From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State government has put to rest the controversy trailing the election of the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Bayelsa State with the declaration of Dr Frank Odunukwe as the President-Elect.
The declaration followed the decision to uphold and implement the report submitted by the Chief Collins Cocodia committee set up to resolve the crisis.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who made the declaration at a meeting with the leaders and other critical stakeholders of the socio-cultural group at his office in Government House, Yenagoa, thanked the chairman and members of the reconciliation committee for doing a thorough and painstaking job.
Describing the position of government as impartial and aimed at fostering greater understanding and unity among Igbo, the Deputy Governor urged the winner of the election to be magnanimous in victory by running an inclusive leadership.
According to Senator Ewhrudjakpo, the state government holds Igbo resident in the state in very high esteem in view of the contribution they are making towards the socioeconomic development of the state.
His words: “We want to thank all of you for being patient with the government, and for embracing the olive branch we offered you. As you are aware, a committee was set up to look at the issues, and the committee brought their report on the 3rd of April, and it was sent across to the governor for consideration.
“The committee looked at a lot of things and made some far-reaching recommendations. One of the decisions they recommended is that your constitution was part of the problem in that election because there are a lot of lacunas in the constitution. So, one of the recommendations is that you quickly amend that constitution.
“Secondly, that the patron, who is now the Acting President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, should make sure that everybody is reconciled, and it is also recommended that the government should participate in the reconciliation process. We want to appeal to you to forgive yourselves and continue to move forward together.
“The other recommendation is that, based on their findings, four out of the five votes declared invalid were actually valid votes, which were cast for Dr. Odunukwe, and that the election should stand, foreclosing the prospect of a rerun election.
“Our appeal is actually to Dr. Anthony Olikagu and his supporters, that they should allow this election to stand because if we don’t allow it to stand, what is going to cost us in the rerun election would be more prohibitive.
“In their separate remarks, the Grand Patron and Acting President of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Bayelsa, Chief Wilfred Iyinagolu, and their Royal Father, HRH Anthony AbleGod-Uwakwe, thanked the Bayelsa State government for its timely intervention and objective position.
Odunukwe, in his remarks, also expressed gratitude to the state government for restoring peace to Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the state, and pledged his commitment to run an all-embracing leadership.
Olikagu, while accepting the state government’s position, also expressed his willingness to continually contribute towards advancing the cause of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa and beyond.