Ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country, a frontline socio- cultural organisation in the Niger Delta region, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on youths to shun all manner of electoral violence, political thuggery and all forms of criminality in the region, but vote wisely for candidates of their choice.
The group also admonished the youths and the electorate to vote out bad leadership with their Permanent Voter Card (PVC ) come 2023.
This was disclosed by National Director of the group, Alhaji Abubakar Amaigo Brown at Abonnema during the commiseration of over 50 youths that were killed at the community during the 2019 general elections 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 oil bunkering and all manner of anti -social vices in the community come 2023.
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 good leadership and not those that would ask our youths to carry arms during elections and abandon them.”
Speaking at the event, National President, National Youth Council of Ogoni People, (NYCOP), Comrade Mathew Dighi, called on youths of the region, especially to shun all manner of electoral violence come 2023.
Dighi, who described the death of over 50 youths in Abonnema during the 2019 general elections as a colossal loss to the region and the state, said. “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”
He advised the youth to be careful and intelligent during the forthcoming elections as he urged them to use their PVC to vote out bad governance and leadership in the country.
Also speaking, State Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization, (CLO), Clifford Christopher Solomon, decried the loss of lives and property, the wanton massacres that was carried out by the military at Abonnema in 2019 elections
Solomon appealed to the youths not to be used as an instrument for election rigging and thuggery in the 2023 elections.
He admonished the military to refrain from electioneering process and supervision of 2023 general elections in the country
”It is not the sole 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 candidate 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 processes and not to kill”.
Earlier, Nyemoni Clan Chairman, comrade Emmanuel Selem Romeo, had appealed to the youths of Nyemoni to desist from electoral Violence, kidnapping, oil bunkering and political thuggery in 2023 elections.
Romeo said the aim of the exercise was to commiserate with the families of the youths that were killed in 2019 general elections in Abonnema.
He called on government to provide employment for the teeming youths of the community to better their lives instead of indulging in crimes and criminalities.
Romeo told the youths that the political class has nothing to offer them, than guns and drugs to commit crimes

By: Chinedu Wosu