The result of
Saturday’s presidential election has left the people of Bayelsa State
ecstatic. While anger and frustration gave way to violent protests in
parts of the North, people in the South-South are happy that their son,
Goodluck Jonathan, was declared winner and president-elect by the
Independent National Electoral Commission.
In Yenagoa, the
Bayelsa State capital, celebrations started on Monday, right after Mr
Jonathan’s victory was made official. Some residents made trips to
bars, others screamed hysterically in their homes and parties were held
through the night.
King Robert
Epizimor, a popular local musician performed all night at Ayalla Hotel,
while a large number of Mr Jonathan’s supporters gathered at Peace
Park, opposite the Government House for a show that lasted through the
night – all to mark the victory.
Yesterday, a group
of women held a rally – from Ekeki Park, near Azikoro junction to the
Government House. The rallies, notwithstanding, the town was peaceful
and business activities went on smoothly.
Festive mood in Otuoke
While business
activities largely masked celebrations in Yenagoa, nothing could get in
the way of festivity in Mr Jonathan’s hometown, Otuoke, Ogbia Central
Local Government Area of the state.
There had been a
carnival atmosphere in the town the night before the election; a party
was held at the town hall on Friday. As the results were being
announced, many people were glued to television sets like they were
watching a match and each time Mr Jonathan won the votes for a state,
they cheered like a goal had been scored. After the final results were
announced, they proceeded to the town hall for a bigger party –
hundreds of empty beer cans strewn all over the vicinity highlighted
the frenzy with which they celebrated.
Expectations and concerns
The centre of
celebration in the town was, however, the home of Obebhatein Jonathan,
the president’s elder sister. It was the main point of call for many
groups, from within Otuoke and the neighbouring communities, who had
danced their way into town to celebrate with the Jonathans. The visits
commenced on Monday night and continued through yesterday. Each group
was welcomed and addressed by Mr Jonathan’s sister and his mom.
“We have come today
in respect of our son’s victory,” said one of the groups from Akipelai
community, where the president’s mother hails from.
The leader of the
group, Kuro Ibaralate, described Mr Jonathan as “one of our own who
made it from scratch”. “We never believed it, never could imagine it,
but today we have a president that will speak and determine the affairs
of our great nation, Nigeria. We are indeed very happy,” Mr Ibaralate
said.
Other groups that
visited include the Non Indigene Organisation in the town and the
Catholic Community, as well as a delegation of women from Otabagi town.
Despite staying awake through most of the night and having to dance now and then, fatigue was not an issue.
“I’m not tired of receiving visitors because God has made it like that,” she said. Through the joy, she also expressed concern.
“We are very happy
that he is the president of Nigeria. (But) we are also scared because
he is a president; he has a lot of work on his head.” Looking ahead,
she prayed that the people around him should work with him. “Because if
they work with him as he wants to work, Nigeria will run smoothly.”
Divine victory
The paramount ruler
of the town was not left out as many of the groups also paid him a
visit. To him, Mr Jonathan’s victory was divine.
“I am thanking God
for what he has done for us. It is not man’s power, it’s a divine
programme and that programme, I know, will be maintained by God
himself,” he said when asked what he thought of the victory.
He evaded a
question about what changes the community expected over the next four
years, saying instead that Mr Jonathan will do something for everyone.
“Already it is
known; Nigerians today have tested his qualities and they know what he
can do for Nigeria,” he said. “His victory is not necessarily for the
community alone. He is a man for the community, he is a man of his
family, he is a man of the South-South geopolitical zone, he is a man
of the whole nation. So, we don’t expect that his programme for
development will particularly be for the community alone, but for the
whole nation.”
Unrest in the North
Concerning unrest
in parts of the North, Garba Nuhu, a protocol officer at the home of
Mrs Jonathan said with everybody in a joyful mood, it is unlikely that
people in the state will be moved to anger. On the contrary he said
they are worried and regret that some people felt this way even though
the region is just winning the presidency for the first time.
“Even in the North, we are praying for things to go well,” he said.
Felicia Micah, from
Utakeme, a neighbouring community, feels the same way. More so because
she believes the elections were free and fair.
“There is no need
for them to fight,” she said. “Because this one is the only free and
fair election that Nigeria has had. Even the international community is
also rejoicing with us… I’m also praying for peace in Jos and in all
the Northern states that are having problems.”
The Joint Revolutionary Council, a local militia organisation had on
Monday appealed for calm in the Niger Delta. “While we recognize that
there are strong Northern interests in the Niger Delta, we will remain
calm and will do the best we can to reject acts of provocation
currently being deployed by nauseous elements of Northern extraction,”
the organisation said in a statement signed by its spokesperson,
Cynthia Whyte.
