The apex sociocultural organisation of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in Nigeria, the Ijaw National Congress, INC, has congratulated the winner of last Saturday's governorship election in Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye Diri of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, with a charge to the governor to build on the gains of his first tenure as well as to be magnanimous in victory by extending his usual benevolence to all.

The INC gave the charge in a congratulatory letter sent to Governor Diri and that was signed by its President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

Recall that Governor Diri was declared the winner of the fiercely contested election that witnessed pockets of violence in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) returning officer, Farouk Adamu, who said Diri scored a total of 175,196 votes to emerge the winner while ex-governor Timipre Sylva, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), came second with 110,108 votes.

Prof. Okaba, while delivering the congratulatory message, said, "In line with the provisions of the INC Constitution, the leadership of Congress could not demonstrate support for any particular candidate during the electioneering period. However Congress has the mandate to congratulate the declared winner of the contest."

The INC said it condemned the violence recorded in the governorship election and charged all involved in the contest to support the declared winner by joining hands to develop Bayelsa State.

He said, "While Congress condemns all forms and degrees of violence that occurred before and during the election, we admonish any party or candidate that is not satisfied with the outcome of the election not to take laws into their hands but demonstrate good spirit of sportsmanship to join hands with the declared winner for the good of Bayelsa State in particular and the Ijaw Nation in general.

"The INC strongly advise the governor to be magnanimous in victory by extending his usual benevolence to all. We also use this medium to enjoin him to continue making the dividends of democracy and good governance felt and enjoyed by all citizens and residents in the State," Prof. Okaba added.

The INC counseled the Governor Diri administration to use his second tenure to concretise the gains of his first tenure in office while it also charged citizens and stakeholders of the state to give support to the governor.

"As the parent Organisation of all Ijaws, the INC advice His Excellency to consolidate on gains of his first tenure; especially the areas of human capital development, security of lives and property, maintenance of law and order, infrastructural development and the industralisation of the State that is already blessed with abundant human and natural resources.

"The INC calls on all citizens and residents in Bayelsa State to rally round the governor in his efforts to foster the much needed unity, peace and sustainable development of Bayelsa State - Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation," the message reads.

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