The Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council(NENYLC), has called for truce between Gov. Yahaya Bello and Mrs Akpoti- Uduaghan, the Kogi Central, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, for peace to reign.
The President General, NENYLC, Mr Terry Obeih, said this on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja.
According to Obeih, the feud between Bello and Akpoti has constituted a threat to women’s inclusion in politics.
NENYLC a coalition of over 407 ethnic groups in Nigeria is extremely concerned over the recent excessive imbroglio between the Gov. Yahaya Bello and Mrs Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan, PDP Kogi Central candidate.
This is over allegations and counter- allegations of terrorism escapades and hobnobbing with one “Shefiu” and leading to further threats of attacks, media maligning-cum aggressive vilifications and intimidation between both parties.
Consequently, this is causing hydra headed tensions and fears in Kogi.
The State is strategically positioned between North and South on the borderline which serves as melting point of national unity and stability, Obeih said.
Furthermore, he said that the group believe that a woman needs to be treated with care and understanding.
He said that women needed to be encouraged rather than discouraged especially as the 2023 election drew near.
We need to trend cautiously as we approach the 2023 general election; we hereby use this medium to alert the law enforcement agents to ensure adequate security and peaceful process.
The two contending forces are youths within our context, as a matter of promotion of democracy and inclusion of women and youths in politics and governance.
We call on Bello to reconsider his stance on this feud as a leader and lover of democracy in the state, he said.
Obeih said the group believed that the rift would make the atmosphere unsafe for women participation in politics and governance.
He advised both parties to develop cordial relationship having come from same ethnic group, Senatorial District, state and peer group in order to ensure development of the state.
The Secretary General, NENYLC, Mr Aare Oladotun Hassan said that the essence of the group’s intervention was to build a peaceful atmosphere, ahead of the 2023 election.
Women need to be treated well in politics because the courage to come out is something.
So, Bello should broker peace, we believe Kogi should not be a boiling point for disunity because of its strategic location, he said.
A member of the group, Ms Nimat Ozigis, appealed for calm between both parties, he added that politics should not be do or die affairs.
He charged stakeholders to work together in the interest of peace for free, fair and credible election in 2023.