By Matthew Don
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has solicited the help of the United States Mission in Nigeria and the international community to prevail on Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security forces and other key agencies of state to play by the rule in the November 16 governorship election in the state.
Dickson’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Daniel Alabrah, alluded to what the governor told the visiting Deputy Chief of the US Missions in Nigeria, Kathleen Fitzgibbon, at Government House, Yenagoa on Wednesday, August 21.
Dickson reportedly thanked the United States and friends of Nigeria for their interest in the conduct of elections in the country, especially the electoral process which he said is more important than the outcome.
According to Alabra, he urged the international community to pay special attention to the state and not limit their scope to Lagos and Abuja.
Dickson also recalled the wanton destruction of lives and property and the unprofessional conduct on the part of INEC and security agencies like the Army during the last general election in the state, and prayed such situation does not apply to Bayelsa state’s election.
His words: “I know there are some challenges and this is one state that has challenges during election. Challenges of how to restrain the youths, of power, of how to support the institutions and agencies of state whose neutrality should be as clear as anything else. Killings and all kinds of things take place in the name of elections.
“We know the importance of your visit. So, we call on your Mission to show more support to the agencies of state, INEC, to the law enforcement agencies, to keep making the point about the need for neutrality, and to also use your very wonderful network and access to raise this concern.
“So I look forward to working with you and your team in the area of information sharing. In the area of letting people know when we see the red flags. Very often those red flags are ignored and the red flags are all there. Your interest is legitimate to me.”