[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ow it is official. Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State has been re-elected for the second term. By his victory, HSD, the great white shark of the Niger Delta, has confirmed his dominance of the ocean. Dickson would commence a second term, and hopefully, complete his tenure and break the single tenure jinx of elected Governors of Bayelsa State. Dickson has succeeded where Dr. Fayemi failed in Ekiti State. Dickson banked on putting an end to sharing of state funds and neglecting development projects.
When Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State lost his re-election bid, it was attributed to his concentration on hard infrastructure to the neglect of soft or stomach infrastructure. Dickson has proved that hard infrastructure could still win the votes. Ultimately, it is the voters who made the choice and had the final say. In Bayelsa, the voters chose to re-elect the man who dispensed the bitter pills but still delivered development projects in many sectors of the economy.
A Dickson victory is victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The voters in Bayelsa have reaffirmed the March and April 2015 General Election results that showed that the South -South prefers PDP. The voters proved once more that it does not matter how much federal might a candidate can muster; the will of a determined people can never be subjugated. Now, I can attest that no person can subjugate or oppress you without your consent.
The people of Bayelsa State voted with their thumbs for freedom and liberty even in the face of violence and the threats of harm and death. The PDP in Rivers State is now more confident. The message – If Bayelsans can do it, then PDP Rivers State can do it. All thanks to the irreprehensible, dodged, politically conscious and active Bayelsa voters.
On behalf of all true democrats, we thank the Independent National Electoral Commission for a job well done. We appreciate the tenacity, dedication, and commitment of members of the National Youth Service Corps who braved the odds and dangers to deliver a credible election. We commend the election observers and monitors who were on ground to ensure the elections were conducted according to the rules.
We thank the thousands of voters who turned up to vote. Their participation has given democracy the live-blood to survive.
Congratulations Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson. Enjoy another Valentine Day’s gift from your people – the voting residents and people of Bayelsa State. Govern well, if for no other reason, because of those who put their lives on the line, that you could have a second chance.
Nimi Walson-Jack is an influential politician from Rivers State of Nigeria. He is a lawyer, criminologist, civic educator, pro-democracy, human rights, and civil society activist. He is a public policy contributor and analyst, an acclaimed publisher. He is a one-time general secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association and served as electoral commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commissioner. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
