Hate speech grows in Adamawa – NOA

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed concern over increasing rate of hate speech and verbal attacks by politicians in Adamawa. The State Director of NOA, Mr. Ahmed Abba, made the observation during a sensitisation and campaign awareness programme against invalid voting held in Girei local government area of the state. Abba said that the agency was disturbed over what he described as ‘ugly and indiscipline’ attitude of politicians and their supporters. He noted that some of the politicians were in the habit of attacking and insulting their opponents in Radio station’s political programmes. According to Abba, the development is totally a violation of rules and regulations of political campaign and national security. The director however said that the agency noticed that there was significant decreased in political thuggery and violence during political campaign rallies in the state ” What we are experiencing now in the state is political verbal attack and hate speeches in Radio stations in the state. ” I hope the authorities concern should wake up and bring sanity to avoid unnecessary tension”, he said. Abba said that the aim of the sensitisation was to educate and reached out to about 1.9 million eligible voters on the process and how to vote properly to avoid past mistakes. ” The agency is targeting about 1.9 million eligible voters across the state through sensitisation and campaign awareness on the process of good and avoiding invalid voting.” he said. The director disclosed that a total of 420 ,000 permanent voters cards were yet to be collected in the state adding that the agency would continue to sensitise the people until the cards were collected by the owners. In a remark, Alhaji Ahmed Mustafa, the District head of Girei, warned politicians to avoid using children who are vulnerable as political thugs. Mustafa however, directed the village heads to go back to their respective villages and wards to senitize the people to collect their PVC. Tom Garba, Yola