By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital Tuesday night erupted in wild celebration as President Goodluck Jonathan, an indigene of Bayelsa State and first minority from the Niger Delta was declared as winner of the last Saturday poll just as the Bayelsa State government declared Tuesday work free day saying the emergence of Jonathan is a well deserved victory for justice and national unity.

Interestingly the victory celebration in Yenagoa and its environs had started 24 hours before the INEC boss declaration of Dr. Jonathan as President elect when it became obvious he was coasting home to victory.

The usually quiet Peace Park came alive as residents thronged the arena to celebrate the victory of one of their own while the Mbiama-Yenagoa road witnessed a carnival float Wednesday morning causing traffic gridlock.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa government in a congratulatory message to the president and signed by the Governor’s his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, said, “I, on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State congratulate you, our brother, on your victory. This victory is our pride and joy. You are a special gift from Bayelsa to Nigeria.”

“You have proved yourself to the whole country to be a remarkable man with a delightful personality and a positive flexibility – exactly the qualities that Nigeria requires for the leadership of its positively diverse peoples. In all your campaigns, you carried the whole country along. And you have carried all of us to the place of victory and progress. This is, indeed, a well deserved victory for justice and national unity.”

Sylva thanked all Nigerians for what he called “a momentous speech with one voice,” and called on all and sundry to always give their honest support to the president. “For we have no other country we can call our own except Nigeria,” he said.

To all those who contested the election with Jonathan, Sylva said, “You all deserve special recognition for your commitment and service to motherland as well as your interest in the Nigerian project, as exhibited by your participation in the presidential election. You did not fall back into hopelessness and arm-chair condemnation of Nigeria, as is the custom of some. But you engaged the process and egged your supporters on to join the rest of the country to prove to the world that we can hold competitive, yet, credible elections. “You remain an asset to Nigeria and I urge you all to always avail the
nation of your substantial abilities.

While the State Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Comrade Sunday Frank Oputu described the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan as just and necessary at a time the nation is desperately searching for true leadership, “Let me congratulate the President on his victory and say, it is well deserved.

President Jonathan has displayed exemplary style of leadership with the upholding of his promised one-man, one vote.”

“If the President continues like this, it means democracy has come to stay. My advice to Mr. President is for him to be steadfast. The God that gave him the wisdom will never disappoint him. Professionals interested in governance can now come out.”

“Let the President stand for who he is .The Lord has made him be full of courage and be steadfast. Anyone that vote for Goodluck Jonathan will never regret it. I want to call on Nigerians that needed change to vote for President Jonathan. Buhari and Ribadu can not stand for what Jonathan stands for.”

The National Youth Leader of the ACN, Comrade Miriki Ebikibina said though the party is still studying the result as released by INEC, “President Jonathan victory at the poll should be seen as a hallmark of transparency, peaceful and democratic process with a reflection of a voting pattern which is hinged on the personality of the candidate and not the party.”