Grace Peters-Abakaliki
The call was made on Friday during a peaceful road walk organised by the Concerned Ebonyi Youth for Democracy in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The participants, mainly PDP supporters, marched from the popular Nkaliki area through the Sperando axis and the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway.
According to the organisers, the road walk was aimed at promoting political tolerance, responsible leadership and democratic values in Ebonyi and Nigeria at large.
The participants displayed placards bearing various inscriptions calling for support for a sustainable democratic system and good governance.
Some of the inscriptions read: “Say no to thuggery”, “Ebonyi youths stand for peace, not violence” and “We seek a society where citizens can speak, assemble and live without fear.”
The participants used the exercise to draw attention to the need for a peaceful political atmosphere where citizens could freely express their opinions and participate in democratic processes without intimidation or violence.
Speaking at the event, Mr Mark Onu, National President of the Odozi-Obodo Youth Movement, said political activities should be driven by constructive engagement, mutual respect and the collective interest of the people.
Onu urged political actors to respect opposing views and shun hostility, intimidation and personal attacks.
Also speaking, Mr Nnanna Nwangene, a youth leader, said violence had no place in a democratic society.
Nwangene urged political leaders, supporters and other stakeholders to embrace peaceful conduct before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
He emphasised the importance of good governance, accountability, transparency and people-oriented policies as essential ingredients for sustainable development.
According to him, elected public office holders must remain accountable to the electorate and ensure that democratic dividends translate into improved living conditions for the people.
Chief Rostick Eze, another leader, said the initiative was designed to encourage young people to take an active interest in governance and demand responsible leadership through peaceful and lawful means.
Eze urged youths in the state to shun political thuggery, hate speech and other activities capable of threatening the peace and stability of Ebonyi.
Similarly, Mr Jerry Uhuo called on political parties and their supporters to prioritise the welfare of citizens and promote an atmosphere conducive to credible elections.
Uhuo further appealed to residents to support initiatives that advance peace, democratic participation and sustainable development in the state.
Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively.
He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.
He began his journalism career in The Republic Newspaper, Lagos in 1987 as a Special Correspondent in Benin City, Edo State.
In 1990, he was posted from Lagos to old Anambra State as a State Correspondent in Enugu.
In 1994, he joined the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Ibadan, Oyo State, Publisher of Nigerian Tribune Newspapers where he rose to the rank of Southeast Bureau Chief.
Retiring from the mainstream traditional media in 2019, he began another journey in online newspaper publication.
He was the Overall Best Reporter in 2015, an award bestowed on him by Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State.
He has attended several workshops/seminars organised by multi-nationals, government institutions, local and international media including BBC.
He is also a unionist and had held top positions as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists of Enugu Correspondents’ Chapel and State Council of NUJ, respectively. He was also a one-time Enugu State Secretary of Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
