Multi-award-winning Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2baba, has met candidates of the three major parties participating in the July 16 Osun governorship poll and urged them to prevail on their supporters to eschew violence during the poll.
Idibia met, at different times, with Dr Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, and made them sign a peace pact, thereby pledging commitment to a peaceful poll.
The songwriter, who led his ‘Vote Not Fight’ campaign team to the state, while speaking at a meeting he held with Adeleke in Ede on Wednesday, called on him to promote messages that would deter perpetrators of electoral violence and violence against women during the governorship election.
He explained that the campaign was being implemented by The New Generation for Girls and Women Development Initiative, Justice, Development and Peace Maker Center, with the support from National Democratic Institute and the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the 2Face Idibia Foundation.
He further said, “We are hopeful that as a man of peace, you will make a commitment to run a peaceful campaign and encourage your supporters to be peaceful before. during and after the Osun governorship election.
“We call on you to amplify the VNF and Stop-VAWIP campaigns by speaking out frequently against youth-incited/perpetrated violence, hate speech, vote buying and electoral violence targeted at women.”
Responding, Adeleke, pledged commitment to a peaceful poll and called on members of other parties participating in the poll to also keep to their promise of a violence-free election.
A statement shared on the Facebook page of Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, also stated that he received members and ambassadors of the VNF campaign in South-West Nigeria.
The statement further read in part, “At the end of the meeting, Governor Oyetola signed a peace pact and reiterated his commitment to a free, fair and violent-free election. Like he has always preached, the governor emphasized the need for politicians to play according to the rules of the game, saying that election shouldn’t be seen as a do-or-die affair.”
