Kayode Sesan
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Seriake Dickson, who won the state governorship election on Sunday, thanked the electorate for their gallantry in ensuring his re-election.
Dickson who described his victory as a triumph for democracy said there would be no celebration because of the number of lives that were lost in the course of the election.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, on Sunday night in Yenagoa, however, vowed that he would go after the killers during the election and bring them to justice.
He promised to work tirelessly to justify the mandate given to him “as we tried to do in the first four years to almost universal acknowledgement and approbation.”
While extending a hand of fellowship to his political opponents, Dickson said since election had been won and lost, the needs of Bayelsans and the challenge of improving their material condition remained his focus.
He said, “To the extent that the people ensured that they spoke loud and clear and that their choice clearly emerged provide some reassurance that our democracy is coming of age.
“Sadly, however, the elections were conducted at the price of several lives lost and mayhem visited on many communities by mindless brigands clearly suborned by those who do not respect the democratic process and have equally scant regard for the sanctity of lives and property.
“Unfortunately, we can’t celebrate because people have died.
“I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to identify the culprits and bring them to justice. I want to express my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the innocent victims of the violence. The government will be undertaking a full accounting of what happened.
“The mandate you have given us having been clearly demonstrated, I want to assure you that my administration will work tirelessly to justify this mandate as we tried to do in the first four years to almost universal acknowledgement and approbation.”
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