2019 Bayelsa guber: IYC cautions against violence

By Our Reporter

As Bayelsans go to the polls come Saturday the November 16 2019, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has called for a peaceful election.

“All players should conduct themselves in a peaceful manner. Election is not a do-or-die affair. The election as we have said earlier is a brotherly contest. Political players should not therefore use the election to perpetrate violence against fellow Ijaw man,” said Pereotubo Oweilaemi, Esq.

President, IYC worldwide, in a statement made available to GbaramatuVoice on Nov. 14.

The statement added, “We also appeal to Ijaw youths in Bayelsa State to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

“No youth should make himself a willing tool to ferment strife in the State. Those who are readily available to be used as thugs by desperate politicians should desist from it. The Council will partner with security agencies to checkmate electoral violence.

“IYC frowns at the orgy of violence perpetrated by rival political groups in Nembe city which has resulted in the death of promising Ijaw youths while several others injured. This should not be a prelude or a signpost to what will happen on Saturday. Security agencies should therefore be very alert to arrest any further occurrence.”

Oweilaemi appealed to INEC to conduct a credible election in the State. He said, “Security agents should also be neutral in discharging their duties.

“They should not repeat what they did to Ijaw people in Bayelsa and Rivers States during the 2019 general elections.

“Bayelsa State is no at war and so no security man should play himself into the hands of desperate politicians to commit electoral malfeasance.

“The entire Ijaw nation is watching. No one should turn Bayelsa State into a theatre of war in this election.

“Any compromised attack on the electorates by security agents will be seen as an act of aggression against the Ijaw nation. The Federal Government should therefore caution those security agents deployed to the State on election duty to be neutral.