Ahead of the 2023 general election in the country, a frontline socio-cultural organisation in Niger Delta region, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on youths to shun all manner of electoral violence, political thuggery and criminalities in the region, but vote wisely for candidates of their choice.
The group also admonished the youths and electorate to vote out bad leadership with their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) come 2023.
This was disclosed by the National Director for Mobilisation (MOSIEND), Alhaji Abubakar Amaigo Brown at Abonnema during the commiseration of over 50 youths that were killed at the community during the 2019 general election by the military.
Brown said the essence of the exercise was to re-orientate the people of the clan and the youths to refrain from electoral violence, political thuggery, illegal bunkering and all manners of anti-social vices in the community come 2023 elections.
The mobilisation officer called on Niger Delta youths to select the leaders to govern them with their votes, and not to be used to carry guns and rig elections for the political class.
“We are lacking real leadership in the country, we need leadership and not those that would ask our youths to carry arms during elections and abandon them”.
He regretted that the government in power had abandoned the families of the youths that were killed in Abonnema during the 2019 elections.
“Their bodies were abandoned in the creeks, rivers for fish and cramps to feed on, no compensation was paid to their families by the political class”, Brown said.
Speaking at the event, National President, National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), Comrade Mathew Dighi called on youths of the region, especially Rivers State, to shun all forms of electoral violence come 2023.
Dighi described the death of over 50 youths at Abonnema during the 2019 general election, as a colossal lost to the region and the state.
“We are here to create awareness and advise the youths not to act violently in the forthcoming elections, but vote wisely and vote leaders of their choice.
“We, as a group, don’t want such to repeat again in the 2023 general election in all the communities in the region”.
He advised the youth to be careful and intelligent during the forthcoming elections, as he urged them to use their PVCs to vote out bad governance and leadership in the country.
Also speaking, the State Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization(CLO), Clifford Christopher Solomon decried the loss of lives and property, and the wanton massacre that was carried out by the military at Abonnema during the 2019 elections.
Solomon appealed to the youths not to be used as instruments for election rigging and thuggery in the 2023 elections.
He admonished the military to refrain from electioneering process and supervision of 2023 general election in the country.
“It is not the responsibility of the Nigeria Army, Navy and the Air Force to come out during elections to shoot and kill innocent and armless civilians.
“Voting is the franchise of every eligible Nigerian to vote candidates of their choice, and not to be killed by armed personnel”, he said.
“It is not the duty of the military to come on election days to intimidate, harass and shoot at civilians, rather, it is the duty of the Nigerian police to supervise the process and not to kill”.
Earlier, Nyemoni Clan Chairman of MOSIEND, Comrade Emmanuel Selem Romeo, appealed to the youths of Nyemoni to desist from electoral violence, kidnapping, oil bunkering and political thuggery in 2023.
Romeo said the aim of the exercise was to commiserate with the families of the youths that were killed in 2019 general election in Abonnema.
He called on government to provide employment for the teeming youths of the community to better their lives than indulge in crimes and criminality.
Romeo, who admonished the youths that the political class has nothing to offer to the youths than arm them with guns and drugs to commit crimes, advised the youths to shun electoral violence in the forthcoming elections.
“This exercise is very key to Nyemoni youths, because our brothers were killed and dumped in the creeks and rivers by the military during the 2019 elections.We don’t want such sad situations to repeat in 2023.Election is around the corner; our people should be wise, and not die for nothing, not even for the political class.
“The political class cannot give you money to do business, but will give you money to buy guns and drugs to rig elections”, he said.

By: Chinedu Wosu