Dickson and Sylva
The most significant outcome of the Bayelsa elections is that the Amnesty-procured peace in the Niger Delta has been interrupted.
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For the first time in 5 years, bullets of the Nigerian military and militants spilled innocent Ijaw blood and for no just cause. I had adviced that the peace equilibrium in the Niger Delta was too fragile for any attempt to militarize the area.
For the first time in 5 years, the Niger Delta saw the return of militants. Militants assisted by soldiers to undermine the collective will of the Bayelsa people.
For the first time in 5 years, the creeks had a feast of bullets, and in several communities young people dared the barrel with the armour of their ballot. They insisted that their franchise and citizenship would not be undermined.
The implication of the drama in Bayelsa is that honeymoon in the creeks may have been terminated. Akwa Ibom was watching, Rivers watching, Delta was watching and Ondo was watching.
Last night, a seed was planted in Southern Ijaw and that seed has already been watered. The elections will come and go, but the consequences will not.
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