NGO holds interfaith national conference ahead of the 2023 elections

A Non-Governmental Organization
Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM) has organized an interfaith national conference with the theme “The role of interfaith and traditional institutions in promoting the culture of peaceful election in Nigeria”.

The President of the Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM) Rev. Habila M. Istifanus said the conference is to bring Christians and Muslims together and also traditional institutions to come together to draw a good pathway for the 2023 general elections for it to be very peaceful.

Rev. Istifanus called on all Nigerians to come together, and embrace one another to be able to see where they can correct themselves and move forward and also remain peaceful as much as possible.

He call on all citizens to prioritize peace during this time and shun the act of violence. I have no dought that after this program more peace will be achieved

The Executive Director of Justice Peace and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM), Mrs. Justina M. Ngwobia urged Nigerians to be extremely careful as well as protect the nation saying We don’t need to make a mistake anymore.

“Nigeria is running fast, We don’t know what’s going on, But we believe that something has to happen And that is why we have brought people to come let’s reason together, Let’s think Nigeria first so that this nation will survive in 2023.”

Also speaking Chairman of the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, Mr Pwakim Jacob Choji said that the 2023 election is not just an election year but rather a period for deep reflection,

Mr. Chojia however called on the people to set aside ethnicity, and religious settlement, and come out to vote for the future of the country.

“I think we’re coming from years of experience in violence during elections, I also believed that we’ve learned our lessons 2023 election is also it’s an election year for us to look very deeply and ask ourselves, where are we headed? As a nation? What is our future, like, for whoever we’re voting for?

The keynote speaker DG Plateau Peace Building Agency Mr. Joseph Lengmen represented by the agency’s team lead Peace Education Alkana Eza highlighted the role of the inter-faith and traditional councils in peace reconciliation.

“Nigeria still has a long way to achieving a universal standard of free, fair, and peaceful democracy. One of the critical factors of electoral violence is religion and ethnicity as people focus on the region and religion a candidate belongs to rather than what they have to offer and issues and problems they can provide solutions to”

“Which is why it is important for ethnic and religious stakeholders to avoid hate speech and instigation but rather preach the principle of good conduct and freedom as the election approaches.”