DICKSON MEETS VICTIMS OF ELECTION VIOLENCE, SAYS SURVIVAL WAS MIRACLE

During his visit to the victims at the Gloryland Hospital in the Opolo area of Yenagoa, he described it was a miracle for them to have survived because of the seriousness of the injuries they sustained.

While wishing them and their families merry Christmas, Dickson thanked God for sparing their lives, expressing surprise how brothers and friends could attack their unarmed brothers in the name of politics.

The governor assured the victims that, all those who perpetrated the violence that caused the injuries and pains to them would be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said, “I want to let you all know about our unwavering commitment to ensure that all those persons who caused this to you and to your families will not go unpunished. Whoever they are and whatever political colour they are hiding under, these are purely criminal activities and we do not condone crime and criminality and violence, irrespective of the political colour or garb that they now wear.

“We condemn it in its totality and again we use this opportunity as a government to ensure that those who did this are properly identified and brought to book. You can be sure of our support all the way. We want to thank the medical Director, and his dedicated and committed staff for all that they have been able to do; God has actually used them wonderfully to save the lives of all of you.”

According to him, political differences are not settled with guns and bullets, but through the ballot box, stressing that, instead of preparing for elections, some individuals and parties prepared for war.

He used the opportunity to renew his call on the security agencies to dispassionately carry out impartial law enforcement, in order to restore the confidence of the citizenry in their ability of the security forces to protect them.

“Political differences are not settled with guns and bullets but are settled through the ballot, unfortunately some persons instead of preparing for elections are preparing for war. I want to call on the security agencies to dispassionately carry impartial law enforcement that will restore the shattered confidence of our people and the ability of the security forces to protect them”, he pleaded.

Earlier the Medical Director of the Gloryland Hospital, Dr. Young Dede, took the Governor on a tour of the facilities and medical wards at the hospital and explained the severity of the injuries and critical state of the victims, before they were admitted.

Those who were admitted with gunshot wounds are Godbless Douglas from Ogbotobo; Animieyefa John, Woyinkuro Sanko, Tari Gbeneowei and Joseph Macaiva from Olugbobiri, while Abel Esau is from Koluama and Ayebaifie Ogoun is from Ekowe community all in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.