Journalist campaigns against bloodshed during 2019 elections

Ona Daniels

Few hours to the 2019 general elections, Evelyn Osagie, a journalist with the Nation Newspaper and a poetry and photography artisthas staged Lovelines Poetry Concert and Outdoor “Together Series” Art Exhibition themed, ‘Vote With Ink Not Blood’ to sensitise Nigerians against electoral violence.

The art to the street project held on Valentine’s Day to mark her Word Meet Images 3.0 annualevent charged Nigerians to vote wisely, voting with ink and not blood in the February 16th and March 2nd elections respectively.

Known on stage as Evelyn D’ Poet, Osagie distinguishes herself with her Ankara head scarf. She said every time Nigeria had an election, there was usually fear in the air if the country would disintegrate or if there would be bloodshed.

Her words, “During this election, we want peace and not violence or death. Politicians vying for any position in this country should know they are vying into such positions to serve. If you are not ready to serve, you should leave.

“If you are coming to do service, it is not by force that you must serve people. People must chose and also accept your service. If they don’t want you, then you go home and do other things.

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“Political positions should not be a profession. It should not be offices where people make money, gather properties or gather wealth and at the end of the day, the people suffer. Rather, political position is a collective good to drive the country to a place of development,” she asserted.

OsagieadvisedNigerian youths who easily take to election violence because of money to not live for the now, rather they should drive their passion for the good of humanity. She also used the platform of the event to advocate for the works of artist and talents to be taken seriously to bring out the best in them.

Veteran dramatist and cultural activist, Ben Tomoloju, who described Evelyn Osagie as a passionate multi-talented artist, noted that the message of this exhibition is apt. According to Tomoloju, Nigeria has been experiencing pockets of violentwhich has been bloody and recklessdue to massive ignorance of the electorates. He equally noted that the disposition of some politicians to make election a do or die affair should be discouraged.

“Nigerians should vote critically.They should vote for their conscience. Take your choice from the perspective of who can perform; a candidatewho has the ideological commitment to turn Nigeria around. There are many pretenders around. However, we can know the passionate politicians by looking at their past records.

“The first timer politicians should not join the band wagon but to deliver to the people justice and equity,” he said.

The valentineday outdoor event started with a photo exhibition where 13 symbolic photographs were displayed. The pictures depicted the story of Nigeria – past, present and what the future should be. There were also a playlet titled, ‘Our Votes, Our Bullets,’ there was poetry rendition, dance drama and music performances.