Ndito Boys & Girls Flag-off Campaign against Electoral Violence with "Elections Without Blood" Walk

 

As democratic governance deepens, the full spectrum of social, political, and economic issues facing Nigeria requires new and invigorated ways of thinking about youth and leadership. Today’s

youth are being looked upon to play a crucial and active role in building the nation, promoting accountability, and developing new visions. In so doing, building the capacity for this generation is perhaps one of the greatest challenges, and also one of the most important. It is the active involvement of the youth in the socio-economic cum political interplays that will shape Nigeria’s future.

To that effect, Ndito Boys and Girls Organization was set up as a youth advocacy group that promotes good governance, youth political participation and entrepreneurial empowerment. Founded in 2013 at the intersection of popular culture and politics, Ndito Boys & Girls Organization has become the fastest-growing socio-political youth advocacy group and a trusted source of information for young people about politics and governance.

Ndito Boys & Girls organization is dedicated to building the political power of young people by engaging them in the electoral process, urging politicians to pay attention to issues that matter to young voters, and protecting their fundamental right to vote. The organization’s goal is to reinvigorate our country's democracy and redefine citizenship for a generation in 2015 and beyond. The aim is to use popular culture, new technologies and grassroots organizing to motivate and mobilize young people to participate in every election, with the goal of seizing the power of the youth-vote to create political and social change.

The road to 2015 is getting busier. The path to 2015 is getting crowded. The politicking firmament is getting cloudy and soon, it will rain heavily. This is the season of politics and politicians are lacing their boots getting ready to run as far as they can. Numerous clandestine meetings are holding both day and night; the eventual prize at stake is the mandate of the people. It is on record that during the last general elections in 2011, properties worth billions of Naira were destroyed, more than 800 people died, many were maimed and injured as a result of electoral violence.

As 2015 general election preparations get underway, Ndito Boys & Girls Organization has commenced a campaign against election violence tagged: ELECTIONS WITHOUT BLOOD. This campaign, aimed at reducing incidents of violence perpetrated by young people at elections, will involve encouraging youth volunteers across the state to develop awareness-raising activities, including street rallies, social and cultural events, workshops and media appearances, to persuade young people to shun violence.

The official endorsement dinner for this campaign was held last weekend with stakeholders across Akwa Ibom state that believe in a peaceful and non-violence general elections in attendance.

This weekend, Elections Without Blood Walk –  a street rally organized to create awareness and sensitize the public on the need for a peaceful and non-violent elections come 2015 will take place. The walk will be held on Friday 28th November 2014 and will commence from 9am at Ndito Boys and Girls Family House, Plot 6, C-Line, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo to terminate at the Government House Gate, Uyo.

Non-violence and unity in AKWA-IBOM STATE can only become a reality when all people rise above ethnic boundaries, political differences, religion and ideologies, celebrate our diversities rather than use them as a reason for violence and disunity.