Bayelsa Elders Council (BEC) has warned the Federal Government to be cautious in the deployment of troops, especially soldiers for unlawful duties or to rig the December 5 governorship election. The members warned that any attempt to manipulate the poll in Bayelsa State will reverse the gains of democracy in the last 16 years.
The BEC also gave its royal blessing to the incumbent governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, after presenting his administration’s scorecards in the last four years. They noted that another four years will afford the incumbent governor to consolidate on the peace, prosperity and development of Bayelsa State.
They urged Bayelsans to re-elect him.
The elders, in a four-paragraph communiqué issued at the end of its meeting and signed by Chief Francis Doukpola, (MFR) and Hon. Thompson Okorotie, the Chairman and Publicity Secretary respectively, said it would resist any attempt by the Federal Government or any of its agency to ignite crisis in the state in the name of politics.
It stated that in as much as it welcomes deployment of soldiers to the state for the December 5, 2015 election, the noble idea should be not be politicised.
It warned the Federal Government and its agencies against toying with the existing peace in the state, adding that such moves will be counterproductive.
The communiqué reads, “in the interest of peace and security of the State, Council urges all the political parties to ensure that their candidates, leaders, and followers to be of good conduct in accordance with the Peace Accord signed between the candidates and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), and not to disrupt the prevailing peace in the state, before, during and after the election of December 5, 2015.
“Council welcomes deployment of soldiers to Bayelsa State for December 5, 2015 election provided that they are purely for lawful security duties.
“Council also resolved to advise against the proposed dissolution of the Amnesty Programme by December 2015 by the Federal government as such a move will have reaching security implications in the Niger Delta Region.
“His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson presented the Restoration government’s scorecard, himself and his Deputy for a second term. Consequently, Council blessed them in a short ceremony by the first class traditional rulers led by the chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional rulers”.
In attendance at the meeting were the Chairman of the Council, Chief Francis Doukpola, HRM King Alfred Papapriye Diete-Spiff, Kings Joshua Igbuguru, Joshua Igbagara, Jonathan Kubor, G.A Lawson, Mala Sasime, Napoleon Orianze amongst other royal fathers.
Also the list included, Chief A.M.Aduba, Senator Inatimi Spiff, Senator John Brambaifa, Professor T.T. Isoun, Hon. T.K.O. Okorotie, Dr. Georgina Ngeri-Nwagha, Chief Alex Ekiotenne, High Chief J.F.Eseimokumor, Major Andrew Oputa, Hon, Augustin Lugbenwei and Elder Zee Debekeme and host of others.
Meanwhile, former Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has predicted victory for Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the December 5 election.
Shekarau, immediate-past Minister of Education, made the prediction on Monday in Kolokuma Opokuma when he joined Dickson in continuation of his community-to-community tour, saying he felt convinced the PDP would win the election based on what he said were the unusual crowd that came out to receive the governor and their endorsements.
A large crowd of party supporters thronged the various venues where rallies were held with community leaders on hand to receive Dickson and his entourage.
He said he was proud to see such a crowd comprising of youths, men and women who left other activities to meet Dickson and that their support was a measure of the governor’s popularity and acceptance, adding that the PDP remained the party of the people in Bayelsa State.
The former Education Minister had accompanied Dickson on a boat cruise through the River Nun to communities in KolokumaOpokuma Local Government Area of the state comprisingEgbedi, Okoloba, Sabagreia, Odi, Sanpou, Opokuma, and Kaiama which also witnessed large turnout of supporters.
“It is evident that the contriman governor is well loved by his people and going by what I have seen here today, he will win the December 5 election. I believe it will just be a formality,” Shekarau said.
He told the people to remain loyal and steadfast, saying no amount of intimidation can change the will of the people, adding that their actions at the respective rallies were a celebration of leadership and performance.
“I must thank you all for believing in your governor and standing firm behind him in his re-election bid. I want to admonish you to remain steadfast. The PDP will no doubt carry the day come December 5th. I am really impressed. This is not just a campaign, it is a carnival. It is a celebration of victory and I am so happy to experience this open show of love first hand. Of course, your governor has led well and with performance”, he said.
Speaking to a mammoth crowd of PDP supporters at Kaiama, where a grand reception was held in his honour, hometown of the late Ijaw hero and activist, Isaac Adaka Boro, Dickson expressed appreciation to the people for their show of love and endorsement for his candidacy.
He noted that Kolokuma Opokuma was home to him and, therefore, he needed not to campaign as the people would vote en-masse for him at the election.
Earlier, the community leaders listed some of the achievements of the governor in the local government to include the construction of Adaka Boro Memorial Institute comprising a mausoleum and low cost housing estate to immortalize the late freedom fighter, construction of the Boro Town, Kaiama link road, construction of the Isaac Boro family house, befitting burial for the late hero by exhuming his body from Lagos and buried at the Heroes Park in Yenagoa, construction of permanent NYSC orientation camp, and construction of world class Youth Development Centre .
Other notable projects listed are the construction of a general hospital in Kaiama, model boarding secondary schools in Kaiama and Sabagreia, model primary schools In several communities and the establishment of the Bayelsa Sports Academy in Asoama.
