Bayelsa polls: Opposition is arming youths with dangerous weapons – NGO
Adetokunbo Fakeye
A Non Governmental Organisation, Grassroots Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance (GCDGG), has described as “dangerous, unethical and undemocratic”, the unfolding scenario in Bayelsa State, where desperate politicians brazenly sponsor acts of violence, kidnappings and general state of insecurity, just to score cheap political points.
Spokesperson of GCDGG Comrade Andakuro Ikporor, who stated this in a statement said, intelligence reports at its disposal have revealed that some highly placed Bayelsans, have vowed to truncate the existing peace in parts of the state ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections.
Part of their ploys according to him is to resort to issuing threat messages to intimidate perceived political opponents.
While calling on the people of the State to resist such threats, the coalition also called on parents, guardians and community leaders to prevail on their children, wards and youths generally to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians to foment trouble, as they may be made to face the full weight of the law.
Ikporor said, working in collaboration with the security agencies, the coalition has “uncovered plans by these persons to recruit a special squad of youths, that will visit the support bases of the PDP to intimidate its followers and instill fear in them as well as coerce them to vote for their preferred candidate in the governorship polls.”
The NGO also urged Bayelsans to be wise and not succumb to blackmail and intimidation, stressing that, such brand of politics has since become anachronistic and unfashionable and should be rejected in its entirety.