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| New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) |
Khamisu Mailantarki, a New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) candidate for governor in Gombe, has urged youths to abstain from violence before, during, and after the 2023 elections.
Mr. Mailantarki said in a speech on Saturday in Gombe that adolescents needed to be reminded that elections were a political process, not a battle.
The candidate for governor argued that it was crucial for young people in the state to understand that elections were best conducted in a brotherly manner without resentment or violence.
He emphasised that young people would benefit greatly from participating in nonviolent politics and voting for their candidates.
“I believe in peace because it remains the bedrock of development and growth, especially in a democracy.
“It is in this regard that I again call on youths in Gombe State to realise that there is life after election. We must practise politics without hatred, bitterness or violence.
“In spite of our religious, tribal and ethnic differences, Gombe is home to all of us; and we have a duty to live peacefully and play politics like the brothers that we are,” he said.
The former federal lawmaker also cautioned youths to resist the temptation of being used to cause chaos and electoral malpractices.
Mr Mailantarki also called on political parties and their candidates not to use youths as tools for acts that would create violence in the build-up to the elections.
He added that political stakeholders had a duty to play decent politics that promotes peace and conduct issues-based campaigns, as against “toxic and violent politics”.
He stated that his interest over time had been on youths and women because they remained the most vulnerable and the biggest victims of bad governance.
“In my sports academy, I have taken a lot of youths to European clubs to further their careers. I believe in helping talented lads to achieve their dreams.
“In Nigeria, we have the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ahmed Musas and others in our population, but the opportunity to differentiate and select them remained a challenge,” he said.
Mr Mailantarki said that if elected, he would create more platforms to harness the talents of the youths so as to contribute to the development of the society.
(NAN)