BAYELSA RECEIVES 2015 REPORT ON ELECTORAL VIOLENCE, VOWS TO PUNISH OFFENDERS

The Bayelsa State Executive Council on Wednesday vowed to ensure that sponsors and perpetrators of electoral violence in the state are made to face the full weight of the law. 

At its 100 meeting presided over by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, the council said it took the decision following the submission of the report by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the 2015 general elections. 

The council said the mayhem that was brought on the state by desperate politicans cannot be overlooked and therefore called for the white paper on the report in order to take steps to punish all those found culpable. 

Briefing journalists after the centenary meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara said the council took time to deliberate on the issue because of its importance.

He said it was also imperative in view of the coming elections, as the government is committed to protect the lives of the people and prevent avoidable deaths that characterized the last elections. 

"We want to underscore the fact that Bayelsa is a state of law and order. The Restoration Government believes in upholding law and order. And so we will not condone any action that will bring violence on our people in the name of seeking for elective offices. We take the lives of our people very serious and we must do all that we can to protect them" he said. 

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said as a responsive government, they owe Bayelsans the trust to protect their lives at all times. 

He stated that those who feel they can get into power through killings will not go scot free, stressing that they must pay for the consequences of their action. 

Iworiso-Markson said: "Today council looked at the electoral violence of 2015. The general elections, leading up to the governorship election based on the report of the commission of inquiry. So it was resolved that the white paper on it should be produced.

"We want those who are engaged in electoral violence to know that there is punishment for their actions. This government cannot fold her hands and allow those who took part in the violence of 2015 to go unpunished. We owe our people a duty to protect them. 

"As we speak, a number of families are still mourning the death of their loved ones, some people are still nursing their injuries arising from the 2015 election. We must not allow a repeat of that. We want politicans to go about their electoral activities with utmost decorum. We want to avoid bloodshed in the coming elections". 

Iworiso-Markson also urged the media to work with the government ahead of the elections next year to effectively carry out the campaign against electoral violence.