before the general elections.

The Commission was also charged to buckle up and block all loopholes which could scuttle credible, fair and peaceful elections.

In a statement issued in Jos and signed by Chief Toye Ogunshuyi and Mr. Tunde Oladapo, Chairman and Secretary-General respectively, the group also urged Prof. Attahiru Jega to be watchful so that unscrupulous INEC staff do not sabotage his efforts.

According to them, “Afenifere Northern States group has cautioned the INEC to ensure that no qualified Nigerian is disenfranchised in the coming elections now that the distribution of the PVCs has been extended to March, 22.

“The Commission should not erode the trust, credibility and good expectation which Nigerians bestowed on it. This advice is necessary because about 22 per cent of Yoruba resident in the North are yet to collect their PVCs.

“INEC should buckle up and mend up all loopholes capable of derailing its efforts and Prof. Attahiru Jega should be watchful and careful of some of the Commission’s staff whose actions can give the public the feelings that INEC is biased in its activities.”

With the efforts geared towards achieving peaceful elections in the state, residents are optimistic there will be no outbreak of violence and urged everyone to be cautious especially on elections days.