Ahead of the local government elections in Rivers State scheduled to hold on Saturday, 5th October, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has said that it would not allow any individual or groups of persons to disrupt the election.
The President of IYC, Dr. Theophilus Alaye stated this while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Port Harcourt.
He said it was appalling to note that Courts of coordinate jurisdictions are giving conflicting judgements to stop the conduct of local government elections in the state, describing it as unfortunate.
Alaye pointed out that those opposed to the conduct of the election had at one point or the other appointed caretaker committees and no Inspector General Police has ever sent 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.
Alaye explained that periodic elections are tools and democratic processes in any liberal democracy to elect leaders from the federal to the state levels.
He noted that it was in compliance with this democratic tradition to allow the people elect those to govern at the grassroots that informed the decision of the Fubara to start the processes earlier this year that would eventually culminate in the conduct of Local government election on Saturday.
Alaye stressed that the importance of electing Chairmen and Councilors to man the Local government councils can not be overemphasised, adding that over 10 governors have conducted their state local government elections peacefully, and wondered why Rivers state is different.
The youth body therefore urged the 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.
The council also called on INEC and security agencies particularly to collaborate with the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct peaceful, transparent and credible elections 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 Local Government Election in Rivers State which IYC considered 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 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.”