The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the people of Bayelsa
State for their support for its candidate, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson,
which led to his victory at the just-concluded governorship election in
the state.
The PDP however said the victory is painful because of the number of those
that were killed.
“It’s painful that this victory has come with so much pain because we lost
dear ones. Those who died are our brothers. So many are yet in the
hospitals nursing life threatening injuries because our opponents wanted
to win at all cost. We wish to express our deepest condolences once again
and to assure them that their death will not be in vain”, it stated.
The party’s position was contained in a statement by its Director of
Publicity, Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, shortly
after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the
incumbent governor winner.
The PDP thanked the people for renewing Dickson’s mandate for another
four-years, attributing it to the “resilience and uncommon courage” of the
people.
Obuebite stated in particular that the victory was important because it
came the way of the PDP even in the face of intimidation, tyranny, threats
and violent attacks, but however, observed that “despite the challenges,
democracy won.”
He said, “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 indeed 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.”
The RCO stated that the victory was a sweet one which signposts the end of
an era of a political class whose stock in trade was “violence,
brigandage, militancy and bloodletting as the only means of accessing
power.”
He said never again will Bayelsa State harbor criminals and rogue elements
as contestants for power.
“Going forward, the Bayelsa political space will only be for those who
have the intellectual rigour to trade their fine ideas in exchange for
votes, not bullets. Our society must groom new set of leaders who will
only access power through their superior ideas to regenerate society
rather than through the barrel of the gun”, he stated.
Obuebite condemned the sheer scale of violence and mayhem that
characterized the 2015 governorship election in BayelsaState, saying it
will go down in history as one with the highest record of casualties.
While calling for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the
reported killings, the PDP condoled with the families of those who lost
their loved ones.