Women from various communities in Bayelsa State on Monday rose against all forms of electoral violence and intimidation ahead of the December 5 governorship election in the state.
The women and mothers, who spoke to journalists after their meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, said they were apprehensive over the already existing political tension ahead of the election.
The worried women, who spoke under the auspices of Women of Excellence (WE), a socio-political group formed to create a level-playing field for every Bayelsa woman, said all parties for the election should adhere to the rules of engagement.
The Coordinator, WE, Mrs. Tari-Ere Gita said: “In recent past, Bayelsa State was smeared by violence, killings, kidnappings and cultism. State machineries were used to sponsor terrorism directed mostly at political opponents, and perceived enemies of friends of government. Many Bayelsans fled into exile in neighbouring states and far-flung places.”
Gita, however, enjoined all the parties to pursue peace and political tolerance, insisting that the election must be held in an atmosphere of civility, law and order.
There has been tension in the state following a threat by a group of suspected militants, the Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB) to lead a 10,000-man protest against the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva.
Sylva’s campaign organisation warned against such demonstration, blaming it on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the government.
Despite warnings of possible breakdown of law and order which could result from the protest, MBB denied government involvement, insisting that the protest scheduled for October 14 would be peaceful.
But Gita called on politicians to desist from heating up the polity and asked security agencies to ensure protection of lives and property before, during and after the election.
She urged security agencies to arrest and deal with anybody promoting violence in the state.
The women and mothers, who spoke to journalists after their meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, said they were apprehensive over the already existing political tension ahead of the election.
The worried women, who spoke under the auspices of Women of Excellence (WE), a socio-political group formed to create a level-playing field for every Bayelsa woman, said all parties for the election should adhere to the rules of engagement.
The Coordinator, WE, Mrs. Tari-Ere Gita said: “In recent past, Bayelsa State was smeared by violence, killings, kidnappings and cultism. State machineries were used to sponsor terrorism directed mostly at political opponents, and perceived enemies of friends of government. Many Bayelsans fled into exile in neighbouring states and far-flung places.”
Gita, however, enjoined all the parties to pursue peace and political tolerance, insisting that the election must be held in an atmosphere of civility, law and order.
There has been tension in the state following a threat by a group of suspected militants, the Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB) to lead a 10,000-man protest against the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva.
Sylva’s campaign organisation warned against such demonstration, blaming it on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the government.
Despite warnings of possible breakdown of law and order which could result from the protest, MBB denied government involvement, insisting that the protest scheduled for October 14 would be peaceful.
But Gita called on politicians to desist from heating up the polity and asked security agencies to ensure protection of lives and property before, during and after the election.
She urged security agencies to arrest and deal with anybody promoting violence in the state.
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