2023 Elections: Don’t militarize political space, Fr Ladi tells Buhari

Sani Idris

Rev. Fr Onuh Ladi, the Provincial Secretary for Health, Justice, Development and Peace (HJDP), Kaduna, has urged the federal government not to militarize the political space.

He said that the government should allow democracy to take its course in the upcoming general elections.

Fr Ladi gave the advice on Sunday in Kaduna while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of a grassroots stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop to prevent election-related violence.

NAN reported that the programme attracted participants from across religious, youths and community leaders from the 12 wards of Kaduna North LGA, comprising 48 people each from Muslim and Christain communities.

It was organised by Lux Terra Leadership Foundation (LTLF) in collaboration with the HJDP.

Ladi noted that the workshop was to reawaken the people’s consciousness to avoid violence and vote for their choice without any form of friction, during and after the elections.

He explained that Kaduna North LGA was chosen because of its volatility and previous history of post-electoral violence which usually subsequently took religious dimension.

“Kaduna North has people of the two religions living together and having different tribes; we timed this workshop as the elections are just some days ahead so that we can talk and share ideas for peacebuilding,” he said.

Ladi decried the current situation of the Naira and fuel scarcity while calling on the people to remain resolute and prayerful.

He also frowned at politicians who make inciting utterances, while urging religious, traditional and youth leaders to continue preaching peace for development to have its way in society.