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Delta LG Polls: Isoko National Youth Assembly Entreat Deltans to Shun Violence
By Miracle Enuji
The Isoko Youth Apex body, Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA) has charged Deltans especially those participating in the local Government election on Saturday 6th January to maintain the sanity of a true democratic process.
This call was contained in a Press Release by the President, Isoko National Youth Assembly, Comr Umuakpo Ovie on behalf of members of the executive council and signed by the Director of Media and Strategy, Comr Eniwake Orogun.
The statement as obtained by ASABAMETRO, commended the various political parties for carrying out their campaigns without violence. While expressing the body’s commitment to the sustainability of Peace in Isoko Nation and Delta State at large, INYA called on all political actors to refrain from thuggery, ballot snatching and other vices that are inimical to credible polls.
The statement reads; “As the much anticipated LG polls draw near, the President, Isoko National Youth Assembly, Comr Umuakpo Ovie on behalf of members of the executive council wish to express our delight in the manner in which the campaigns have gone so far by all parties. We are impressed with the heightened optimism with which our youths have interested themselves in the electioneering process because the time has come for us to steady our place in the arena of governance.
“As youths, it is imperative for us to be deeply involved in choosing how and by whom we should be governed. However, it becomes grossly inappropriate if we fail to make allowances for other people’s right of choice as the beauty of democracy is deeply embedded in numbers.
“Knowing this, we must insist on a free and fair process devoid of violence. Let us resist being used as pawns for selfish purposes by individuals or groups who have the least concern for us as a people. They do not mean well for us and if we are pushed, we must insist on their children or wards taking the lead.”
Continuing, the Youth Assembly stressed that, “We must understand that the ambition of no man is worth the blood of another. We call on youths of Delta state and Isoko nation in particular, to refrain from thuggery, ballot snatching and other vices that are inimical to credible polls. We must promote an atmosphere that breeds democratic tenets where everyone is free to choose their leaders.
“Remember, our votes must count as a measure of our belief in the candidature of whomever we elect to give them to, rather than financial inducement. Also, we must understand that for every of our vote we sell now, we will pay with our future and collective wealth as politicians and political party will by all means recoup their expenditure with resources meant for our development which eventually will be costlier for us to pay.
“We call on the political class whose modus vivendi is to precipitate violence and extract the gains therefore, to desist from inducing our youths for electioneering criminality and violence as we shall not fail to report any form of it to relevant authorities for arrest and possible prosecution.
“It is our hope that the election will turn out well and both winners and losers will take a cue from Liberia where the President elect, George Weah was magnanimous in victory and not only visited the loser but also invited him to make nominations to the government.
They further urged the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) to live up to their billing before, on and after the election and tasked all relevant security agencies to be vigilant and ensure a peaceful atmosphere throughout the polls.
