By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
As 2023 general elections draw near, the Chairman, The Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights (CDHR), Delta State branch, Comrade Jonathan Giama has cautioned against the use of violence by political parties’ candidates vying for different political offices in the country. Rather, they should go about the elections in a peaceful and order manner saying, winning an election is not a –do- or -die affair. Comrade Giama stated this in an interview with news men on Friday in office in Warri in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State as the body marked its Human Rights Day. He said the different political parties and their candidates should embark on their campaigns but should eschew bad use of language(s) just as he cautioned against using their loyalists to destroy bill-boards and posters of their rival parties’ candidates as these are capable of causing violence which may lead to the lost of lives and property in the country.
He said:”Winning an election is not a -do –or- die affair, so, I called on the candidates of different political parties to go about the elections in a peaceful and orderly manner because, it is one person that will occupy a position at a time”.
Comrade Giama, said this sermon becomes necessary because some persons are fond of causing troubles during elections, saying, it does not show maturity of Nigeria’s political space. Comrade Giama used the medium to call on the youths to avoid being used by politicians to cause mayhem in the elections adding, the politicians who use them would not allow their children to be used for such nefarious activity saying, they should be wise and go about the elections in a peaceful and orderly manner. The Delta State CDHR Boss also cautioned the various Community Leaders and President Generals to call their youths to order saying, some leaders have already aligned themselves with some political parties and their candidates adding, they should not allow their youths be used as political thugs to ferment troubles during the elections.
He said:”We are aware that some Community Leaders and President Generals have already aligned themselves with some political parties and their candidates but that is not the issue, they should not allow their youths be used to cause mayhem to other rival political parties and their candidates”.
Comrade Giama also used the medium to call on the security agencies such as the Police, Army and Navy among others, to ensure they step -up security across the nation by protecting lives and property during the yuletide and the 2023 general elections.
He said:” I also use this medium to call on our security agencies not to rest in their oars but to alive to their responsibilities to ensure the safety of lives and property in Delta State in particular and the country at large. The Delta State CDHR boss called on the state Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa play a fatherly roles in the election just as he called on those who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card(PVC) to do so, to able them cast their votes come2023 general elections.
He said: We are all craving for good leadership in the country but if you don’t vote, you can not get good leaders to make us get the dividends of democracy which we all yearning for”.