The peaceful atmosphere experienced during the 2023 General Election in Bayelsa State is largely due to the disposition and personality of Governor Douye Diri.
This is the first time in a long time that the state did not record any serious incident or violence during the election.
The Director, of New Media to the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr. Kola Oredipe, stated this in Yenagoa at a media parley held at the Secretariat of Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council.
Dr. Oredipe explained that Governor Diri had always maintained that the electorate should be allowed to have their say, making it clear that violence, intimidation, and the use of thugs to harass people during elections would not be condoned, hence the relative peace experienced during the Presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in the State.
The Governor’s Media Aide commended the people of the State for their peaceful conduct during the polls and gave thumbs up to security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and other stakeholders for their roles in changing the narrative for the better.
“The peaceful nature of the elections is a reflection of the leadership in the State. That is what we have seen in Bayelsa in the last three years. Even in national political commentaries, you hear people praising the State Government and making reference to the fact that Bayelsa had a successful election. So, credit must go to the governor”, he said.
“We want to appreciate the people of the State for standing firmly to ensure peace in their areas. It means peace is possible, in this election, with no record of killing, and no bloodshed. This is a result of the shared commitment of a governor who is desirous of the development and growth of the state because without security, without peace, no development can take place, and no investor can come. Governor Diri is laying a new foundation in Bayelsa State.”
On the attack by suspected hoodlums at the INEC Registration Area Center at Okodi in Ogbia Local Government Area where electoral materials were burnt, Doctor Oredipe said the security agencies were carrying out investigations, expressing the hope that the perpetrators would be identified, arrested, and made to face prosecution.
He commended Monarchs and Traditional rulers who made efforts to prevail on the people to allow everyone to exercise his or her franchise across the various communities.
