Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has warned against anyplan by any individual or group to disrupt this weekend’s Rivers State local government election, saying its members will not fold their hands and allow it to happen.
IYC President, Theophilus Alaye, who gave the warning on Thursday, described as appalling the fact that courts of coordinate jurisdictions could give conflicting judgements to stop the conduct of the local government elections in the state.
Alaye pointed out that those opposed to the conduct of the election had at one point or the other appointed Caretaker Committees without the Inspector General Police (IGP) sending officers to take over the councils.
He said the intention of Governor Siminilaye Fubara to conduct the local government election is to ensure that governance at the grassroots takes full swing in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
The IYC leader further explained that periodic elections are tools and democratic processes in any liberal democracy to elect leaders from the federal, state to the local government levels.
He noted that it is in compliance with this democratic tradition of allowing the people to elect those to govern at the grassroots that Fubara started the processes earlier this year that would eventually culminate in the conduct of the local government election on Saturday, October 5.
The youth body, therefore, urged the police, the lead security agency in the country statutorily empowered to provide security during national and state elections, to support the Rivers State government to conduct the LG election.
The council also called on INEC and security agencies particularly to collaborate with the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct a peaceful, transparent and credible election without let or hindrance.
Alaye stated: “As Ijaw youths, we won’t allow any individual or groups of persons to disrupt the upcoming local government elections. We, the Ijaw people, are laying the golden egg to feed this country, and we won’t allow anyone to disrespect our humble and peaceful son, The Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir siminalaya Fubara
“It is appalling to note that Courts of coordinate jurisdictions are giving conflicting judgements to stop the conduct of the local government election in Rivers State, which IYC considers very unfortunate.
“As a youth body renowned for speaking against injustice and advancing the course of peace, justice and accountability, we urge the Nigeria Police which is the lead security agency in the country statutorily empowered to provide security during national and state elections to support the Rivers State Government to conduct the Local Government Election.
“We also in that same vein call on INEC to be independent and play to her constitutionally given mandate of releasing all necessary information needed by RSIEC to enable them carry out a credible and not allow themselves to be used as enemy of the people and democracy.
“We advised eminent judges to be impartial while adjudicating over sensitive issues of this magnitude and avoid playing into the hands of politicians to cause chaos and confusion as no court judgment has ever stopped national and state government elections from holding.”
