From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Igala Youths from the eastern senatorial district of Kogi state, under the auspices of “Ojuju Agbadufu” have cried out for the rescue of Nigeria’s Democracy currently at the verge of total collapse.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its Forum held in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital to review the conduct of the general elections in Nigeria between 2015 and 2019.
The forum decried the electoral frauds that marred past general elections in the country such as rigging, snatching of ballot boxes, violence, intimidation, vote buying and gunshots to scare voters from exercising their franchise among others.
The group accused the ruling APC government in Nigeria, politicians, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for living below expectations in making all the past general elections under review huge success.
The communiqué therefore, solicited for peaceful coexistence in Nigeria devoid of oppression, marginalisation and exclusion in the scheme of things on the basis of tribe, status or creed which it noted was the only way to boost the nation’s democracy.
The group however, appealed to the federal government to as a matter of urgency undertake genuine electoral reforms that will support and deepen true democracy in Nigeria.
The communique also called on security agencies in Nigeria to investigate the electoral frauds, violence and political murders committed during the past general elections.
It urged the FGN to commission an independent investigation of what Kogi State Government used the bail-out funds and FGN refunds that it received prior to the 16th November, 2019 gubernatorial election for in the State.
They equally appealed to the FGN to commission an independent enquiry into the roles played by Nigeria’s security agents either through omission or by commission in the spate of electoral frauds, violence and political murders that took place during the 16th November, 2019 gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
It pleaded with the UN, AU and ECOWAS including local and international NGOs to investigate the role played particularly by the FGN in the electoral fraud, political violence and political murders witnessed during the 16th November, 2019 gubernatorial election in Kogi State and hold whoever is found culpable accountable under relevant national and international laws.
The group as well compelled the FGN to commission an independent enquiry into the use of Police assets and platforms like Police Helicopters to perpetrate political violence and electoral frauds during the 16th November, 2019 gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
It finally asked the FGN and Kogi State Government to compensate the families of all the victims of electoral violence and political murder that were committed before, during and after the 16th November, 2019 gubernatorial election in Kogi state.
Representatives of the United Nation (UN), African Union (AU) and ECOWAS including local and international NGOs witnessed the forum.
