Jonathan Hails Bayelsans For Voting Dickson

President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the Bayelsa State Governor-elect, Hon Seriake Dickson on his election victory.

In a statement, the president also thanked the people of Bayelsa State for giving resounding victory to the Peoples Democratic Party.

The president also thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders in last Saturday’s polls for their orderly conduct and used the opportunity to urge the governor-elect to carry all stakeholders along and govern with the fear of God.

The election which held amidst tight security was trailed by poor turn out of voters.

President Jonathan who spoke to journalists soon after voting attributed the poor turn-out to the crisis over the governorship candidate of the party and the confusion on whether the election would hold or not.

Jonathan who voted at the President ward, Otazi Playground, Ward 13 Otuabula, Ogbia local government area, at 12.45 pm commended the peaceful nature of the exercise, noting that it was a giant stride considering the violent nature of past elections in the state.

The President expressed confidence that the votes of Bayelsans would count and manifest in the results to be declared. On the voting apathy displayed by the people, he said the response of the people to elections varies depending on the particular election.

According to him the poor-turn out may not be unconnected with the issue over the party’s governorship candidacy and moved to stop the election from holding. His words: “for the presidential election in Nigeria, most Nigerians in Diaspora came home because they were quite interested in the presidential election and they voted. But lower elections in most cases don’t attract that kind of interest.

Probably that may be the reason. And you know that in Bayelsa State there has been some kind of challenges as to who is a candidate or who is not a candidate up to Friday. Bayelsians were confused as to whether election will go on or election will not go on. Some of these affect election, especially those who will travel from very far places to come and vote.”

On how the crisis in the party was resolved, Jonathan said he was not the only one involved in the fence-mending, adding that major stakeholders in the party as well as in the state were instrumental to the peace that has returned to the party.

Meanwhile, Chief Dickson has accepted the result of the election promising Bayelsans that he will not betray the trust reposed on him,

He pleaded with his opponents to join him in the task of rebuilding the state.

The governor elect promised an all-inclusive government, adding that the test of rebuilding the state will be cumbersome without the contribution of all people of goodwill within and outside the state.