ONELGA MUST NOT BLEED AGAIN: A CLARION CALL FOR PEACE, UNITY AND RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL CONDUCT

ONELGA MUST NOT BLEED AGAIN: A CLARION CALL FOR PEACE, UNITY AND RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL CONDUCT.

“NO ELECTION IS WORTH THE BLOOD OF AN ONELGA SON OR DAUGHTER”

I, Hon. Ogbowu Alwell Chinedu, Chairman, ONELGA YPP, hereby make this solemn and patriotic appeal to the good people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), particularly our revered traditional rulers, political leaders, candidates, youths, security agencies, media practitioners and all stakeholders, to collectively rise above partisan interests and make peace the foundation of the forthcoming electioneering season and elections in ONELGA.

Our dear ONELGA has, in the past, witnessed unfortunate political tensions, violence, destruction of properties and, tragically, loss of lives during election periods. We must not allow history to repeat itself.

No political ambition is worth the life of a brother. No elective position is worth the blood of an innocent citizen. No candidate should win an election only to inherit a community that has been destroyed by the process of winning it.

Politics should be about service, ideas, development and the welfare of the people—not warfare.

A SPECIAL APPEAL TO THE THREE GREAT TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES OF ONELGA.

I respectfully call upon our revered traditional institutions, whose moral authority transcends political party lines, to take the lead in this historic peace initiative:

1. His Eminence, Barr. Nwachukwu Nnam Obuohna Obi III, Oba (Eze Ogba) of Ogbaland;

2. His Royal Majesty, Nzeobi Evaritus Amida, Nze-Obi of Egbema Kingdom;

3. His Royal Majesty, Ijeoma Okwuchukwu Samuel, Awor of Ndoni;

and the

Executive Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Shedrach Ogbogu, Esq., DSSRS.

I humbly urge these distinguished leaders to jointly convene a PEACE ACCORD OF ONELGA, bringing together all candidates and political parties participating in the forthcoming elections and electoral activities in the Local Government Area.

This should not merely be another political gathering or ceremony. It should be a historic covenant for peace—a solemn commitment by all political actors that the people of ONELGA shall not be sacrificed on the altar of political ambition.

THE PROPOSED ONELGA PEACE ACCORD

Under the leadership of our traditional rulers and the Local Government Chairman, I appeal that every candidate and political party be encouraged to publicly commit themselves to:

– Free, fair, peaceful and credible campaigns and elections;
– Rejection of killings, intimidation, political thuggery, cultism and all forms of violence;
– Respect for the dignity, rights and safety of every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation;
– Refraining from the destruction of campaign materials, properties and businesses belonging to political opponents;
– Rejecting the use of youths as instruments of violence before, during or after elections;
– Respecting the outcome of lawful electoral processes and seeking redress through legitimate and constitutional channels where disputes arise;
– Ensuring that political differences do not destroy existing family, community, friendship and business relationships;
– Protecting women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable members of our communities from political violence;
– Promoting issue-based campaigns focused on development, employment, education, security, healthcare, infrastructure and the wellbeing of ONELGA people.

A WORD TO ALL POLITICAL CANDIDATES

To every candidate, irrespective of political party, I appeal to you as sons and daughters of ONELGA:

Please educate your supporters.

Your supporters must understand that an opponent is not an enemy.

In particular, candidates must properly orientate their media aides, spokespersons, social media handlers and campaign teams to desist from unnecessary attacks, insults, abusive language, character assassination, provocative publications, ethnic insinuations and reckless name-calling.

Political communication can be firm without being destructive.

Disagree with ideas, not people’s humanity. Challenge policies, not people’s families. Campaign vigorously, but campaign with dignity.

Let our media spaces become platforms for ideas rather than battlefields of insults.

Let us compete politically and still remain brothers and sisters.

We can campaign against one another without becoming enemies. We can contest elections against one another and still shake hands after the election. We can win without humiliating the defeated and lose without destroying the winner.

That is the kind of political culture ONELGA deserves.

OUR YOUTHS MUST NOT BE USED AS TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION

Our youths are the future of ONELGA. They should not be recruited, armed, paid or manipulated to fight political battles for people who will eventually reconcile after the damage has been done.

The young person who is sent to fight may lose his life.

The family that loses a son may never recover.

The property destroyed in a moment of political anger may have taken decades to build.

Let no politician sacrifice the future of our youths for temporary political advantage.

A SPECIAL APPEAL TO SECURITY AGENCIES

I equally call upon all security agencies operating in ONELGA, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), OSPAC and other lawful security and community-safety structures, to remain professional, impartial and proactive throughout the electioneering period.

Of particular importance is OSPAC, because of its closeness to our communities and its understanding of the local environment.

I appeal that OSPAC and other security outfits should work closely with the traditional institutions, political parties, community leaders and statutory security agencies to prevent violence rather than merely respond to it after lives and properties have been lost.

Security must be for everyone—not for one political party, candidate, ethnic group or community.

LET ONELGA SET A NEW STANDARD

This is an opportunity for ONELGA to write a new chapter.

Let the forthcoming electoral season be remembered—not for killings, destruction and bitterness—but as the period when our traditional rulers, political leaders, candidates, youths, security agencies and citizens collectively decided that ONELGA would never again be a theatre for political bloodshed.

Let the proposed ONELGA Peace Accord become a landmark initiative that subsequent generations and future election cycles will continue to uphold.

Let other Local Government Areas look to ONELGA and say:

“They showed us how politics can be practised without destroying the people.”

MY MESSAGE TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ONELGA

To the people of Ogba, Egbema and Ndoni, I appeal to you:

Do not allow anybody to use your emotions to make you fight your brother.

Do not allow political propaganda to turn neighbours into enemies.

Do not allow temporary political disagreements to destroy permanent relationships.

Before you share an inflammatory message, ask yourself whether it will promote peace or provoke violence.

Before you insult another candidate, remember that he or she is someone’s brother, sister, father, mother, husband, wife or child.

Before you pick up a weapon for politics, remember that your life is more valuable than any political office.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW

I therefore respectfully urge our three revered traditional rulers and the Executive Chairman of ONELGA to use their respected offices and moral authority to bring all political actors together and establish this ONELGA PEACE ACCORD before political activities escalate.

Let every candidate sign it.

Let every political party endorse it.

Let every traditional institution support it.

Let every security agency enforce the law fairly.

Let every youth understand it.

Let every media aide respect it.

And let every citizen defend it.

Together, we can disagree without destroying ourselves.

Together, we can compete without killing.

Together, we can win elections without losing our humanity.

And above all:

LET ONELGA LIVE. LET ONELGA PROSPER. LET ONELGA REMAIN PEACEFUL.

No election is worth the blood of an ONELGA son or daughter.

I am therefore appealing for peace in ONELGA before, during and after the campaigns and elections.

This is not a call for any political party.

This is not a campaign for any candidate.

This is a call for ONELGA.

This is a call for our people.

This is a call for peace.

SIGNED:

Hon. Ogbowu Alwell Chinedu.
Chairman, ONELGA YPP
08126220888
ogbowualwellchinedu@gmail.com

“PEACE FIRST. POLITICS SECOND. ONELGA FOREVER.”