Senate President calls for peaceful elections in Rivers

Saraki made the call via a statement released by his

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has called on stakeholders in Rivers State to ensure that the March 19, 2016 National and State Assembly rerun elections in the state are peaceful.

Saraki made the call via a statement released on Thursday, March 17, 2016, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,Yusuph Olaniyonu.

It reads:

“Election days are supposed to mark the renewal of mandates and advancement of democracy which has been rightly defined as the ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people’. Therefore, it is trite that no position or interest being canvassed during the poll is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

“It is time to put an end to unnecessary waste of human lives during electioneering process. What we have lost to various conflicts across the country in recent time is not only unfortunate but unacceptable. We cannot afford to deepen the malaise we suffer as a nation.”

“There is certainly nothing we can gain from attacking our brothers and sisters during an election. Besides, no meaningful development can evolve in an atmosphere devoid of peace.”

“This is the more reason every stakeholder in the Rivers State rerun elections should contribute to ensure peace so that those who will emerge from the elections as representatives of the people can find an environment conducive enough to serve the people,”

Tensions have been rising in the state in anticipation of the elections which are being seen as a battle for supremacybetween the All Progressives Congress (APC) and thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP).