The Rivers State Chapter of Trade Union Congress, TUC has urged residents of the state to eschew violence, before ,during and after the forthcoming elections.
TUC Rivers State Chairman ,Comrade Hyginus Chika Onuegbu said in a statement “As we get closer to the D-day for the 2015 general elections, we urge all residents of Rivers State to pray for peace in our State and Nation. More importantly, we urge all residents of Rivers state to demonstrate faith in that prayer by eschewing all violent conducts before, during and after the elections. We are persuaded to remind all of us that it was the mismanagement of the 1966 elections that ultimately led to the Civil war in Nigeria; consequences of which we are still suffering as a nation today.
“Recall that on March 23rd 2015 at the Rivers Debate 2015, we saw how the three main Governorship candidates embraced themselves as friends and colleagues. We appeal to their supporters to do the same and avoid all forms of violence. We want a peaceful election devoid of any form of violence. Violence destroys democracy and creates conditions that make post-election reconciliation and governance difficult. We appeal to all the candidates to show spirit of sportsmanship as election is not do or die.
Similarly, the statement said ,”we call on the INEC as the electoral umpire to ensure that a level playing field is guaranteed all participants and that the elections are free, fair and credible .This is the first major step towards preserving our democracy as it engenders greater acceptability of the process and validates its outcomes, thus reduces resort to self-help by all parties.
“Also, we appeal to the security agencies to ensure that adequate security is provided so that voters can have confidence that they will not be hurt while exercising their civic duty.
“We call on all our members to QUIETLY OBSERVE the elections in their respective polling units and forward their reports to the State Secretariat of TUC Rivers State for collation, review and reporting.
“Finally, we call on all registered voters in Rivers state to ensure that they go out and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice on March 28th 2015 in exercise of their constitutional duty.
“On behalf of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Rivers State Council we wish all Rivers People and indeed Nigerians peaceful, free, fair and credible elections!
