Bayelsa Community Vows To Shun Violence

The Oporoma community in Bayelsa State has vowed not to allow the area become a theatre of war during elections as they have embraced the message of participatory democracy as being championed by the Campaign for Development and Democracy in Bayelsa (CDDB).
Oporomoa, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area took the stand when CDDB visited the area as part of its sensitisation and awareness campaign on the need for the people of Bayelsa to participate more in the affairs of their locality in particular and the state in general.
They regretted that during the 2015 general election, the two major political parties used Oporoma as a battle ground to achieve their mission of winning by all means involving wasting of human lives.
“This time around , we will shun their money inducement, thuggery, and violence as strategy to win elections in the area. We are going to ensure that peace would be maintained. We shall ensure people-oriented democracy, while carefully guiding our votes from being stolen”.
Addressing the people, the Director of CDDB, Dr Ekeyor Welson commended the people for their awareness on the evils of election rigging by violence, saying “they have the right to say no to all anti-social and anti-democratic practices that have stifled the development of the area by preventing genuine leaders who had the interest of the people at heart.
Chanting “no more guns, no more guns,” Dr Welson pleaded with politicians in the state not to use thuggery, violence and guns to achieve their ambitions during elections.
He told them to start searching for people they believe can give them quality representations at both the state and the National Assemblies, as well as  the person who will preside at the Creek Haven.
The group’s co-ordinator in the area, Mr Koripamo Ogili  enjoined the people to embrace the clarion message of CDDB and put their house in order before the next election to enable them resist money bags and support only those with genuine love for the people and their development.
Another speaker, the women leader of the group in Southern Ijaw, Mrs Edim Freeman advised the women not to rest until their preferred leader has emerged through participatory democratic process.