The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa state has declared that yesterday’s re-election of Hon. Seriake Dickson as governor of Bayelsa State came with so much pain. It explained that the pain was due to the number of people killed in the course of the election.
It would be recalled that after an apparent intractable election, which began on December 5 2015 that stretched to the next day, a supplementary poll on Saturday, saw Dickson winner emerging the winner of the election as announced by INEC . Dickson was announced to have polled 134,998 votes to defeat Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who garnered 86,852 votes.
But while commending the people of Bayelsa state for their support for Dickson which led to his victory in the election, the PDP said the victory was “painful” following the number of people who were killed and that the same people were their brothers and sisters.
In a statement issued by the Director of Publicity of the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, the party further said the victory was painful because “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 costs.”
“We wish to express our deepest condolences once again and to assure them that their death will not be in vain,” the party added.
It went on to commend the people for renewing Dickson’s mandate for another four years, noting that it was as a result of the “resilience and uncommon courage” of the people.
The PDP continued that the victory was important because it came “even in the face of intimidation, tyranny, threats and violent attacks”.
“Despite the challenges, democracy won. 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 victory was a sweet one which signposts the end of an era of a political class whose stock in trade is violence, brigandage, militancy and bloodletting as the only means of accessing power. Never again will Bayelsa State harbour 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.”
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