AFTER what seems like eternity on Sunday January 10, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner Bayelsa state governorship election after the January 9th supplementary election.
The controversy which had dogged the election had continued on the morning of Saturday January 9th amid reports of INEC officials appending their signatures to fake result presented by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to return former governor Timipre Sylva and an order from the Presidency that INEC should declare Sylva winner of the poll.
By Saturday night, when Dickson had taken an early lead, Dickson’s aides, PDP officials and supporters of the party waited with bated breath on the final pronouncement. And at about 8.30 pm, Prof Zana Akpagu on Sunday January 10 in exercise of his powers as the Collation/ Returning Officer of the election declared Dickson winner having satisfied the constitutional requirement of scoring the highest votes of 134,998 to defeat Sylva his closet rival who polled 86852 to put to rest allegations of interference by the Presidency.
While many Bayelsans are of the view that the election would go down in history as the most competitive in terms of funds spent, attention has also been drawn to the attendant violence during the election in which there have been conflicting figures and recriminations between the PDP and the APC.
An elated Dickson speaking on his victory had congratulated Bayelsans, noting that they were gallant in defending democracy. He however said there would not be celebration because of the number of deaths recorded.
“I am extremely humbled tonight on the valiant efforts you made to revalidate the mandate you gave me four years ago. With all manner of forces arrayed against us not least the utter desperation of our political opponents, community after community led by women and youth stood gallantly to defend the sanctity of their vote and to resist the efforts of hoodlums who style themselves as “militants” to undermine the democratic process.
“To the extent that the people ensured that they spoke loud and clear and that their choice clearly emerged provides some reassurance that our democracy is coming of age. Sadly however the elections were conducted at the price of several lives lost and mayhem visited on many communities by mindless brigands clearly suborned by those who do not respect the democratic process and have equally scant regard for the sanctity of lives and property”
The Bayelsa Restoration Campaign Organisation in tandem with Dickson described the victory as painful because of the people that died during the election. According to the Director of Publicity, Hon Jonathan Obuebite, Bayelsans showed uncom-mon courage to re-elect Dickson.
“We want to use this opportunity to sincerely thank all Bayelsans for their doggedness and patriotism because even in the face of such terrible intimidation and violence decided, out of their own volition, they came out to re-elect and return the Countryman Governor to office for the next four years. We are grateful for your remarkable decision as expected in a democracy.
“The people have spoken and we are in- deed grateful. It’s your victory, you the good people of Bayelsa State. Without doubt, a new dawn is here. Bayelsans, through their uncommon courage have defeated tyranny and oppression by voting for the continuation of the restoration of our dignity and pride as amply demonstrated through their votes.”
An elder statesman, Chief TKO Okorotie speaking on the victory of Dickson said were it for the trust Bayelsans had for him as a result of his visionary, purpose and pragmatic leadership, his delivery of concrete developmental deliverables to the people in the past four years and track record of selfless service to humanity, the APC would have captured the state.
According to Okorotie, Dickson long years as an opposition politician and commitment to the Ijaw cause help in no small measure to survive the political ambush of the APC.
Okorotie said “Governor Seriake Dickson has developed Bayelsa State more than any other governor before him for which we as a people are eternally grateful. Dickson is in- deed man of the people. It is on record that Dickson is the first governor ever to have campaigned and mobilized Bayelsans for the election by personally visiting all communities to interact with his people and even sleeping in those communities and creeks to engage the electorate during campaigns. Be- fore now, no governor slept in those communities and this nexus with the people further endeared him to Bayelsans and that was why we re-elected him.’’
He further explained that Dickson’s strategy of keeping in touch with ordinary Bayelsans was the magic wand that neutralise the boastings by APC members that the opposition would capture the state using Federal might.
The chairmen of the 16 political parties that participated in the election have also thrown their weight behind the decision of INEC to declare Dickson as winner and urged Sylva to accept the result as a true sportsman.
Those who signed the communiqué include Edwin Tare( DPP), Alexander Peretu( PPA), Chief Inko Namatade( NNPP), Prince Awotu( SDP), Prince Elemah( ID), Brisibe Kpodoh( ADC) and Abbey Daniel( APA) Other are Williams Eperezi( UPP), Golden Maxson( KOWA), David Amabebe( DPC), Hendrix Ere( PDC), Isaac Eze( MPP), Engr John D Sokari(APGA) Gabriel Tukuwei( ACPN) and Eneyi Zidougha( CPP)
“ We are satisfied with the conduct of the of the Januaray 9th election in the state and hereby endorse the results of same and accordingly hereby congratulate Governor Henry Seriake Dikson.At this time in our development, we need ideas and partnership and not antagonism. We have to come together as one people to move the Izon nation forward. In every election, there will always be a winner and a loser. There is always tomorrow. We call on Timipre Sylva to accept the results and join forces with the winner to move the state forward”
In the same vein a group, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice ( CEPEJ) has pleaded that all the parties that participated should accept the outcome of the result and forge a common front to tackle the problems of the state.
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