By Ovie Okpare
Immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has called on Nigerians, particularly Deltans, not to see the forthcoming elections beginning with this Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly polls as a “do or die affair”.
Uduaghan, who was governor of the oil-rich state between 2007-2015, noted that there was need for all political players to ensure that the elections were violence-free which represent the wishes of the electorate.
In a statement personally signed by the former governor on Thursday, Uduaghan said it would be “evil and devilish” for anyone to resort to violence on account of the approach all-important elections in the country.
He stated that the country and Delta State had experienced enough violence in the past and called on all eligible voters to embrace peace before, during and after the polls.
The statement titled “2023 General Elections – A Call For Peaceful Elections!” read, “In the next few hours, most of us will be going to our voting units with our PVCs to vote for our choice candidates, starting with the Presidential and National Assembly elections. The results will produce mainly fresh hands to occupy the various offices being contested for. Hopefully, the fresh hands will produce a new Nigeria.
“The campaigns have been intense with participants and their supporters criss-crossing the country, states, local governments, wards, voting units and even homes. In the media, including the social media, the campaigns have also been quite intense.
“The international communities have taken keen interest in the campaigns and upcoming elections. Key amongst the issues are the twin challenges of transparency and violence. As Nigerians, the responsibility to handle these challenges is in our hands.
“The elections should not be a do or die affair. The spirit of winning at all cost must be discouraged. Resorting to violence is evil and devilish. A lost election today, can be won at a future election. However, a lost life today can never be brought back.
“I am therefore using this medium to appeal to us all to be transparent and avoid any form of violence. We have experienced too much violence in Nigeria and Delta State in particular. Let us go and vote in peace. A peaceful election is a win for us all.”
