Democracy In Action In Bayelsa:  The Return Of Governor Seriake

The victory of the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State. His Excellency Seriake Dickson, JP.is a victory for Democracy and good governance.

Ordinarily, the battle for the position of who to rule or govern Bayelsa state should not be a major concern to non-members of the state, the federal administration.

It's humiliating defeat to the leadership of the All Progressive Congress APC, especially, Chief Timi Sylvia the defeated puppet- governorship candidate, Timi have never hidden his desperation to access political power through the back-door and violence means; his hidden agenda was long discovered by the electorates that is why on Saturday 9 January, 2016 is ambition to control political power for selfish reasons was truncated by is rejection by the people on the Governorship election.

Since, the starting of democratic governance on May 29, 1999, the political history in Bayelsa state, the ordinary peace-loving people have not enjoyed second tenure of governance.one of the many things, political approach that bothered, the late Governor-General of Ijaw-Nation and first Executive Governor of Bayelsa state High Chief, Dr. Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyesigha, JP that one tenure syndrome at Creek Haven Yenogoa, Bayelsa seat of government will be broken in separate pieces, so he solidly stood behind the second tenure of the incumbent His Excellency Seriake Dickson. He believes Dickson has performed creditably well in his first time and such deserves a second term.

Also, the Electorates they believe that they had been taken for a ride for too long, and will cast their votes to show their Love for the man and party of their choice.

The Governor has demonstrated beyond doubt that he is a visionary ,Pragmatic and Patriotic leader of the marginalized people, he had impacted positively on the lives of Bayelsan with numerous people oriented projects Seriake administration has executed and is still executing in all parts of the state till the date of January 2016 supplementary Governorship election.

The people are strongly behind him and would not for any reasons give their votes cast to those who plundered their treasury for five wasted years and kept the people on abject poverty by the Sylvia's.

For Dickson, his reason for seeking re-election is to improve on what he has achieved in the last four years he has been in government, bring more development to the people of the state. His tremendously performance so far has restored the people's faith in governance.

Alamieyesgha popularly called Alamco or DSP by is kinsmen, Ijaws people, and his dream comes true only after he had died, and that satanic jinx of one tenure was broken when he Seriake Dickson's was declared winner by INEC after the people have given their mandate because the people are now conscious of their rights. There is a great cause for thanksgiving to Almighty God for what he has done to the people of Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.

There are many factors that worked against Timi Sylvia. He was a poor student of History and forget not to have a clear picture on the ground, even the people their body language betrayed him. Every Ijaw's see Sylvia as a representative for the Jonathan's opponent interest. Ijaws are very proud of their heritage and do not take easily to what they perceive as agent of local imperialism, he worked against former President Jonathan.

Secondly, he had promise heaven and earth in the run-up to the election; from what I know and from the general view, the process that led to the primaries was very faulty, it was not transparent. But inspite of that Timi was declared the flag-bearer of APC to create confusion and anarchy in Bayelsa and make the state ungovernable. This also worked against Sylvia, Bayelsan are wiser with the wisdom of God Almighty than those failed politicians.

The level of violence carried out by disciples of the political parties in Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa are bad precedence for the growth of democratic governance. Prior to the supplementary governorship election in Bayelsa state there was series of allegations between the two main political parties of intentions to rig the elections. It is shameful that political thugs still snatched ballot boxes, killed, maimed and destroyed properties of political opponents to achieve their evils agenda for selfish purposes, Politicians and people from all spheres of life should firmly hold unto belief in a united indivisible Nigeria.

The Independent National Electorate Commission (INEC ) , the electoral umpire on its part should be commended on the successful conclusion of the election, local and international observers group also appreciated the hitch-free election and political office should not be seen as a do or die affair.

My appeal to the defeated Candidate is to accept the result and work towards the development of Bayelsa state that has been the practice in democracy.

Jinbobaraye Karibo-Nelson, JP, SIPM, FECRMI,

A social commentator and security analyst, a senior member Chartered Institute of Public Management Nigeria, Full member Emergency, Crisis and Risk Management Institute of Nigeria.

Nigeria writes from Ogu Town, Rivers State, Port Harcourt via [email protected],www.karibonelson.com