Oil workers caution youths on electoral violence

Port Harcourt -- As Nigerians go to the polls for the presidential and national legislative elections in three days, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has cautioned youths in the country against being used by politicians.

The senior oil workers' union also cautioned the security agencies as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be independent and neutral before, during and after the elections.

Speaking exclusively to our correspondent, PENGASSAN Zonal Chairman, Port Harcourt Zone, Comrade Azubuike Azubuike, said the advice was imperative, because oil workers were also stakeholders in the countr y. Azubuike wondered why elections in this part of the world were usually a do-or-die affair, whereas politicians in reality were supposed to be contesting to serve the people.

According to him, "I want to advise that this election should not be a do or die affair.

"If the contestants actually want to serve the people, I believe it shouldn't be a do or die affair. If it is not for pecuniary gains, why must elections be a do or die affair?

"I want to urge Nigerians, especially the youths who the politicians will use and later dumped, that whatever they will get through election thuggery will never satisfy them."

The zonal PENGASSAN boss further cautioned against electoral violence and intimidation of voters, saying that neutrality on the part of security agencies and the electoral umpire would engender a free, fair and credible elections.