Dec. 5 Governorship Election will serve as referendum on stand of the Ijaws as a people — Dickson

NEDU MARK, Yenagoa

Barely six weeks to the governorship election in Bayelsa state, Governor Seriake Dickson has maintained that the 2016 politics is not based on guns, but on exercise of the permanent voter’s cards by the electorate in the state.

Governor Dickson who stated this, over the weekend, in a live radio and television interview programme, noted that his administration has received assurances from the Federal Government that the 2016 election would be free and fair as a combined team of special Police mobile squad, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC would be deployed to the state to conduct the exercise.

Dickson who stressed that in the last three years his administration had tried ‘to stabilize the polity and advance the cause for peace in the state’, called on his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent in the elections Chief Timipre Sylva and other members of the candidates in the election to ‘work with his administration in delivering a credible, free, fair and peaceful election come the December 5th Gubernatorial poll.’

The governor described the election as ‘an isolated one’, just as he called on Bayelsans not to allow themselves to be intimidated in their various communities across the state, assuring that, their votes will count.

Dickson also stated that the election would ‘serve as a referendum on the stand of the Ijaws, as a people.’

“There will be no molestation. I would like to use this opportunity to assure you that you will be safe. Don’t allow the criminals and the ungodly to intimidate you from doing what is right. Feel free to vote according to your conscience. You will not only vote; your votes will count.

“This election is a single election and the whole nation and international observers will be here and voting will take place in your communities. You are the masters of your communities. Vote; stay there until the results are declared in every unit.

“I am willing to abide by your verdict. I have spent the past couple of years, providing service and leadership in the circumstances that we have found ourselves,” the governor said.

Dickson further said his administration has worked hard for the enthronement of peace and stability in the state in the last couple of years, with the cooperation and support of Bayelsans as well as security agencies and ‘as such Bayelsa cannot afford any form of retrogression.’

“I believe that this election is a referendum on what we have done and it’s also a referendum on who you are. The whole world is also waiting to see if with all these development, where you will stand as a proud Ijaw man or woman.”

Stressing that the 2016 governorship election is ‘beyond him,’ Governor Dickson told Bayelsans; “This election is about you, it is about your honour.”

“This election is beyond me. This election is essentially about you, it is about your honour, respect and dignity and most importantly it is about your future.”