Politics
Diri Canvasses Law Against Vote-Buying, Hails INEC’s Stance On Illegal Votes
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called for legislation to check the menace of vote-buying as part of measures to safeguard the country’s electoral system.
Senator Diri stated this on Wednesday at his country home, Sampou, in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state when his predecessor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Chief Seriake Dickson, paid him a visit to formally congratulate him on his re-election for a second term.
The governor condemned the act of vote-buying, describing the development as part of the country’s electoral process that was faulty and called on stakeholders to work collectively in addressing the menace in order to prevent politicians that do not mean well for the state from hijacking the process.
“For me, that is part of our electoral process that is very faulty. I like to urge our leaders, especially those that are in the National Assembly, to propose a bill that can solve this problem of vote-buying because it is becoming a very big problem here in Bayelsa State.
“So, we all need to put our minds together to see how we can address this issue because that is the only way we can prevent politicians who do not mean well for the state from having access to political power”, he said.
The Governor thanked Bayelsans for renewing his mandate to serve them for another four years.
In his remarks, Senator Seriake Dickson said he led a delegation of the Bayelsa West Senatorial District to congratulate Diri on his well-deserved victory, noting that in securing a second term, the governor has four more years of stability to consolidate on his development agenda for the state.
“Just as the people of Sagbama-Ekeremor Senatorial District supported you in 2019 election, they did it again this time and they are still assuring you of their support in this fresh mandate.
“There is high expectations from the people and we know and trust that you will bring it about. You have taken the road to Ekeremor and we also expect that you will start the road to Agge. Power means nothing if it does not bring about development, peace and prosperity”, Senator Dickson said.
Meanwhile, during a live Channels Television political programme on Wednesday, the re-elected Bayelsa governor applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for cancelling and rejecting questionable ballot figures earlier returned for Nembe Local Government Area in last Saturday’s poll.
Diri lauded the electoral umpire for insisting on the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to protect the integrity of the election.
He said the BVAS device was fully deployed during the election just as there was prompt distribution of sensitive and non sensitive materials across the state.
“The electoral umpire did well and l want to believe that this is one of the best elections it has conducted where the BVAS was brought to full test and we saw that wherever it was bypassed, all parties there scored zero”, Diri said.
Making reference to Nembe-Bassambiri community where the BVAS was bypassed, he said INEC entered zero votes for such areas.
When asked if he would extend a hand of fellowship to those who contested with him, Diri said: “I will extend my hand of fellowship to all those who contested with me. My maxim from day one when l took over the reins of power is, to show love where there is hatred and to give light where there is darkness.
“But l will not reach out to murderers. l will not reach out to very violent people. There must be a mindset to move away from the violence and murderous attitude of Timipre Sylva and those around him”, the Bayelsa State Chief Executive insisted.
On why he ran for a second term, Diri explained that he wanted to prove wrong critics that said he was a Supreme Court-made governor and that he could not win election in the state.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
