Rivers NOA condemns politically motivated violence, accuses politicians of weaponizing poverty

Brave Dickson

The National Orientation Agency in Rivers State has condemned the disturbing politically motivated violence in the state, just as it also accused politicians of weaponizing poverty.

The state director of NOA, Barr. Young Ayo-Tamuno, who stated this in a chat with our correspondent, urged every resident of the state to have confidence in the judiciary, always seek redress in court, and avoid resorting to violence.

He said, “the state has gone through a lot right from the time of regional agitation for self-determination to environmental degradation, followed by youth restiveness.”

“The youths that are being used to cause political violence should be bold enough to ask the politicians to get their own children involved in political thuggery.

“Politicians have kept their people and constituencies poor in order to use poverty as weapons to induce the youths into doing what they want.”

“If prior to the 2023 general elections, the state has started witnessing politically motivated violence; what is the guarantee that there will be no intimidation of voters on the day of the election?

“It is time for every one of us to start thinking of growing our democracy by adhering to the rule of law, irrespective of our status in society.”

“The statement of former President Goodluck Jonathan that his ambition does not worth the blood of anybody should guide the actions and utterances of Nigerians,, especially the political class.”

The NOA state director also advocated for tolerance within the political space and urged all citizens to freely exercise their franchise by using their PVCs to vote for candidates who will put the interests of the people above personal sentiment.