By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The leaderships of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) have appealed to journalists practicing in Kaduna State to avoid promoting stories capable of triggering political violence.

The two religious bodies and other partners appealed at a one-day interactive session organised by Global Peace Foundation-Nigeria (GPFN), in collaboration with Big Minds Communications Consult (BMCC) and Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, ahead of the March 11, Guber and State House of Assembly elections.

Kaduna is one of the Northern states that have recorded the highest number of political violence that have claimed several lives and destruction of properties, especially during the 2011 post-election unrest.

Chairman of CAN in the State and Country Director, GPFN, Reverend Joseph Hayab, while delivering his keynote address on “Peaceful Election in Kaduna State with Gubernatorial Candidates”, from religious and political perspectives, said the media and journalists were key in having peaceful elections in the state.

“To conduct credible, free and fair elections that will usher in the kind of leaders that the Nigerian public desires, the role of the media is substantial and that leads me to appeal to journalists at this crucial moment, especially in Kaduna state, a state that has experienced devastation in the aftermath of elections in the past, to report in a manner that douses any rising tension than to add to the flames of an already a volatile situation with sensational reporting.

“Given the sensitivity of Kaduna State and the resulting experiences of religious tensions in the past, GPFN is calling on the people of Kaduna State to make use of this election to unite and respect each other’s rights and freedom of choice,” Hayab said.

Also speaking, Secretary, JNI, Kaduna State Chapter, Ibrahim Kefena, urged journalists not to create unnecessary political tension in the state because God already knows who would win, no matter the circumstances that may play out.

“Already, God has decided who will be the governor of Kaduna State. So, why should we fight over an election that God has already concluded even before we go to the polls?

“Journalists should not create tension in the state. I hope whoever emerges the next governor on Saturday should be left to God to judge if he fails to do justice to all of us.

“We are hoping we will have peaceful elections. We hope this and other engagements that have been coming up will help us to have a peaceful election in the state,” he added.

Earlier, the Chairman, Correspondents” Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, said the programme was put together to refreshmemories of journalists on the need to promote peace as 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections approach.

“Though promotion of peace is entrenched in the journalism code of ethics and even in our formal training, we cannot underestimate the need for a forum like this to remind ourselves of our roles as nation builders. “Without wanting to preempt the guest speakers, I want to call on my colleagues in Kaduna state to be conscious of the volatility of our dear state and avoid reportage that is capable of setting the state ablaze,” he added.