Bayelsa guber poll: NGO engages youth to curb violence

The Fostering Achievement of Community Empowerment Initiative (FACE), a charity based firm has held a ’vote not fight’ sensitization programme to sensitize youth of Bayelsa state against violence during the governorship election slated for November 16, 2019.

The programme which was part of the event to mark the 2019 International Youth Day, drew youth from the eight local government areas, political stakeholders, security operatives, and representative of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who all spoke to the youth against violence during the coming election.

Speaking during the opening ceremony yesterday in Yenagoa, the Executive Director of FACE initiative, Mr Inatimi Peter Odio, said they decided to lead the ‘Vote not fight campaign’ to ensure that youth remain peaceful during and after November 16 governorship election in the state.

He said the programme is supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), USAID, UKAID and others to create awareness on electoral process and see commitments from youths and youth organizations for peaceful participation during the governorship election.

He said, “We will also engage key electoral stakeholders such as political parties, their candidates and campaign drivers, traditional rulers and religious institutions, security agencies, INEC and other electoral stakeholders to promote peaceful conduct during November 16 election.”

The programme officer for youth campaigns at the NDI, Mr Uge Timipanipre, encouraged the youth to make firm commitment to shun violence in the November governorship election in the state, because election is not war, neither is 2019 Bayelsa state governorship a do or die affair.