End These Political Violence Now -Ijaw National Congress

There is a plea on the lips of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and it is for rampant political violence in the region to cease.

It also asks for the perpetrators to be arrested and prosecuted to stop the violence going out of hand, especially against the background of the upcoming elections.

ING made the plea yesterday through its president, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, who was briefing the press on the eruption of politically motivated violence in parts of Rivers State.

He listed a number of political contenders in the region, whom he said had faced one such attack or another in the recent, submitting that the agenda of the attackers was to kill them.

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“Some instances will suffice here. An illustrious Ijaw son and governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, was violently prevented from purchasing essential gift items at a market in Bonny Kingdom.

Dumo Lili Brigs..alleged victim of the one of the attacks

“A few days later, he narrowly escaped being killed during a campaign rally in Igbo-Etche. Also, Senator Magnus Abe, a notable Ogoni son, and governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was attacked in Degema, Oyigbo, Tai and Okrika Local Government Areas as well as around Port Harcourt City Council.

“His campaign train was also brutally ambushed in Ahoada-West LGA while on their way to Akinima for a campaign rally only last week.

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“Another highly distinguished Ijaw son and governorship flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole, was three weeks ago attacked by a horde of armed political thugs and his campaign rally violently disrupted at the Ojukwu Field in Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

“Again, precisely on January 31, 2023, the peaceful and ancient Ijaw town of Opobo in the Opolo Clan of the INC-Eastern Zone, was turned into a theatre of violence in an alleged attempt to stop Tonye Cole from freely campaigning for votes that day”, the president said.

“The INC reiterates that no part of Ijaw territory will be made a killing field and battle ground for shedding of blood by desperate politicians who want to swim in the blood of Ijaw people to ascend to power. Political contests are about service, ideas and ideologies, capacity and competence, character and charisma, tolerance and the ballot; not desperation, violence, intimidation, manipulation and scuttling of the opposition campaigns.

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“We advise the Rivers State Government to wake up to its sacred responsibility and play its constitutional role of protection of all lives and property including those in the opposition party. It is a constitutional obligation the government cannot and should not shy away from. Rivers State, and indeed Ijaw land deserve peace before, during and after the2023 elections.

“We also urge the Federal and State security agencies to immediately curtail these dastardly acts from escalating to a free for all and total anarchy. They should also investigate the incidents of political violence and destruction that had been recorded in different parts of Rivers State so far with a view to prosecuting the perpetrators and sponsors, if any”.

According to the Ijaw National Congress leader, nothing less is expected: “They should also demonstrate neutrality while carrying out their constitutional responsibilities, even on election duty.” Okaba said