Ahead of upcoming elections, the UN has advised Nigerian politicians to avoid messages of hate, politics of acrimony, bitterness, and rancour to avoid undermining the peace and stability of Nigeria.
The special representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, gave the advice in Abuja on Saturday.
Mr. Ibn Chambas spoke at a one-day national sensitisation workshop on Broadcast Media Coverage of the 2019 General Elections.
The workshop was organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) with the theme: “Fake News, Hate Speech, Vote and PVC Buying”.
Mr. Ibn Chambas, represented by Zebulon Takwa, Peace and Development Advisor, Resident Coordinator’s Office, emphasised the need for all Nigerian stakeholders to eschew any form of discourse that could ignite tension and violence.
The envoy also urged the stakeholders to double their efforts in ensuring issue-based elections that would make Nigeria to succeed.
He expressed the hope that the country would overcome its challenges.
“I hope that Nigeria continues to set the pace in establishing the positive tradition that, as leaders, access to power or quest to retain or consolidate it, must never be stained with blood of any Nigerian.
“Nigeria occupies a strategic position in West Africa, the African continent and indeed, globally.
“It is, therefore, crucial that Nigeria delivers credible, peaceful and fair elections in 2019, in a manner that improves upon the performance of 2015 elections.
NAN
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