Female politicians in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, alongside the Labour Party House of Representatives candidate for Degema/Bonny federal constituency have converged on the position of the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom that there was the need to sustain the legacy of peaceful elections in the area.

Recall that the Ama-na-Koroma Sibidabo (Natural Ruler) and Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, DSSRS, Perekule XI, while addressing his guests at the 2022 King Perekule Annual Banquet held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny called on politicians to ensure that elections remain peaceful in the area.

Responding to Kristina Reports enquiries on how they intend to ensure elections remain peaceful in the area, some of the party candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and National Rescue Movement (NRM) outlined plans on how they intend to conduct a peaceful election at the polls in the 2023 general elections.

I Agree with my cousin, the King; and will ensure Bonny elections remain peaceful – APC Assembly Candidate, Dabota Jumbo

In her response, House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Bonny Constituency, Dabota Jumbo agreed with the Monarch, whom she said was her cousin, on the imperative of peaceful elections in Bonny LGA and elsewhere, saying she had outlined plans to ensure peaceful election at the polls in concert with relevant stakeholders.

“Our Monarch, the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom (who coincidentally is my cousin), is globally known for his peaceful disposition. His usual call for the political class to maintain our agelong legacy of peaceful elections resonates with my thoughts and belief in peace. I totally agree with him.”

As a second time APC House of Assembly candidate for Bonny Constituency, I understand the place of peace and harmony amongst the candidates, political party leaders and, indeed, our supporters and followers.

“I have consciously maintained a warm relationship with my colleagues from other parties as I strongly believe that Power ultimately comes from God. So it is not of him that runs but of God that shows Mercy.”

She called for a sit-out with all the other election candidates to familiarize and reach a consensus on peace building, stressing that given the clarity of the Amanyanabo’s message, mainstreaming peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections should be the priority of the candidates, the paty leadership and teeming supporters.

“I am advocating for all candidates to meet for a sit-out session where we can familiarize with ourselves. This will foster a greater relationship amongst us as we remind ourselves of the need to speak peace to our teeming supporters.”

“The message from the Monarch is clear, all round peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections. All candidates and political party leaders should be Intentional about spreading and practicing this message of peace.”

I Completely Agree with our Natural Ruler, Our Party’ll Work for Peace – Labour Party Assembly Candidate, Tammy Abusi

The House of Assembly candidate of the Labour Party for Bonny Constituency, Tamunoene Clarizza Abusi, in her response, said that she and her party members have the right views and ideologies towards a peaceful election, and in concert with the Amanyanabo’s position will work for peaceful polls in Bonny LGA.

“The Amanyanabo had spoken well. Peace is priceless. There is absolutely no reason for war or violence. LP is a party with people with the right views and ideologies. We are professionals in politics, we have our career that feeds us, so we are not here to grab, we are not professional politicians, who come to make a fortune from the treasury. Violence is not in our DNA.”

“I completely agree with our Natural Ruler, Monarch and Father of our great kingdom that our Bonny political class should maintain the agelong legacy of peaceful elections in Bonny. The Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom has always been peaceful people from ab-initio.”

“Politics should and won’t drag us to crisis or dispute because with me and my political elites in like minds, PEACE IS SACROSANCT for the beloved kingdom that I have been representing in and out of the kingdom.”

On Peaceful, Violence-Free Election in the Grand Bonny Kingdom, We Stand – ADC House of Reps Candidate, Irene Kaladappa

On her part, the House of Representatives candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Degema/Bonny federal constituency, Irene Kaladappa Jumbo identified with the Bonny Monarch on the imperative of peaceful polls, disclosing that she had prior to her political aspiration being intentional in building her capacity to manage processes leading and sustaining peace.

In her outlined plans, Jumbo said she would 1) mainstream kindness and abhor disdain 2) participate in peace building rallies 3) engage government and civil society organizations 4) promote the mantra of peaceful elections; and 5) abhor violence of any kind or purchase of any form of weapons to perpetrate violence.

She further informed that “In 2008, I moved far away from home for my graduate degree and certification studies in Lagos, Abuja, both in Nigeria, and South Africa, where I also involved in peace building initiatives and studies,” adding that “during this time, I also attended one of the congresses of the Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) in Lagos, Nigeria, since I was majoring in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Building”.

Ensure free and fair elections – ADC Assembly Candidate, Amie Allison

For Amie Cynthia Allison, who is the House of Assembly candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Bonny Constituency, the Amanyanabo’s position is a fait accompli, as she responded that she and her party would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure free and fair elections come 2023.

In a terse reply to Kristina Reports enquiry, the ADC candidate said “what we would do differently is to ensure a free and fair election,” assuring her supporters and other stakeholders that the ADC was the best bet to sustain peace in Bonny even beyond the elections.

Despite Attacks, Orders 21, 22, Labour Party Aligns with Amanyanabo on Peaceful elections – House of Reps Candidate, Dienye Willie-Pepple

The House of Representatives candidate of the Labour Party candidate for the Degema/Bonny federal constituency, Dienye Willie-Pepple, in his response, asserted that his party agrees with the Amanyanabo and remains obstinate about ensuring peaceful polls in Bonny LGA.

“I cannot help but agree completely with His Majesty, the King and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny Kingdom on the need for the political class in Bonny to maintain the legacy of peaceful elections in Bonny. As far as Labour Party is concerned there is no alternative to peaceful elections.”

He stated that his party’s position was without prejudice to debilitating obstacles such as attacks on his party by way of vandalisation of its campaign materials including posters, banners and billboards; and enforcement of Executive Orders 21 and 22 imposed by the Rivers State Government, stressing that the Labour Party’s stance on peaceful polls was sacrosanct.

“We pledge to remain peaceful, before, during and after the elections. We have in the recent past been provoked many times by others who vandalise our campaign materials such as posters, banners and billboards, as a result of which you may not see many of our materials around Bonny and Degema but we choose to follow the path of peace.”

“We are irked by the orders 21 and 22 of the Wike administration but we will abide by them until they are vacated by the law courts. We hope and pray that other parties will not only give lip service to this noble charge by His Majesty, but will commit fully to it.”

“To ensure the elections are peaceful, we have instructed our teeming supporters and party faithful to refrain from retaliating or responding to any acts of provocation, but to quickly report same to the appropriate authorities.”

NRM House of Reps Candidate Affirms Monarch’s Position, Asserts Politics, Not a Do-or-Die Affair

Asserting that politics was not a do-or-die affairs, the House of Representatives candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) for the Degema/Bonny federal constituency, Ibitamuno Duogbuluma-Abusi responded to Kristina Reports with an affirmation of the King’s position.

“I agree with that position; politics is not a do-or-die affair. We, in the National Rescue Movement (NRM), have been educated on a peaceful election process.”

She stated that the orientation process on the need for tolerance, understanding and conviviality among supporters and other party faithful was ongoing one at the NRM, stressing that the party, which she said was on a rescue mission to reposition governance and deliver or the expectation of the masses, would not allow itself to be distract with acts that are inimical to peace building.