Mr. Jonathan was booed by a section of the crowd when he asked the voters of his home state to lend their support to Governor Dickson’s efforts to develop Bayelsa State. The crowd screamed “No!” each time Mr. Jonathan asked for their support. The interruptions compelled the president to abruptly end his speech.
In an eerie repetition of what happened to former Governor Timipre Sylva several years ago, a crowd of Bayelsa residents yesterday booed Governor Seriake Dickson and President Goodluck Jonathan at a presidential rally at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, venue of a rally for Mr. Jonathan’s re-election campaign. A rattled aide to Governor Dickson who spoke to SaharaReporters said he feared that, but for stringent measures by security agents, the crowd might have thrown sachets of water at the podium as Mr. Dickson spoke at the rally. Mr. Sylva was pelted with sachet water at the same venue several years ago.
Security operatives had barred sachet water vendors from the venue of the rally, and prevented people from taking sachet water as they entered the stadium. Security agents had taken the measures after some youth groups and militants warned that they did not want to see First Lady Patience Jonathan at the rally. She attended the event and spoke.
Mr. Jonathan was booed by a section of the crowd when he asked the voters of his home state to lend their support to Governor Dickson’s efforts to develop Bayelsa State. The crowd screamed “No!” each time Mr. Jonathan asked for their support. The interruptions compelled the president to abruptly end his speech.
President Jonathan had earlier stated that the electorate in Bayelsa had always voted for him throughout his political career. He had also acknowledged former Governor D.S.P.Alamieyeseigha, a convict whom Mr. Jonathan granted presidential pardon a few years ago, sparking public outrage.
“Let me publicly appreciate a man who I call my boss, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha,” said Mr. Jonathan. He added, “He was the one who brought me into politics and he is my boss.”
Speaking earlier, Mrs. Jonathan stated that her husband started his women friendly posture during his days as deputy governor and governor of the state by empowering thousands of women across Bayelsa. She said that Mr. Jonathan’s re-election would further elevate the status of women.
Members of the PDP presidential campaign council accompanied Mr. Jonathan on the tour of his home state of Bayelsa. In their speeches, PDP national chairman, Adamu Muazu, Senate President David Mark, and director general of the PDP presidential campaign council, Ahmadu Alli, said they anticipated the president and his party to win the state decisively in the February polls.