By: Adeboye Ado

A youth group under the auspices of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Nigeria, on Sunday, urged residents in Ondo State to eschew violence, divisiveness as well as embrace peaceful coexistence for a livable society.

Members of the group who rode on bicycles numbering about 30 to preach peace and tolerance across the nook and cranny of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North East Local Government Area of the State, harped on youth reformation as remedy to growing insecurity in the country.

While addressing newsmen after the exercise themed: “Nigeria At 63: Need For Religious Tolerance And Peaceful Coexistence”, the Ondo State Coordinator of the group, Comr. Shittu Yusuf-Alaba, lamented the spate of violence bedeviling Nigeria.

He explained that the aim of using bicycles to preach peace was to get the attention of the public to shun violence and allow peace to reign.

“This ride is to proclaim peace across the state, we use bicycles so that we can get the attention of the people and as well as pass across the message to the people.”

“We are facing unrest in other parts of the country, infact we have heard of unprovoked attack and wanton killings, so we want our people to live peacefully with one another”, he said.

Corroborating the words of the Coordinator, one of the District Heads of the Ahmadiyya Youth Organisation in Ondo State, Abdussalaam Abdulfatir, urged youths not to fan embers of violence, adding that the nation is wallowing in retrogression due to lack of cohesion.

“It is one of our numerous program centered around preaching peace in our neighborhood. It is our belief that without peace progress cannot be achieved that is why we are campaigning for peace.”

“We believe if our youths are convinced on the importance of peaceful coexistence, we will have a better society. Youths are the agents of change, we have informed them to promote peace”

However, one of the cyclists, Bakare Quassim, called on the government at various levels to foster peace through incessant engagement with youths, stressing that the society will sliding into utter depravity if the government failed in its responsibility to echo peaceful coexistence.