Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, has thanked the
electorate for their gallantry in ensuring his re-election for another
four years, but said there would be no celebration because of the number
of lives that have been lost.
The governor in an emotion-laden statement signed by his Chief Press
Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, released to journalists on Sunday night
in Yenagoa, however vowed that he would do everything possible to identify
the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
He promised to work tirelessly to justify the mandate given to him “as we
tried to do in the first four years to almost universal acknowledgement
and approbation.”
While extending a hand of fellowship his political opponents, Dickson said
since election has been won and lost, the needs of Bayelsans, the
challenge of improving their material condition remains and is even more
urgent.
The text of the Governor’s statement reads thus…
“My good people of Bayelsa State,
“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. Unfortunately, we can’t celebrate because people have died.
“I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to identify the
culprits and bring them to justice. I want to express my heartfelt
condolences and sympathy to the families of the innocent victims of the
violence. The government will be undertaking a full accounting of what
happened.
“The mandate you have given us having been clearly demonstrated, I want to
assure you that my administration will work tirelessly to justify this
mandate as we tried to do in the first four years to almost universal
acknowledgement and approbation. The present economic climate in the
country may be very harsh with the precipitous slide in oil revenues but I
want to assure you that we will courageously tackle the challenges of
economic and social development with renewed vigour.
“Here I will like to extend a hand of fellowship to our political
opponents. The election has been won and lost but the needs of our people,
the challenge of improving their material condition remains and is even
more urgent. That should now be the focus of all our attention and
efforts.
“God bless the valiant people of Bayelsa.”