The 2face Foundation in partnership with Young Stars Foundation, National Democratic Institute, NDI, United State Information Services, USIS and other partners, have flagged off the “Vote Not Fight – Election No Be War” campaign. The initiative is geared towards a violence free electoral process in 2015. This timely ingenuity was officially unveiled at The Events Centre, Alausa, Ikeja on the September 30.

As the 2015 elections gathers momentum with its attendant apprehension it stirs within the polity, the “Vote Not Fight, Election No Be War” campaign, championed by the music star, is targeted primarily at the youths that constitutes the largest voting population in the country, and ironically are the main culprits in election violence.

In attendance were a cross section of the media and a heavy representation of civil society organisations, as well other concerned citizens including the matriarch of the Kuti family, Ms. Yemi Ransome Kuti, among others. Also on hand to lend support to the campaign was the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, who delivered a pre-recorded speech via multi media.

From each speaker, it is obvious that they are united by one common cause – a desire to work towards violence-free elections in 2015,

Also unveiled at the launch was the project theme music recorded by 2face Idibia as part of the Million Voices for Peace (MVP) project, and a Public Service Announcement video by the BBC Media Action aimed at sensitizing the electorates on the need to vote, not fight, as the message goes.

The panel made up of 2face Idibia, Maxwell Machill (Senior Program Manager – NDI) and Mrs. Ijeoma Okey-Igbokwe (HOD, Voters Education – INEC), as well as Kingsley Bangwell (Youngstars Foundation) and Efe Omorogbe, representing The 2face Foundation, gave insightful answers and offered clarifications where required, while fielding questions from the press as well other civil society organisations.

According to Machil, “NDI is a platform through which we engage young people on the need for participation in civil duties, ironically, same people has been tools in violence, but that has not deterred us as we are on in a process for engaging them in a particular manner that will help them to engage political actors for an acceptable electoral process. For us it is all about participation, not just having a voice without demanding for accountability. But a process of having Nigeria to become what they want it to be as we are now at a point where they can lend their voice.”

He further urged Nigerian youths, “To key into the project with an understanding that they will vote, and not fight because election no be war.”

That was consented to by the Project Manager, BBC Media Active, Demian Ihekuronye. He said theirs, as a charity organization arm of BBC, “Our believe is that if the youth participates in electoral process without being used for violence, they would be able to hold government and demand to account for their actions. Sadly, it has been established that youths are only active during and after elections, rather than their participation on how a credible candidate eventually emerges.”

For Efe Omoregbe, “Beyond saying the pledge, we believe that anybody that pledges to this initiative must stick to it as a living testimony, and ensure elections are violence-free, because if Nigeria doesn’t survive a violent electoral process, the youths won’t have anywhere to flex as they may end up in a refugee camp where they will have to share toilets and bathrooms with about 50 people we must agree to make this country work, because elections no be war.”

Highlight of the launch was the signing of the pledge by 2face Idibia, Now Muzik artiste and collaborator on the MVP “Break the Silence” single, Henry ‘K Slim’Kosiso, Ms. Ransome-Kuti and EiE’s Yemi Adamolekun, followed by the others.

Other partners on the Vote Not Fight, Election No Be War campaign include the Enough Is Enough (EIE) Coalition, Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative and Development Initiative For African Women. Others are Hip TV, The Bridge Youth Development Foundation, and One Life Initiative for Human Development, as well as The Bridge Youth Development Foundation.

To register and joining the growing campaign, visit www.votenotfight.org

Caption: Vote not fight crew with 2face (fifth from right) and Ms Yemi Ransome-Kuti at the unveiling in Lagos recently