It was a day of agony and grief in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State as the remains of the Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) Taribi Seidougha, were committed to mother earth amidst tears.
Taribi was also a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Grassroots Mobilization.
Governor Seriake Dickson who spoke during the commendation service in honour of the two young men in Yenagoa, said they were gruesomely murdered in their own home by yet to be identified soldiers during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in Oweikoroagha, Southern Ijaw local government area.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Hon Fidelis Soriwei quoted Governor Dickson as having condemned the incessant deployment of state institutions to undermine the peace and stability of Bayelsa since 2015 for political reasons.
The Governor offered automatic employment to the young widows of the deceased and scholarship to the children they left behind.
The grieving Governor said the two corpses were clear evidence of the politically motivated killings perpetrated by leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state who had the backing on the Federal Government.
He said that it was absurd and indeed reprehensible for criminals to be given security cover in the residence of supposed APC leaders after committing brazen acts of criminality against the state as was the case in the murder of Dei and Seidougha.
According to Governor Dickson, "security operatives were put at the disposal of APC leaders in the state to intimidate, kill and maim our people’ during the last election.”
The governor described the day of the burial of the Oweikorogha two, as one of the saddest day of his administration as the duo were killed by soldiers who were taken to their residence by some Oweikorogha citizens to murder them.
“Today is a sad day not because of the very young age at which their lives were cut short but because of the way and manner they were murdered in cold blood in Oweikoroagha in their own homes by uniformed men at the command and behest of political operatives."
He lamented that the main culprits in the dastardly act boasted that he would go to the residence of an APC leader in Abuja to evade arrest by security men as if Abuja had become a sanctuary for killers.
“The killers in Bayelsa that are known are protected by the agencies of the Nigerian state. If anyone ever thought that all I have been saying about killers and their protection was politics here lies the evidence.
"The FG is not interested in the peace security and stability of Bayelsa. They want Bayelsa to be turned into a state òf blood like other states.
In Katsina, there were no killings, but here soldiers were deployed for all APC politicians."
The Governor urged the people of the state to remain calm and vigilant stating that, his administration would embark on what he called, 'the Niger Delta Movement' to mobilize people in their various communities on how to defend themselves as the Federal Government has failed in its primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties.
Paying tributes, Governor Dickson described Dei as a very professional, dedicated member of the media team in Government House and Taribi as a decent and honourable young man.
He said that the late photographer drew commendations from even visitors and foreigners to Government House because of his devotion to duty.
Also in his remarks, the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John JonahJ (Retd) expressed shock that soldiers who are funded with tax-payers money could turn their weapons against the people.
He said that the murder of the innocent was unacceptable in any civilized clime, as there are specified rules of engagement for the military whose role in elections are defined.
He said that the military had a responsibility to investigate the killings.
Also, the State Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Moses Cleopas wondered why Bayelsans would kill their brothers over an election contested by two northern brothers whose places did not record such acts.
Others who paid tributes are Senator elect for Bayela Central, Douye Diri, the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Prince DoodeiWeek and the member Representing Southern Ijaw 2 Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon Monday-Bubou Edwin Obolo
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