Traditional rulers in Bayelsa State have expressed concerns over possible politically motivated violence ahead of the gubernatorial elections on November 1, 2023.
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The traditional rulers have called on security agencies to take measures to avert attacks in Nembe, Brass, Ekeremor, and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of Bayelsa.
At a press conference in Yenagoa, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council and Ruler of Ekpetiama Kingdom, urged law enforcement agents to protect citizens from anticipated attacks before, during, and after the elections.
The traditional rulers asked politicians to desist from acts that could jeopardize the peace that has been maintained in the state for over three years under the current administration led by Gov. Douye Diri.
“The attention of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council has been drawn to the recent violent incident in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“On Saturday August 12, 2023 the peace which Nembe had enjoyed for a reasonable while was breached in the most unfortunate manner creating a serious sense of insecurity, panic and fear among the people of the town, the local government and the state in general.
“Looking back at recent historical precedence, it could be inferred, and rightly so, that the attack on the community is not unconnected with the upcoming November, 11 gubernatorial elections in the state.
“We do not think that law enforcement should allow political actors to violate all the laws of the land and walk away free in the name of politics.
“Unfortunately, we have seen similar acts of violence being meted out to Bayelsa people in other election seasons in this state and the perpetrators walked away free. We hope it does not repeat in this season,” Dakolo said.
He requested that law enforcement agencies must therefore do everything within the law to ensure that there is no further violence in Nembe LGA in particular, and in other parts of Bayelsa State.
According to the monarchs, all incidents of violence in the state must be properly investigated and suspects brought to book irrespective of status.
“Politicians must know that election is no war – ‘Election No Be War’. They do not need to spill anybody’s blood for a so-called electoral advantage. We strongly believe that it is time to stop handling the tormentors of the Nembe people with kid gloves. We cannot afford to lose lives every season.
“There is also a high level of apprehension that there would be an outbreak of politically orchestrated violence in Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor and Brass in a short while,” Dakolo said.
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