By Elizabeth Vincent/Yenagoa
Women, youth and others stakeholders in Bayelsa state have called on the political parties and their candidates to ensure that the state is peaceful, during and after elections.
The women under the aegis of Women Arise, Youth and Student unions made the call during a Road walk on the streets of Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital with the theme, Never Again.
Convener, Women Arise and Head of Department, Theater and Film Studies, UNIPORT, Professor Faith Aminikpo Ken noted that the theme, Never Again is not just a slogan but a call to stop violence which leads to loss of lives of many innocent persons during election.
“We say no more, Never Again, it not just be a slogan but a solemn commitment in the fabrics of our society. We don’t want the blood our brothers, sisters, sons and relatives to be used for elections again, we want Bayelsa to be peaceful”
She emphasized the need for INEC, the security personnel, the political class and other stakeholders to give Bayelsans an electoral process that is free, fair, just and credible.
Also speaking, President of the Nigerian Union of Bayelsa State Students, NUBSS, Comrade Prince Obounkumo urged students and youths in the state to maintain peace and vote peacefully on election day.
On her part, CEO of ENWAF, Lady Eunice Nnachi appealed to the political party candidates to allow peace while also calling on the youths to avoid violence.
” We want peaceful elections, that is why we are walking, youths don’t allow anyone to use you as thugs, we don’t want blood shed in this election”
The Road walk ended at the State Police Headquarters where the Commissioner of Police, Tolani Alausa addressed the women and youths.
He commended the organizers and assured them of the support and preparedness of the police and other security personnel to ensure peace on election day.
” We crave for peaceful elections, in other years even policemen have lost their lives, we are all going to get peaceful elections come November 11″
The Police Commissioner appealed to all the politicians to play by the rules of the electoral process for peace in the state before, during and after elections.
