Some concerned individuals in Andoni Local Government Area in Rivers State have advised against electoral violence during the 2023 general elections.

Some of them who spoke on Saturday during the 2022 Andoni Unity Festival in Ngo headquarter of Andoni LGA, urged the youth to reject political thuggery.

Condemning electoral violence in the area, a Nollywood actor/film producer, Matilda Lambert, advised youths not to allow themselves be used as political thugs.

She alleged that for so long, some politicians in the area had taken advantage of the vulnerability of youths to perpetuate electoral violence.

The film actor, who is also an indegene of the area, said that Andoni was one local government yet untapped and urged the youth to strive towards developing themselves, to be able to tackle unemployment and poverty.

Similarly, King Iraron Ede-obolo, Paramount Ruler of Egwede Community and Eastern Zonal Chairman, Ijaw National Congress (INC), noted that peace was key to development.

He urged the youth to take advantage of positive economc pursuit, championed by the present LG Chairman, Erastus Awortu, who expressed determination to change the negative narrative of the area.

“The youth should shun violence, remain patient and advance themselves for the future; we all started as youths; today, a lot of us are positively impacting the society,” he said

Meanwhile, Prof. Beatrice Awortu, wife of the Council Chairman and an advocate of girl child education, has applauded young women for sustaining the identity of the Obolo women during the unity festival.

Mrs Awortu, a Director of General Studies, Ignatius Aguru University of Education, charged women in the area to continue to uphold the cultural values, decency and moderation associated with the Obolo female folk.

(NAN)