Residents of Osun have been encouraged by the non-governmental Muse Peace Foundation to abstain from violence during the governorship election on July 16.
In order to encourage the electorate in the state to embrace peace as they exercised their right to vote, the organization ran a campaign during the week in Oshogbo, the state capital.
Timileyin Olajuwon, the organization's executive director, said in a statement on Friday that the state's young should abstain from participating in any kind of electoral violence and that the election was not a life-or-death situation.
"As Osun citizens head to the polls on Saturday, July 16, 2022, to cast their ballots to elect their preferred candidates in the governorship race for the next four years, Muse Peace Foundation has taken its peace advocacy strides to the state by organizing an electoral peace campaign in Osogbo, the state capital," the statement's opening line read.
"Active residents and concerned youths from every part of the state attended the campaign, which was held on Monday, July 11, 2022. The advocacy effort had its start at the well-known Akindeko Market, where market patrons were educated on the need of correctly casting their ballots and, more significantly, of acting peacefully because the election is not a life-or-death situation. The campaign train left the market and headed towards Ola Iya Junction as volunteers held up banners and posters with messages like "Vote Not Fight," "Election No Be War," and others along the route.
"The campaign's meeting spot was the well-known Osun Mail, which was purposefully picked to appeal to young people who frequently use the location for social events and meetings. The volunteers engaged the audience during the one-on-one advocacy, learning about their voting intentions and dispelling myths about electoral violence to replace them with the ideals of democracy, which depend on calm and order. The audiences were urged to support the candidate of their choice and maintain the culture of peace. The citizens were brought to understand during the dialogue that buying votes would not only leave them in need but also affect the next generation.
Olajuwon urged the locals to avoid being employed as thugs to disrupt elections and to avoid engaging in violence, clashes, or any other sort of electoral crises.
Speaking to some young people, Olajuwon had stated that "peace is everyone's responsibility and must be accepted in its entirety in a democratic setting like ours." He added that "voting is the expression of dedication to growing our existence, hence, a need to withdraw from violence."
"The Muse Peace Foundation's 'Vote Not Fight Electoral Peace Campaign' is a movement toward ensuring not only a peaceful environment but also the promotion of true democracy and holistic development. As an NGO, we are charged with the goal of peacebuilding and promotion of social inclusion of people of all ages, cultures, and races. As hundreds of natives of Osun State swore to abstain from any sort of electoral violence that might occur at the polls, it was a fantastic chance to influence their political outlook. Olajuwon concluded.