Bayelsa governor-elect meets Buhari, visits Jonathan

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed- doors with the Bayelsa State Governor-Elect, David Lyon, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Lyon, who was declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was accompanied to the State House by the Chairman of the APC Governorship Campaign Council for the Bayelsa State, Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State.

Also at the meeting were the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

Meanwhile, the governor-elect and Sylva had earlier on Monday visited former President Goodluck Jonathan at his country home in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

Jonathan, who condemned the violence in some parts of the state, noted that the nation’s democracy would never mature if violence and irregularities during elections continued unabated.

He congratulated Lyon on his victory and urged him to make the welfare and interest of Bayelsans priority irrespective of party affiliation.

Jonathan said: “As a former President of Nigeria, I am a father to all Bayelsans, hence my doors are open to all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations. I urge you to make the welfare of Bayelsans a top priority and carry all Bayelsans along irrespective of the party they voted for.

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“Elections are over now, so I want you to see yourself as the governor of all Bayelsans and not only to the sections that voted for you. This is the way to move Bayelsa forward.”

Sylva said the duo visited the former president in recognition of his position as the father and leader of the state who deserves to be respected and honoured by all Bayelsans irrespective of their partisan party leanings.

Sylva said: “Being a former President of the country and a past governor of the State, Jonathan remains an asset to the state and his inputs will always be needed to advance the course of governance in the Bayelsa.

“As such it was important for us to introduce the governor-elect to him and seek his support and guidance in building a better Bayelsa.”

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