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Bayelsa: Goodluck Jonathan Beats Ijaw Ethnic Drums For Seriake Dickson Re-Election

September 9, 2015

The forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State is not about the re-election of Seriake Dickson, but about the existence of Izon ethnicity, former President Goodluck Jonathan has said in Otuoke.

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Nigeria’s former leader made the strange remark at Dickson’s re-election declaration at the Samson Siasia Stadium, as he tried to drum up support for his acolyte’s second term hopes. 

The occasion attracted a mammoth crowd of supporters and high profile dignitaries, including the Governor of Rivers and Ondo States, Nyeson Wike and Olusegun Mimiko, and paralyzed commercial and civil service activity in the state.

Mr. Jonathan, who was accompanied by his wife, noted that his decision to endorse the re-election bid of Governor Dickson has attracted bulk sms reactions.  He said he made the decision based on his conviction that Governor Dickson has performed in the areas of prompt payment of workers' salaries; proper management of state resources without recourse to borrowing; improved infrastructural development; and road construction.

Recalling his 16 years in government, Mr. Jonathan said he knew a lot about what governors do or do not do, but also what causes pain to the citizens.  

“When he told me that he wants to declare for second term, I said he should [go ahead].  As I said he should do it, some people were asking me questions through bulk SMS.

"But I want to tell him that I would also be here when he is presented with the flag of the Party. One of the things worrying many Federal Government is the issue of workers money by states. Dickson has done well in that aspect. Also another issue is that of the borrowing. Dickson has done well. On infrastructures and development, Dickson has tried."

In his endorsement speech, the Ondo State Governor and the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Olusegun Mimiko, said the decision to call for the re-election was based on noticeable development trend in the State.

“When you have a Governor that has lifted his people, there is need for him to return. Some people are Abuja-based giants and newspaper giants in terms of politics. Dickson is a man of accomplishment."

Mimiko said that the PDP Governors meetings on Monday night had also dwelled on the rising and dangerous incursions made by the All Progressive Congress (APC) led administration into PDP controlled states of the South-South, warning that people of the South-South cannot allow the APC to trample on their states. 

“More than 50 per cent of the Governors in the APC are a product of the PDP,” he said.  “For us in the PDP, we have no shaking. We know that the truth will come out one day."

In his message at the event, former Bayelsa Governor D.S.P Alameiseigha described the gathering of PDP heavyweights at the event as a “pre-electoral victory celebrations."

In his declaration speech, Governor Dickson said the decision to run for a second term was a call for his team of administrators to re-dedicate themselves to the stability and development of the State.

“Some people came here sometime ago to say the PDP is finished in Bayelsa,” he said.  “The gathering here today is that the PDP is in charge of the State."

He bragged that of all the political offices in Bayelsa, APC has only one seat in the legislature, and no councilors.  

“From 1999 till date, we have Four Governors serving, and three are still in PDP,” Dickson said.  “Only one went astray. It shows that this is an unshakeable party. Bayelsa has no room for any other party. The other party has no message for us.

He said that situation was because APC is not on the ground in Bayelsa and is no match for the PDP. 

“The good news is that unknown to them, they are another arm of the PDP,” adding that following the APC primaries, the PDP will appoint an interim Party Executive Committee for them, but did not disclose how the PDP will do that.  

“And we will shut them down gradually," Dickson boasted.

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