Investigate election related killings in Bayelsa, Rivers – Dickson tells Buhari

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Tuesday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order full-scale investigation into election-related killings in Rivers and Bayelsa.

He made the call in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson and issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Yenagoa.

The governor condemned the wanton destruction of lives and property that greeted the re-run of the state and national assembly elections in Rivers at the weekend.

He warned that the growing trend where some politicians resort to violence as a means to achieving their political ambitions portends grave danger to democracy and stability of the country.

While expressing concern over the development, Dickson wondered why the Federal Government was yet to identify and prosecute those who maimed and killed innocent Bayelsans during the state governorship elections.

He explained that though security agencies have crucial role to play in elections, overzealous operatives, who go about their duties in an unprofessional manner should be investigated and punished accordingly when found culpable.

Dickson described his brand of politics as issue-based and devoid of violence.

He assured that the state government would bring all the sponsors and hoodlums that played a role in the Bayelsa saga to justice, to serve as a deterrent in future elections.

“I want to use this opportunity knowing what we ourselves passed through in this state in the last governorship elections to condemn the criminality and violence that have attended elections in Rivers.

“Just the same way we condemned the hoodlums and others who were engaged to wreak havoc on our people.

“I condemn it in its totality and call on the President to take more than passing interest in all these developments; the issue of electoral violence in Bayelsa particularly in Southern Ijaw, Brass and Ekeremor Local Government Areas.

“The President should not feign ignorance but call the security officers to conduct thorough investigation and give them marching orders to fish out those responsible because every life is important.

“No life should be cut short because of someone’s political ambition,” Dickson said. (NAN)