March 18 guber: South-East traditional rulers urge youths to shun thuggery, violence
Our Reporter
The South-East Traditional Rulers Council (SETRUC), has urged youths in the zone to refrain from being used as thugs before, during and after the upcoming Governorship and State Assembly Elections on March 18.
The council stated this in a statement jointly signed by Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, Chairman of South-East, SETRUC and Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers; and Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha and Chairman, Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Other signatories include Eze Joseph Nwabeke, Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers; and Eze E.C. Okeke, the Eze Udo 2 and Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers.
It said that the traditional rulers are privy to some rumours circulating in the region that some elements want to apply violence to disturb or disrupt the forthcoming Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections scheduled for March 18.
According to the statement, the royal fathers were seriously concerned about “this development and would like to appeal to all the political parties to know that elections are not do or die affairs.”
It noted that “the beauty of democracy is that people, whether in government or out of government, live in free society”.
According to the Monarchs: “The South-East Council of Traditional Rulers request as follows: That all the youths in the South-East are hereby requested to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the elections.
“All the youths, whether indigenous or not in the South-East, should not lend themselves as tools in the hands of political parties for the purpose of causing violence on the election day.
“Political parties should honour the peace accord they signed by ensuring that they do not recruit and arm thugs to disrupt the elections.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be truly professional and impartial in the discharge of their duties before, during and after the elections.
“The law enforcement agencies should equally be professional and impartial to promptly and firmly stop or deal with those who try to commit electoral offences.”
The royal fathers lamented thst the zone had witnessed unnecessary violence and bloodshed in recent times due to insecurity.
“It is, therefore, the strongest desire of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers that this forthcoming election should be free, fair, credible and violence-free,” the council said.
It also appreciated the people of the South-East for heeding the advice contained in its earlier communiqué for them to troop out en masse to cast their votes during the just-concluded elections held on Feb. 25.
The royal fathers appressed satisfaction with the peaceful manner the elections were held in the zone, with few exceptions.
