Bayelsa Polls: Dickson Says Militants Can’t Save Sylva

Posted by African Examiner Bayelsa Election 2015, Latest Headlines, News, News From The State Thursday, January 7th, 2016

Baltimore, MD (African Examiner) – With about three days to the supplementary election scheduled for Southern Ijaw and 101 units, Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, on Wednesday in Yenagoa, called on the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, to “accept defeat or be ready to be humiliated by the people as no militant can deliver him and the APC.

He also charged youth presidents and community development committee chairmen to prove to the world that they were ready for a free, fair, credible and violence-free election.

In an interaction with the youth presidents and CDC chairmen at Government House, Dickson said the All Progressves Congress (APC) was jittery because “they do not have grass-root support and this is the right time to prove to the entire world that the APC has no support base.”

He said the last time, the people of Southern Ijaw were cheated as they were not allowed to vote, adding that the world was waiting to see them vote massively for the PDP to prove Timipre Sylva and his “band of militants” wrong that Southern Ijaw LGA is the stronghold of the PDP.

He said, “We believe in free and fair election, but the APC cannot come to your villages to decide for you the right to vote for who you want. They know that you have decided from unit to ward and to community; we are going to win them fair and square.

“If APC gets one lawful vote, PDP will get one thousand votes. In Peremabiri, in broad daylight, a miscreant supported by the military attacked and invaded the community for no just cause, but to intimidate them ahead of the rescheduled poll.

“The people of Ijaw nation are proud people who cannot be intimidated and have not been conquered by anybody. This is the time you have to stand for your right, defend your future and the future of the Ijaw nation.”

The governor urged them to stand on the side of history as the power to deliver the Ijaw nation was in their hand, adding that, history will not forgive them if they fail to do otherwise.

While admonishing the youths to protect themselves and their communities during the poll, he called on them to cooperate with the security agencies that are doing the right thing and refuse to cooperate with those who want to rig for the opposition.