ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The youths of the Okere Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have staged a peaceful protest at the palace of the Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III.
The angry youths are protesting against hoodlums activities in the area which are trying to frustrate the electoral process in the youth body of the community.
The youths during their protest on Monday, chanted solidarity songs and marched from the community to the palace of the revered monarch.
The protesting youths carry placards with inscriptions such as: “if you nor qualify, you nor qualify”, “if you’re disqualified by the electoral body, you stand disqualified”, “the decision taken by the electoral body must prevail”, “The Igieboro in Council led by Chief. E F. Esisi is the highest decision making body of Okere Community”, “Okere Community youth body get constitution”, “if you’re not a youth, stay away from Okere youth politics. You are our problem”, and Omo-Ologbo youth Association of Okere is strictly for youths from age 18-40″.
The youths accused a group of allegedly trying to instigate a crisis within the community over the youth body’s election with their call for the reinstatement of persons who have been disqualified from the election.
They noted also that the Ogieboro, Chief E.F. Esisi, had suspended activities to the elections, adding that they would abide by the decision of the Ogieboro of Okere Community, Chief E.F. Esisi, and the elders’ Council of the Okere Community.
The youths warned that they would not tolerate any disrespect for the instructions of the Ogieboro or attempts to influence his decisions.
The current Chairman of Okere Community, Comrade Lucky Ogbolomo, told journalists that Ogieboro had suspended the activities for the conduct of elections into the youth body of Okere Community.
Ogbolomo warned that “nobody has the right to compel him to do otherwise.”
The Chairman, whose tenure will end on 10 January, 2023, noted that he is not seeking tenure elongation or reelection into office. “I never begged for an extension, not even for one day.”
He accused a group identified as “Concerned Okere Indigenes” of attempting to frustrate the electoral process as well as cause problems within the youth body of Okere
Community.
He informed that they petitioned his leadership before the Warri South Council Chairman, Dr. Michael Tidi, and the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Warri Area Command, alleging that he was trying to cause chaos in the Community just as they threatened the electoral committee that there would be a “heavy violence” if they go ahead to conduct the election, Daily Post reports.
Ogbolomo noted that the Community’s Shrine is its constitution, saying that it only accommodates persons between the ages of 18 to 40 years of age. According to him, “only these persons can cast their votes and be voted for.”
“The reason we are here is to make our stance clear to our prestigious King, Ogiame, the only respected King worldwide.”
Responding, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM. Ogiame Atuwatse III, enjoined the Okere Community Youths to maintain the peace in the community with an assurance that the matter will be resolved amicably in no distant time.