Ijaw women under the aegis of Ijaw Women Liberation Movement have dragged perpetrators of violence during the Inconclusive Bayelsa governorship election that led to the death of some persons and molestation of Bayelsa citizens mostly women, to the National Human Right Commission, NHRC. The group viewed the actions of those involved, particularly the Military as an infringement of the right of the citizens of Bayelsa State, to freely vote for the candidate of their choice, without harassment, coercion and intimidation as witnessed during the election.
This information is made known in a statement delivered to The Trent on Friday, December 11, 2015 signed by Chief (Mrs.) AgnesEbebi on behalf of Ijaw Women Liberation Movement.
“We wish to state emphatically that the conduct of the Military during the unconcluded elections, which saw such a respected institution colluding with known common criminals in the creeks to manipulate the electoral process, is sad and sends a very dangerous signal to the advancement of our democracy. We have also resolved not to allow the killing and harassment of the people of Bayelsa state as a result of the election wherein the law enforcement agents were watching, to go unaddressed, by the Human Right Commission, with a view of seeking justice for the dead and protecting the living who are still vulnerable to such barbaric conduct in future elections in Bayelsa or elsewhere in the country” the statement said.
“It is sad to witness in broad daylight, how security operatives failed to protect the people, particularly the women from attacks by political thugs and criminals, who are rather shielded by the Military during the election.
“The military have proven to be incompetent and unprofessional to get involved in the electoral process, like we saw with their behavior during the election, where they watch with indifference while political thugs kill law abiding citizens who were out to perform their franchise while also molesting our women.”
The group also reminds President Muhammadu Buhari that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the citizens as guaranteed by the Constitution and any attempt by the agencies saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring the protection of such rights, to violate it, is tantamount to a Breach of the Constitution.
“We are hereby calling on all the people of Bayelsa, particularly the women, to arise and resist the tyranny that the Military occupation of our land during the election brought and be prepared until the conclusion of the process on a date, to be set by INEC for elections to hold in Southern Ijaw Local government.
“We are determined to pursue this to a logical conclusion and will not hesitate to nakedly protest any further attempt to militarise, what ordinarily should be a civil process in our state.
“We are peace loving in Bayelsa and will not allow the desperation to hijack power by some greedy individuals, truncate the peace that has been enjoyed in our state over the years,” Ebebi said.
