–D4D Seek For Violence Free Elections.
The inability of relevant institutions to prosecute those found guilty during elections overtime has been the bane of electoral violence in the country.
This are the words of the Chairman Traditional Rulers Council, Bayelsa State. HRH King Bubaraye Dakolo,During an advocacy visit at the Traditional Rulers Council in Yenagoa by a Non Governmental organization (NGO) known as Diaspora 4 Diri (D4D).
The group marched through the major streets of Yenagoa advocating for a peaceful, violence free election, carrying placards of various inscriptions such as “
November 11 No Violence” “No shooting “No killing,” before terminating at the Traditional Rulers Council.
According to King Dakolo,rather than Nigeria as a country to purnish perpetrators of electoral violence the reverse happens to be the case where perpetrators enjoyed from it,urging improved performance from the Nigerian Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Bayelsa State Traditional Council Chairman,also attributed electoral violence to INEC huge budgetary provisions for violence hence they should not expect otherwise if the right thing is not done.
Dakolo,who thanked the organization for the peace advocacy urged them not to relent in their quest for peaceful and violence free election ahead of the November 11 gubernatorial elections in the state.
Dr. Rosalyn Dressman, the Technical Assistant on Diaspora Matters to the Governor of Bayelsa State and the President and Founder of Diaspora 4 Diri (D4D),who spoke earlier, said the group is advocating for peaceful and issue-centered election campaigns in the run-up to the November 11th elections in Bayelsa State.
She highlighted that the rally aimed to raise awareness among the electorate, especially the youth, and the political class, encouraging them to reject violence and instead engage in constructive discussions before and during the election.
Dressman stressed the necessity of a violence-free election, emphasizing that candidates should focus on presenting their manifestos in the months leading up to the election.
She added that “Emerging where Bayelsa State will be in the next four years if we get it right,we hope to have industries,we hope to have less unemployed brothers and sisters ,we hope to have semi quarter light,in the past we use to have violence “
“So we are advocating for peace in Bayelsa State,we don’t need guns,we need the pens,so people should drop thier guns and take their pens.”She stated.