The FCT Observers and Good Governance Association, a pro-democracy group, has commended the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, for promoting peace and unity throughout campaign period across the six Area Councils.
Coordinator of the group, Mr Cletus Barnabas, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, emphasised that Aliyu throughout her tour preached peaceful co-existence and violent free Saturday Feb. 12, election in the territory.
According to him, this is the first in the history of FCT that a serving minister for the state went out to campaign massively for unity and peace.
“The minister of state also visited traditional rulers, different religious bodies and youth leader and encouraged them to maintain peace before, during and after the Saturday election.
“It is a well known fact that conducting a smooth election is not the responsibility of the FCT Administration alone but solely lies in hands of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“And also those of the electorate working in tandem with all stakeholders, including security agencies, Civil Society Organisations, the mass media with community and religious leaders and organisations,” he said.
Barnabas, therefore, called on politicians who are hell-bent to tarnishing the image of the minister of state to stop forthwith.
The coordinator also expressed displeasure over the alleged campaign of lies against the minister, describing the minister as a “women of peace.”
Barnabas advised politicians to stop blackmailing the minister.
“It is on record that on several occasions during her peace tour across area councils she insists that after the election, we must all return to being brothers and sisters bound by the love for country and the desire to see her grow.
Also, Chairperson, Civil Society Network for Development and Good Governance, Evelyn Onyilo, called on the FCT residents to remain steadfast and dedicated to the good works and excellent personality of the minister.
Onyilo also admonished residents to disallow possible attempts to tarnish the highly revered image of altruism built by the minister, hold any sway.
“It is worthy of note to authoritatively say that minister is a woman of great and irrefutable character and candor.
“This she has translated into a wonderful, peaceful and smooth relationship with all residents of FCT irrespective of ethnic, religious, tribal, academic and gender background or beliefs.
“This was more pronounced in her handling of the FCT palliative distributions across all sector in a unique system of no community or group is left behind” maxim.
“The civil society organisation bodies can testify to this with the type of open system she operated with all, which included involving us in the palliative distributions to ensure accountability and due process in conducting the distributions of palliatives,” she said. (NAN)
