The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDPF), a faith-based organisation comprising 120 Christian and Muslim leaders across Nigeria, has urged the nation’s political parties and politicians to eschew violence and make the 2023 election campaigns peaceful.
They made the call in a joint statement by the co-chairmen of the organisation, Bishop Sunday Onuoha and Alhaji Kunle Sanni Ishaq, on Wednesday in Abuja.
“We must work to dismantle the structures that entrench hatred and electorally motivated violence in our midst, as we approach the 2023 general elections.
“This is important and urgent as the various political parties prepare to kick start election campaigns for the 2023 general elections.
“We call on the people of Nigeria and state actors to work hard to achieve sustainable peace among the citizens,” they said in the statement to mark the 2022 annual International Day of Peace, with the theme ‘End Racism. Build Peace’.
They urged politicians and all Nigerians alike to embrace peace, eschew violence, discrimination and hatred, and play politics without bitterness, in order to remain resolute in the development of the country.