Inside Nigeria
Count Me Out of Bayelsa Violence, Says David Lyon
Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16, 2019 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, David Lyon, has distanced himself from the orgy of violence in the state aftermath of the Supreme Court verdict that nullified his victory at the polls.
Lyon whose dream was truncated barely 24 hours to his inauguration said that some mischief-makers have seized on the opportunity of his silence to perpetrate all kinds of violence and civil unrest in the state. Lyon was sacked following the disqualification of the deputy governorship candidate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, who submitted forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mr Lyon in a statement on Wednesday stated that he would not support or be engaged in any act of violence following the outcome of the apex court judgement.
He added that the mischief-makers are using the situation to express their grievances, causing avoidable circumstances in the state.
“As a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria, I would never support or direct anyone to be engaged in acts inimical to the progress and wellbeing of the same people I seek to govern,” Lyon said. “Some mischief-makers have seized on the opportunity of my silence to perpetrate all kinds of evil intentions and actions in the guise of expressing their grievances and have created unnecessary and avoidable circumstances in the political history of our state and country.”
Lyon maintained that his thoughts and actions have never wavered from the fact that the court is the last hope of the common man.
He disclosed that since the development, he has rather been preoccupied with exploring all legal processes in addressing the incident.
Adding further, he called on all political leaders irrespective of party affiliations to call their teaming supporters to be calm and law-abiding and never take laws into their hands.
Lyon expressed his faith and confidence in the judicial process and the Supreme Court, in particular, noting that “at the end of the day, justice will be done.