Bayelsa: Group Blames Rise In Violence On Sylva’s Return To Guber Race

A group, the Bayelsa Mandate Forum has on Friday expressed concern over the recent violent outburst and the unfortunate death of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the State’s Nembe community.

Speaking via a statement made available to reporters, the group’s chairwoman, Esther Ikurite, connected the violent act to inflammatory remarks and a call for violence against supporters of opposition parties purportedly made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver.

Naija News recalls that Maciver had, during a campaign rally of the APC in Twon Brass, urged supporters of the APC to chase supporters of any opposition political party into the sea, till they die, during the forthcoming, November 11th governorship election.

Reacting to the speech Ikurite said, “Our group has always cherished peace, unity, and the spirit of brotherhood among our members, and we have actively contributed to the development and progress of Bayelsa State. However, the recent incidents of political violence have shaken our confidence and created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

“We strongly condemn any form of violence, intimidation, and hate speech in the run-up to the upcoming November 11, 2023, governorship election.

“We also implore law enforcement agencies to investigate the recent violence in Nembe community thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice. Justice must be served to ensure that such incidents do not recur, and that those who resort to violence are held accountable for their actions.

“As members of the Bayelsa Mandate Forum, we are committed to contributing positively to the development of our state.

“We look forward to an election process that is peaceful, transparent, and reflective of the will of the people. We urge all political parties and their candidates to put the interests of the people of Bayelsa State first and work together to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for all.”