5th January, 2016
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Some prominent ex-militant leaders who command large followers in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region shunned the invitation of State Police Command for a meeting ahead of the supplementary governorship election to be held in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area on Saturday, 9 January.
Three out of the five ex-militant leaders failed to honour the police invitation.
Their action is generating concern both in the security circles and among the populace, especially the voters in the affected local government area against the backdrop of the violence in the local government area that marred the 5 December election in area.
The Bayelsa Police Command had invited the five ex-militant leaders for a meeting to avert a recurrence of the security breach and violence when the supplementary election holds on Saturday, 9 January in Southern Ijaw.
Only ‘General’ Reuben and Joshua Maciver honoured the meeting aimed at ensuring peace during the supplementary election while ex-militant leaders such as ‘General’ Ogunboss, Africa Ukparasia also called ‘General Africa’ and Ebikabowei Victor Ben popularly called Boyloaf were not at the meeting.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki went ahead with the other two despite the failure of the three ex-militants to hold the meeting behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Governor seeking re-election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Seriake Dickson, has reiterated his call for a non-violent free and fair supplementary election.
Governor Dickson made the call at a World Press briefing in Yenagoa on Monday.
He said the call became necessary as only a free and nonviolent atmosphere will enable people to come out and vote for candidates of their choice.
He called for the protection of election officials to ensure a transparent poll in the largest local government area in the state.