By Gideon Njoku
Forget the peace accord signed by the candidates of the political parties in the Governorship election scheduled for November 16.
Forget the over 30,000 Policemen the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, told Nigerians have been deployed to the state for the Election.
Forget, also, the thousands of Soldiers and other Para-military personnel so posted.
They will be of no use. This election will be like war. And when it ends, Bayelsa may be turned into one huge mortuary, and sea of blood.
A taste of what it will be like was on display in Nembe, on Wednesday.
The PDP campaign train had gone to Nembe LGA for a continuation of its efforts to retain power in the State. Nembe is the LGA of Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, the disqualified running mate to the APC Governorship candidate, David Lyon.
Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo, of the Federal High Court Abuja, had a couple of days ago, disqualified him for having five different names in the educational certificates he submitted to INEC. None of the names had any connection to the name he bears now, the Judge noted, while delivering judgement in a suit brought against him by the PDP, challenging his suitability as a candidate.
When the PDP campaign train arrived his town, it was turned back. It was worse when the train got to the next town in the LGA. Welcoming the hundreds of people, including Journalists, were a barrage of heavy him shots. Like in a war.
Everybody ran helter-skelter. By the time they finished, five people, including Simon Onu, an OB driver of Bayelsa Radio. Blood was flowing like a river. Several people were injured.
And, it was just a campaign. Not the real thing.
So, you ask: Where were the men of the Nigerian military? Where were the Policemen? And other security personnel? What sort of election will this be? This is a descent into the worst kind of barbarism. And anarchy. Again, what is the plan for security against November 16?
Following, are photographs of the shame. It also shows a shocked Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, who was scheduled for the Nembe campaign, on a visit to the injured.
