Youths of Nembe Kingdom in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have declared their support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11, 2023 election, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Speaking over the weekend at a Youth Peace Concert organised against social vices convened by Dr Kojo Sam, the youths declared that their decision to vote for Sylva was non-negotiable.
The President of Nembe Kingdom Youth Congress, Comrade Kuroghofa Nelson-Ebimie, described the Youth Concert event as historic and memorable for bringing the youths of Nembe together to preach peace.
According to him, the decision to queue behind Sylva was because as a son of Nembe, the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources was eminently qualified to lead the state and bring about development.
“For the forthcoming election, our son, Chief Timipre Sylva is contesting and there is no way we are going to leave our son and vote for another person. As youths of Nembe, we have decided to give our votes 100 per cent to Chief Timipre Sylva and the APC. He enjoys our support,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Youth President of Opu-Nembe Federation, Comrade Sambo Toinpre, said the youths of the Kingdom have through the concert showed that peace was possible in Nembe if the people decide to forget their differences.
Toinpre, who explained that social vices would only contribute to conflict in the community, implored the youths of the kingdom to jettison violence.
The former 2nd Vice-President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and proprietor of Nembe City Football Club, Chief Rumson Victor Baribote, commended the organisers of the programme for organising it to sensitise the youths of the kingdom against social vices and violence.
The guest speaker, Dr John Kalama of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, speaking on the ‘Socio-economic Implications of Conflict in Nembe and Bayelsa State’ lamented the loss the kingdom had suffered due to constant conflict and crisis.
According to him, the disadvantages of conflict include loss of lives, destruction of properties and future of the youths as well as driving away investors.
He also commended the organisers for initiating the programme, which was aimed at galvanising the youths for peaceful and positive ventures.
Dr Kojo Sam in his goodwill message recalled the violence that has dogged the people of Nembe Kingdom and urged the youths to embrace peace.
He seized the opportunity to call on the youths to vote for the APC governorship candidate Sylva in the forthcoming governorship election to ensure rapid development of Bayelsa State.
