As Okocha urges youths to shun violence

Former governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in Rivers State, Tonye Princewill, has urged voters in the state to resist any form of influence from political parties but focus on candidates with proven integrity that can govern the state well.

Princewill, in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday, noted that some persons elected based on party platforms had been doing unthinkable things.

According to him, the 2023 elections are a total shift from the usual party affair.

He said: “Let me repeat what I have said at several fora, this particular election is not about party, it is about the candidates.

“So, let’s put party to one side. On Saturday (March 18) we are not voting for party, we are voting for candidates, and there are only two candidates when it comes to means and methods. Sim Fubara and the rest.

While frowning on the failure of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, to attend debates and campaigns, he expressed doubt if the people would ever hear from him (Fubara) after the elections.

He, therefore, urged residents to unite and support the All Progressives (APC) governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, who, he said, would create jobs for the teeming population and move the state forward.

Similarly, an APC chieftain in the state, Tony Okocha, charged the people to dissociate themselves from desperate politicians, who, according to him, went to villages, preaching against the common interest of the people.

He said: “The way to achieve this is completely off the radar of violence, lawlessness or any form of anomies, whatsoever, but to come up with a programme of intellectual assemblage to conscientious and mobilise the youths to realities of the moment and juxtapose those with the dreams of the forefathers.”