Let Peace and Love Guide Nigeria’s Politics, Atoe Urges

The Initiative for Peace, Forgiveness and Love for One Another (IPFLOA) has called on Nigerian politicians, political parties and their supporters to embrace peace, forgiveness and mutual respect in the conduct of political activities.

Co-Founder of the organisation, Engr. Bright Atoe, made the call while reflecting on the conclusion of the Osun State governorship election, saying the outcome provides Nigeria with an opportunity to rethink the nature of political competition and the legacy being created for future generations.

Atoe said elections were naturally contests that would produce winners and losers, but stressed that political differences should never lead to hatred, violence or the destruction of relationships.

According to him, the conclusion of the Osun election should mark the beginning of reconciliation and renewed efforts to build the state, rather than a continuation of political animosity.

“An election lasts a day. A society must live with itself for generations,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to see politics as a contest of ideas, leadership visions and programmes rather than a battle between enemies.

Atoe noted that Nigerians belonged to families, communities, professional associations and social networks that often transcended political affiliations, stressing that political differences should not destroy such relationships.

“We can disagree passionately and still respect one another. We can compete fiercely and still shake hands afterwards. We can support different candidates and still remain neighbours,” he said.

He explained that the philosophy behind IPFLOA’s campaign, “Let Peace and Love Guide the Ballot,” was not aimed at weakening political competition but at encouraging Nigerians to combine vibrant democratic engagement with respect for human dignity.

According to him, Nigeria needs strong political opposition, accountability and citizens who are willing to ask difficult questions, but must also recognise that political opponents remain fellow Nigerians.

Atoe also urged electoral winners to see victory as a responsibility to serve all citizens, including those who did not vote for them.

He said political victories should provide opportunities for reconciliation and bridge-building across political, ethnic, religious and social divides, rather than become instruments of retaliation.

While acknowledging that losing an election could be painful for candidates who had invested resources, time and relationships in the contest, he urged defeated candidates to pursue legitimate grievances through democratic and legal channels.

He called on politicians to “win with humility and lose with dignity,” describing such conduct as a demonstration of strength and democratic maturity.

Atoe expressed particular concern about the impact of political behaviour on young Nigerians, warning that youths were watching and learning from the conduct of political leaders and their supporters.

“If they see politicians disagreeing respectfully, resolving differences peacefully and putting the interests of their communities above personal animosity, they learn that politics can be a noble calling,” he said.

He warned that violence, intimidation, hatred and destruction of relationships could create a dangerous impression among young people that such behaviour was an inevitable part of politics.

“Our young people should be participants in democracy, not casualties of it,” he said.

Atoe maintained that Nigeria did not need less politics but “better politics” where political ambition was matched by responsibility, competition by respect, victory by humility and disagreement by tolerance.

He said the responsibility for creating such a political culture rested not only with politicians but also with voters, party supporters, traditional rulers, religious leaders, the media and civil society organisations.

“Every one of us contributes to the political culture we eventually inherit,” he said.

Atoe urged Nigerians to allow the peace that should follow the Osun election to outlive the political contest, stressing that political offices were temporary while the relationships that bind communities and the nation together should endure.

He therefore called on Nigerians to “compete without hatred, disagree without division, win without arrogance, lose without bitterness and forgive where necessary.”

“Let peace and love guide the ballot in Nigerian politics,” he added.