Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council has advised youths to shun electoral violence and thuggery as November sixth governorship election approaches.
The traditional rulers gave the advice during their monthly council meeting, held at the Government House, Awka.
Speaking on the issue, the chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Alfred Achebe of Onitsha said as the governorship election draws near, it is pertinent that families sensitize their members, especially the youths, on the need to shun violence and avoid being used as political thugs.
Igwe Achebe, represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Council, Igwe Sunday Okafor of Okpuno, cautioned youths against wasting their opportunities.
In their separate speeches, the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, that of Olumbanasaa, Igwe Pius Omachonu, their Akwahedi counterpart, Igwe Cornel Onebunne and that of Isseke, Igwe Emma Nnabuife asked youths to realize that those politicians, who used them as political thugs, safely kept their children abroad.
They harped on the need for them to go out to exercise their franchise in peaceful and orderly manner and shun acts that are capable of dragging their families’ name and state to the mud.
Contributing, the traditional ruler of Enugwu-Ukwu, Igwe Ralph Ekpe, his Akwaeze counterpart, Igwe Christopher Okpala, as well as Igwe George Ekwealor of Umuoba-Anam and their Enugwu-Umuoyia counterpart, Igwe Peter Ezeamama, urged the youths to turn out en masse and vote for candidate of their choice rather than being instruments to execute violence and malpractices.
The royal fathers noted with sadness that after assisting inordinate politicians to achieve their aims, they brand such youths as thugs without making provision to engage them meaningfully.
The traditional rulers further cautioned politicians, who fail at the polls to accept defeat as election is not a do or die affair.
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