Jonathan, Alamieyeseigha rally support for Dickson

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Tuesday, formally declared his intention to run for second term in office.At the Samson Siasia Sports Complex venue of his declaration, political heavyweights of the Peoples Democratic Party, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, threw their weight behind the incumbent governor.

The venue of the declaration was filled to capacity. Crowds of PDP leaders, supporters and well-wishers came in droves to witness the declaration.

Among prominent personalities that came to celebrate with Dickson were the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Deputy Governor of Ebony State, Kelechi Igwe and deputy Governor of Delta State, Dennis Otuaro.

Others were a former Military Administrator of Bayelsa, Navy Capt. Walter Feghabor (retd.); Deputy Governor of Kogi, Yomi Awoniyi; a former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Perebemowei Ebebi; Nollywood actors – Kenneth Okonkwo, Zack Orji, Rosemary Imgbi, Ngozi Nwosu and Yemi Black, among others.

The audience was thrilled with music by Timi Dakolo.

Addressing the crowd, Jonathan said that contrary to speculations, the PDP, which had been in control of the state since its inception in 1999, still has what it takes to win the forthcoming governorship election convincingly.

Jonathan, who decried that the Ijaw people were fond of ‘killing’ themselves and spoiling their own, appealed to ‘Bayelsans’ to allow Dickson to continue as the governor for a second term, describing him as being truly tested and God-fearing .

“We are begging everybody to come together to build our state and not to destroy it,” he said.

He also commended Dickson for improving the security of lives and property, payment of workers’ salaries and not being indebted to international financial institutions and other lending agencies in the country.

Jonathan equally lauded Dickson for building the first flyover in the state and embarking on the construction of bridges linking riverine communities in the state as well as developing communities through networks of roads.

Jonathan said though some members of the party defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress, the PDP family would not lose sleep over the development as it remained united and strong in its resolve to clinch victory in the December 5 poll.

He said, “We are here because what is happening in Bayelsa State now is similar to what happened in the state in 2003 when my boss then, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was to seek a second tenure. A number of people went to Abuja and threw up all kinds of stories.

“People may go to Abuja and say all kinds of things but the PDP in Bayelsa is very strong. We are committed and we will win our election. Aefw people might have left but the party is still strong and united. Well, we will continue to talk to our brothers and sisters because politics is all about consensus building. It is not a one-man business.”

In his remarks, Alamieyeseigha said Tuesday’s gathering by the Ijaw nation was to celebrate the pre-electoral victory of the governor.

Alamieyeseigha said the December 5 governorship poll is just a mere formality, adding that since 1999, Bayelsa had been governed by the PDP and the party would continue to rule the state.

In his speech, Dickson said the APC was not on the ground in Bayelsa and cannot win the election.

Dickson insisted that Bayelsa is totally a PDP state since 1999 till date and that no other political party was on ground to wrest power from the party.

Dickson said, “The opposition party does not have any message for ‘Bayelsans’ as the party does not have any councillor, local government chairmen or Assembly members. Even at the National Assembly, the APC has none.

“We, the people of Bayelsa, the Ijaw people, we will stand firmly by the PDP. Bayelsa State is unshakeable. The PDP is the majority in the state as the party will defeat them come December 5, 2015.”

Accompanied to the podium by his wife, Rachael, the governor said that if voted into office for a second term, he would consolidate on the security of lives and property, development and empower youths through education.

The leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, said the oncoming governorship election was not the battle for Dickson alone but for the Ijaw people.