Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerian youths to be peaceful and eschew violence all through the period of scheduled general elections.
Dr. Jonathan gave the advice on Monday when youth groups in the Niger Delta led by the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Barr. Pereotubo Oweilaemi paid him a courtesy visit at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
He said: “Without peace there cannot be development in the society. If we want to develop Nigeria as leaders and citizens, then collectively we must work hard and make sacrifices that will bring peace to our country.
“When we have conflicts, it creates a very negative impression in the society and investors are very mindful of these impressions. The most fundamental tool for building an economy of a nation is peace.
The former President also charged security operatives to demonstrate their goodwill towards peaceful elections by desisting from extra-judicial killings.
He said: “Anytime someone dies extra-judicially it reduces the integrity of the country. So, if our security personnel are interested in peace, especially during this electioneering, then they must do everything to suppress extra-judicial killings; because when one person is killed unlawfully, it affects everyone.”
Speaking earlier on the purpose of the visit, the President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Peretubo Oweilaemi said that their visit was to align themselves with the peace philosophy of the Dr. Jonathan that “nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Comrade Oweilaemi, in his speech said “during your time as President, you emphasized that nobody’s blood is worth your ambition. You didn’t just say it, but you live by it everywhere you go. You have always placed national interest above personal interest.
“The Niger Delta is very peaceful today because of you and the role you have been playing in peacebuilding. We watch and follow every of your footstep and we can say we have become peace ambassadors because of your conduct and mentorship on us.
“We are also aware that in a state, it is very difficult to have a former President, without him and the incumbent governor not having issues. But in Bayelsa, we haven’t heard about you and the Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson having issues. This is a further testament of your peaceful disposition.
“Our visit today Your Excellency, is to commend you on the role you and the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation have been playing in the society, in terms of peacebuilding and democratic stability in the country and we consequently urged our youths to imbibe your philosophy of politics without blood.”
