Kogi: Election is over, let’s remain united, peaceful, association urges residents

The Ebira People’s Association (EPA) has appealed to the residents of Kogi to remain united and peaceful since the state’s Off-Cycle Governorship Election has concluded.

Dr Godwin Oyibo, EPA President-General, made the appeal in a statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday.

He said the appeal as due to “some prevailing developments with great concerns within our esteemed general public”.

According to him, It has been observed that there is an upsurge in the use of voice notes, videos, and text messages containing extremely harsh and derogatory comments, particularly on various social media platforms, directed towards certain politicians in the land.

“It remains understandable that differences in political views and actions may arise, and discussions surrounding governance and policies are fundamental to a flourishing democratic society.

“But the level of indecency that has so far characterised the tones and nature of the referenced set of clips is highly objectionable. They have escalated beyond healthy debate to the point that they are now divisive, hateful and counterproductive.

“Up until my last check, Gov. Yahaya Bello has not overtly or covertly enlisted anyone to further those reprimands, neither has he shown helplessness in taking care of the situation himself that should have warranted anyone trying to help and thereby heating up the system.

“While I acknowledge genuine concerns in some of those clips that have been so far aired, engaging in scornful languages, threats or resorting to personal attacks as a way of addressing them will compound the situation, and also tarnish our collective image and ridicule us as a community.

“I hope that all voice notes and video clips for and against any of the political appointees and any other persons at that matter, will henceforth stop and the existing ones should be prevented from further circulation,” he said.

The EPA president-general urged the administrators of Ebira Group WhatsApp Platforms to henceforth prevent participants from using their platforms for “this nature of divisive messages and hate speeches.

Oyibo added: “As a people, we should be mindful that the euphoria of our victory at the recently concluded governorship election is still fresh and well alive; let us not dampen the mood by our utterances or actions.

“Like I have charged you just recently, let us seek the face of God for the incoming government of Alhaji Usman Ododo to be able to address these vexed issues and put them behind us.

“What should preoccupy our minds at this crucial moment is the peaceful inauguration of the governor-elect and the eventual good governance that we all envisage.

“This is because our strength lies in our unity, and together we can foster an environment of constructive dialogue for the betterment of the Ebira nation.

“I urge every one of us to reflect on the realities and exercise restraints in our conducts and utterances both online and offline,” he stated.

He, however, felicitated with Egbira nation on the feat of victory in the recently concluded Kogi gubernatorial election that produced “one of our own as the governor-elect.”