The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide have congratulated the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on his electoral victory in the just-concluded governorship election.
The IYC also commended all the contestants and the people of Bayelsa State for their contribution to deepening democracy.
However, the IYC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Eric Omare, expressed sadness that so many lives were lost during the electoral process.
The council said the election of a governor ought not to be a do-or-die affair, especially in a state like Bayelsa that is homogenous.
The IYC said, “We recall that under President Goodluck Jonathan sanity was restored to the electoral process in Nigeria and the do-or-die spirit, which was prevalent under President Olusegun Obasanjo, was banished to the dustbin.
“However, it is sad to note that Nigeria’s democracy has degenerated back to the do-or-die era. The IYC strongly feels that this degeneration is as a result of a lack of statesmanship by President Muhammadu Buhari, who fails to give express instructions to the security agencies to protect lives and maintain law and order.
“We call on the relevant security agencies to carry out a detailed and transparent investigation into the cases of deaths and violence during the election and bring perpetrators to justice to serve as deterrent to others.”
The IYC said the killers of innocent Ijaw people, especially youths, must not go unpunished.
It also called on Dickson to extend hands of friendship to other contestants, Bayelsans and Ijaw people in general to move the state and the Ijaw nation forward.
“Agencies have a particular mandate to ensure the protection of citizens and sensitive materials on Election Day,” it said.
The TMG boss also criticised the behaviour of political parties and their representatives, particularly the APC and the PDP for undermining public confidence in the electoral process, adding that they acted contrary to the spirit of the Yenagoa Peace Accord.
Zikirullahi said as part of its law-making responsibility towards electoral reforms, the National Assembly should take steps towards reviewing the nation’s electoral laws to punish political actors who engage in or sponsor political violence.
Wike had described Dickson’s re-election as a victory for democracy.
He said on Monday, in a congratulatory message signed by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, that the will of the Bayelsa people had prevailed, having resolved to remain in the PDP.
The governor pointed out that the people of Bayelsa exhibited the true Niger Delta spirit, which abhors oppression and injustice.
He stated that with Dickson’s re-election, a message had been sent to electoral manipulators that they would never find accommodation in the South-South region.
