How Bayelsans celebrated Jonathan’s victory
VICTORY DANCE IN OTUOKE In Bayelsa State, a deafening shout of jubilation from all corners heralded the declaration of President Jonathan as winner of the April 16, 2011 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega. Few minutes to the announcement, most people in the state headquarters, Yenagoa were glued […]
VICTORY DANCE IN OTUOKE
In Bayelsa State, a deafening shout of jubilation from all corners heralded the declaration of President Jonathan as winner of the April 16, 2011 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.
Few minutes to the announcement, most people in the state headquarters, Yenagoa were glued to their television sets either in groups at drinking joints or in company of their family members at home.
Immediately the victory was pronounced, a standby cultural band in Otakeme, a village near Otuoke-Ogbia which already had a venue decorated for reception in the anticipated celebration, came alive with music and dances that rented the air in an utmost electrifying mood.
Both the young and old filed out in their numbers singing and dancing on a live show relayed by the local AIT in what they termed the victory for the Niger Deltans just as others in Yenagoa took to the streets chanting ‘Goodluck to Nigerians’.
A section of Bayelsans thereafter spoke to Sunday Trust on their expectation, from President Jonathan and the reason they are celebrating as a people.
Obviously elated Charity Ibibo, a native of Otuoke, the president’s home town and a 300-level student of the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, said the victory was for the entire South-South who had long hoped and prayed that they will one day govern Nigeria.
“It is not easy. Niger Deltans have looked forward to this day. They have been praying for it and God has answered their prayers. I am excited and I give God all the glory,” Ibibo said
He expects that Jonathan will reach out to all Nigerians in the spirit of love to conquer the challenges of tribal differences and proffer solutions to inadequate power supply, declining state of education, inadequate jobs and other issues of national concerns.
On the part of the Provost, Odi Youth Congress, Okpobolokemi Godwin, the president must ensure that the Niger Delta youths are carried along to provide responsible means of livelihood and curb militant activities in the area.
Godwin said the victory of Jonathan was celebrated in glowing terms in the state because it is the first time in the history of Nigeria that the South-South will produce a president with much consideration given for the minority status of the personality involved.
In the opinion of Newton Spipokuro, an indigene of Angalabiri, Ekeremor Local Government Area, there are high expectations that the newly-elected president will justify his mandate by turning around every aspect of the country for good.
Spipokuro, a civil servant is optimistic that President Jonathan will not disappoint Nigerians as he will ensure that good roads, potable water and electricity become a reality.
According to him, “the victory for me means a sense of belonging. At least, those of us from the Niger Delta region can now feel that we are part and parcel of Nigeria. It is a good development and I am grateful to all Nigerians.
Another respondent who simply gave his name as Benedict, a native of Azikoro, a viilage near Yenagoa metropolis, said he was overwhelmed by President Jonathan’s victory at the polls inspite of the odds against him and can only express it with a shout of “alleluia”.
Meanwhile, a well thought-out reception was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience held at his home town, Otuoeke during the Easter break to mark his victory at the polls.
WHAT RIVERS PEOPLE FEEL, SAY ON JONATHAN’S VICTORY?
Following INEC’s declaration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as winner of the just concluded presidential election, hundreds of thousands of people in Port Harcourt, as in the rest of the Niger Delta region, were thrown into jubilation.
Abali Park Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Port Harcourt, Chief Bedhel Dappa who shared how he celebrated Jonathan’s victory, said, “I was in Opobo town when the final declaration was made. Several shots from locally made guns were fired into the air to mark the beginning of celebrations. We danced round town and drank throughout that night. I personally opened six bottles of champagne.”
Chief Dappa said since President Jonathan is from the Ijaw tribe of the Niger Delta region,he should know their problems better.
“Let him give us roads, free and qualitative education, and housing at affordable prices. Let him empower the youths in a better way, not the amnesty which I believe will not work. Give the youths money and let them struggle by themselves. So that, if you don’t want to work but become a criminal, we can have a reason to kill you,” Dappa said
Caleb Ajagba is the National Coordinator, Integrity and Transparency Promotion Initiative (ITPI), a nongovernmental organization based in the South South region. He told Sunday Trust that the victory of President Jonathan was largely traceable to his cool-headedness and issue-based campaign efforts.
He believes that Jonathan’s victory means that Nigeria is steadily moving away from primordial and ethno-religious politics. He expects the president to focus on the problems of erratic power supply, corruption and unethical electoral conducts.
On his part, Stephen Orlu, a Port Harcourt businessman said, “I couldn’t believe that a son of the Niger Delta can be the president of this country today. I celebrated that. I called my friends; we bought some drinks and celebrated all night.”
Orlu called on the president to see himself as the national leader that he is and serve the entire nation. He urged peace all around the country, saying, “people should stop causing violence during his administration so that he will move the country forward. People should embrace peace in this country. Goodluck will deliver this country if we give him the opportunity.”
Chief Edwin Egwekwe, an elderly taxi driver who also operates in Abali park, said, “that day I was very happy. I celebrated by drinking two bottles of tombo and the little money I had that day, I bought drinks for my friends and we drank to his victory.”
He added, “I thank God for the victory of Jonathan. I am very happy that he is now the president-elect. I will advise him to treat his people well. We have suffered for so many years. He should create jobs for graduates. They say Abuja is a beautiful place. I want him to transform the states in the Niger Delta to look like Abuja so that we will be proud of the region. If he does that, he will have long life by the Grace of God. As God has blessed him, let him remember us.”
‘WE CHALLENGE JONATHAN AS WE CELEBRATE HIM’
Deltans have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan not to deviate a bit from what he promised Nigerians during his campaigns in order to leave a legacy of positive growth in Nigeria.
A number of them who spoke to Sunday Trust in Asaba, the Delta State capital, urged the president to implement to the letter, the national budget for the wellbeing of all Nigerians.
The immediate past secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Asaba branch, Mr A. P. Brideba and the Delta State Democratic People’s Party (DPP) chairman, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, tasked the president to rebuild the nation by being radical at addressing the challenges facing it.
The DPP chairman said specifically, “he must meet our demands, he must make sure we have dependable power, he must reduce insecurity in the country.”
On his own, Brideba advised Jonathan to address the issues of corruption, education and health.
According to him, “corruption and unemployment are issues that will no longer be tolerated in any form in this country.” He urged the president to address the problems facing the region.
The legal practitioner expressed happiness that a Niger Delta man is at the helm today: “I feel very, very happy that a Niger Delta man is the president of the nation. I am happy because this is the very first time somebody from a minority tribe will emerge through the ballot box as president of Nigeria. He should use this opportunity to address the injustice in our land Ogochukwu Awachukwu, Joy Obi and Augustine Modeme, all students, were also elated for having a Niger Deltan as the president.
Speaking separately to Sunday Trust, the students said the president is under obligation to move the country forward, meet the aspirations of the people
and tackle the challenges facing students who are the leaders of tomorrow.