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By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP), on Sunday appealed to those who lost in the Bayelsa governorship primaries in the dominant political parties to exercise restraint.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elected Senator Douye Diri from amongst 21 aspirants that sought the ticket, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) elected David Lyon to fly the party’s flag of the party from amongst six others.
The group noted that the intervention of the leaders of the two dominant political parties by way of extending an olive branch to aggrieved political leaders was fundamental to maintaining the peace.
In a statement issued in Yenagoa by Pastor Olayinka Tiedor, national president of NDYCPP, the group observed that political leaders from the region should not allow tempers to rise, but should take further steps to calm frayed nerves.
“We appeal both to Chief Timi Alaibe and Sen. Heinekin Lokpobiri to exhibit a very high sense of statesmanship, tolerance, sacrifice and sportsmanship on the outcome of their parties primaries despite obvious and genuine concerns raise on how things went.
“We equally appeal to the leadership of both PDP and APC to be magnanimous in victory by reaching out quickly to their aggrieved leaders and members, especially the frontline figures like Chief Timi Alaibe and Sen. Heinekin Lokpobiri.
“They command huge followership and have expended enormous resources from the onset to now to be talked to on how their interests would be accommodated.
“The winner takes it all syndrome would not augur well for the system, it has always bred acrimony and rancor in our chequered political culture.
“We as well appeal to all aggrieved members in both parties, PDP and APC to shield their swords and toe the path of harmonies engagements and dialogue to resolve whatever grievances they have,” NDYCPP stated.
The group urged the winners of both PDP and APC party primaries, Sen. Douye Diri of PDP and David Lyon of APC respectively, to spread the message of peace and non-violence ahead the November 16 governorship poll.