Douglas Blessing
The National Coordinator of Conscience of Ogoni People (COP), has advised youths from the Ogoni ethnic nationality not to be used as thugs to disrupt the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections and the March 11th Governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers state.
Leader of the group, Chief Gani Topba, who spoke in Port Harcourt, yesterday, urged that the youths should refused any form of influence to cause crisis in the area.
Topba stated that some politicians were already making efforts to use some youths to carry out violence during the election, adding that youths should not accept to bear arms or involve in ballot snatching.
Topba said politicians in Ogoni, including the Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Sen. Magnus Abe, should be made to sign undertaken not to sponsor violence during the election.
He said: “No youth of Ogoni should be allowed to carry guns during the presidential and governorship elections.
Some politicians in Ogoni are making efforts for the youths to carry arms in the election. Sen Magnus Abe and others should be made to sign an undertaken at DSS to ensure a peaceful election in Rivers State and Ogoniland.”
Topba, further, took a swipe on Abe over his alleged comment to repel Criminal Laws of the state if elected governor, stating that such would give impetus to criminality.
“Recently Abe, stated that Anti-cultism law would be repelled. That police will not arrest those who belong to any cult group. This is not acceptable.”
