A civil society organization, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), has urged the incoming administration in Kogi State to swiftly prioritize reconciliation among the populace, fostering peaceful coexistence and unity.
The group emphasized the need for political parties to take proactive steps in involving young individuals in their internal affairs, advocating for specific policies that promote youth engagement in party leadership roles.
These recommendations were outlined in a communique released following a one-day review of the post-governorship election held in Lokoja over the weekend.
The group expressed concern over the recent election’s divisive nature, noting that the parties’ ethnic alignment had significantly fragmented the state’s major components, creating tensions and divisions.
Additionally, the organization urged the incoming administration to promptly focus on unifying the state’s residents, promoting fair distribution of state resources for the collective benefit of all.
The communique further stated: “The current attitude of opposition parties in Kogi State, where parties seem weak to challenge the policies of the government, is detrimental to forging a vibrant democracy and good governance
“There must be a deliberate effort by the incoming administration in the state to convene a state conference to re-establish bonds within the citizens taking into consideration the level of distrust and disunity within six months of its inauguration.
“The state House of Assembly must ensure that the Youth Commission and the Ministry of Youths and Sports and other youth-focused institutions have adequate funding to carry activities aimed at improving the development of youths in the state
“The constitutional amendments to remove the age restriction for contesting election must be on the front burner of the current National Assembly, by amending the various Sections that provide for the right of young persons at 18 but cannot vote at that age. We proposed that the constitution should state that any citizen of Nigeria who has attained the age of 18 years can vote and be voted for.
“We call on the Nigerian Police to as a matter of urgency, conclude its investigations into the post-election violence that has characterized the aftermath of the November 11, 2023, governorship elections in Kogi State, and make the outcome of such investigation public as soon as possible.
“Also, political parties must be held accountable for the violent actions of their supporters before, during, and especially after the elections in Kogi State.”
