Coalition of concerned youths, on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest demanding the immediate release of the 2019 governorship election results in Rivers state and the release of all the youths arrested during the election within seven days.
The youths numbering over 200 protested to the Rivers state council of traditional rulers’ Secretariat in Portharcourt.
They further condemned the attack on King of Okochiri Chief Ateke Tom and called for the immediate withdrawal of all military personnel from the streets of Port Harcourt by the GOC of the 6 division.
Speaking to our reporter Tina Amanda, Comrade Chijioke Ihunwo, who spoke on behalf of the protesting youth urged INEC to declare governor Nyesome Wike winner of the 2019 gubernatorial election conducted in the state.
They urged the military to stop meddling into Rivers state politics.
“The man who claimed to have won fifteen local government areas is not even known by the Rivers people and cannot lead Rivers state, we call on INEC to publish and declare the winner of the election through the polling units’ results that were collated from the local government areas, not the falsified results by the enemies of the state who are not on ground but want to hijack power by all means.
“we call on INEC to declare Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike the governor elect, so he can be sworned in by May 29th, 2019. We also call on the military to apologise to Rivers people because they have done enough harm to the state. Rivers youths are peaceful and we have maintained that no life will be lost in this election‘’
Addressing the youths, Chairman Rivers state council of traditional rulers, the Amanyanbo of Opobo, King Dandeson Jaja, commended the youth for their peaceful conduct since after the election and promised to address appropriately all issues raised by them.
“In other clan, men in security uniforms respect palaces of their own kings and when they come to Rivers state they would want to destroy the palace of custodians of culture and tradition of our people. Politics is not war, it is a change from one government to another, we also call on all authorities holding our sons and daughters captives to release them so they can go back to their families.
“We have sent an open letter to his excellency, president Buhari for the quick release of the Rivers state election of 9th March and to make sure that everybody’s vote count, no manipulations of the result, what we want is the authentic result.‘’
He further called on the Nigerian Army and police to investigate the situation where some persons masquerade themselves as security personnel to cause mayhem in the state.
