Southern Ijaw: Dickson, military disagree on cause of violence

The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has condemned the military for exonerating itself from any complicity in the violence and malpractices which marred the recent governorship election

in Southern Ijaw area of the state.

The governor, who spoke through his campaign outfit, the Restoration Campaign Organisation of the  Peoples Democratic Party, insisted that the security agency could have done better to forestall the violence that led to the cancelation of the election.

He also rejected the position of the military on being neutral and accused the security agencies of colluding with others to rig the election. The accusation came just as the Nigerian Army, Operation Safe Conduct,  alluded that it was Dickson’s appearance in Oporoma,  headquarters of Southern Ijaw that fuelled the violence in the LGA on December 6.

The Brigade Commander, 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig. – Gen. Stevenson Olabanji,  at a news briefing in Yenagoa on Saturday recalled that the election in Southern Ijaw was shifted to December 6, 2015 to enable the tension  in the area to calm down.

Unfortunately, however, said the sudden appearance of one of the candidates, apparently referring to Governor Seriake Dickson, on December 6 fuelled the already charged atmosphere in Oporoma.

Olabanji said it was at the point of appearance of the candidate that the INEC staff in the area made it clear to him (candidate) that his action was a breach of the Electoral Act.

The Brigade Commander added, “The military officer in charge of the troops deployed in Oporoma also met the candidate and advised him to leave the area because his personal security could not be guaranteed at that time.”

But Dickson in a statement on Sunday by  Director of Publicity, RCO, Jonathan Obuebite, blamed the military for the security lapses leading to loss of lives in Southern Ijaw.

He said the military failed  heed his advice and that of others to postpone the election on account of anticipated violence.

 He condemned the military for being partisan, stating that some of its officers worked with thugs loyal to the opposition to undermine the entire electoral process in Southern Ijaw.

 He said, “It is only fit and proper for the military to own up to its failures and apologize to the people of Southern Ijaw for the despicable and unprofessional conduct of some of its officers who clearly were more interested in lining their pockets.

“It failed to give reasons why it withdrew the military security attached to the governor and giving order for them to be detained, thereby compromising the security of the governor.”