Dickson Berates APC Over Bayelsa Violence As Two killed, Others Injured At Party Secretariat

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state over the violence at the inauguration of a caretaker chairman of the party in the state that saw two persons killed and several others injured on Friday.

Heavily armed thugs had invaded the secretariat of the APC in Yenegoa to disrupt the inauguration of the new acting chairman of the party, Mr. Joseph Fafi, and in the process one member of the party was killed as well as a hawker.

Dickson in a statement by Miriki Ebikibina, his Senior Special Assistant on Politics, has described the sporadic shootings by unknown armed men at the APC party secretariat despite heavy security presence as unfortunate, regrettable and totally unacceptable.

According to him, “the violence and the pandemonium caused is regrettable because it is coming a day after the meeting of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo with the state Governors and security officers on hate speeches and security challenges faced by states. It is not only most unfortunate, regrettable and totally unaccepted but speaks volume of a party activities in the state.

“The APC activities in Bayelsa are characterized with violence, thereby threatening and heightened the relatively peace and calm, put in place by the State Government. The Acting President and the leadership of the APC, should call their party members to order and respect the right to peace and freedom of movement of the defenceless citizens of the state, who are going about their legitimate business”.

Speaking on the development, the member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Isreal Sunny-Igoli, expressed concern and accused some expelled dissidents within the party as being responsible for the failed attack.

He said, “the APC members cannot be intimidated in Bayelsa State. We know and we believe that the party is on the path of rebuilding and enthronement of peace within its fold. The sponsors of the attack will be brought to book.”