Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has called on the Federal Government and the international community to prevail on all institutions that have a role to play in the conduct of the forthcoming election in the state, including security agencies, to be above board in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Advisory Council of the Restoration Campaign Organisation chaired by Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange in Yenagoa, the state capital, over the weekend, the governor said the call became imperative in view of his alleged brazen manner members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) have been boasting to use federal might to rig the election.
According to the governor, such utterances and show of impunity by the opposition have clearly shown that they were not only unprepared for the election but envious of the achievements of his administration and therefore hell-bent on plunging the state back to its past characterized by insecurity and violence.
“Members of the opposition party, APC, with their conducts are hell-bent on igniting crisis in the state, knowing full well that they cannot win the forthcoming governorship election.They have perfected their rigging plans and that is why we are calling on the Federal Government and the international community to prevail on all institutions that have a role to play in the conduct of the election to be above aboard. The PDP is known for peace and that is the message we are preaching in all the communities in the state”.
He said the PDP would continue to enjoy popular support from Bayelsans for a long time because of its well- structured grassroots-oriented policies and programmes. Such policies, he noted, had helped in alleviating the sufferings of the people as being testified by the rural dwellers who trooped out to identify with his campaigns in all nooks and crannies of the state.
Dickson explained that the advisory council would have been inaugurated earlier but for the untimely death of Chief Deipreye Alamieyeseigha who was billed to be its chairman.
He, however, said the council will continue to function even after the election as a foremost caucus to provide policy direction to the PDP and its government.
To make for effective representation, he said the council has three vice chairmen representing the three senatorial districts in the state, namely King A. J Turner (East Senatorial Zone), Blessing Akpoloma (Central Senatorial Zone) and former deputy governorPeremobowei Ebebi (West Senatorial Zone). Chief Thompson Okorotie is to serve as secretary, Senator Inatimi Spiff, Director, Strategy and Chief James Jephthah as Director of Operations.
Over forty elders of the party and all serving National Assembly members from the state are also members.
Dickson thanked members of the Advisory Council for their support, assuring them that his administration would not renege on his electoral promises as he also called on the people in the state not to entertain any fears over their safety in the December 5 election.
Meanwhile, Dickson has condemned the killing of one Andrew June in Oweiggbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
It was alleged that the deceased was a victim of political clashes during a campaign tour of the area.
The governor, who said he was deeply moved by the death of the man called on the security agencies in the state to urgently investigate and fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor also cautioned politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner during campaigns, noting that election is not a do or die affair and, therefore, any acts of violence should be condemned.
“The reported death of Mr. Andrew June came to me as a rude shock because it was a needless and reprehensible act by whoever may have been responsible. As I have always said, election should be a civilized process, conducted in a peaceful manner rather than do or die affair. As such the perpetrators of this heinous act must be fished out and appropriately punished”.
While condoling with the family of the deceased Andrew June, Dickson also called for calm as he urged the people to go about their political campaigns in peace.
“For now, I urge all to be calm and peaceful. Those on campaigns must do so devoid of rancor or violence as the security agencies do their work to unravel the mindless killing”, he stated.
He further called on his opponent, Timipre Sylva, to stop boasting of having federal might because according to the governor, that refrain has a way of inflaming passion among his followers who may get excited and thereby creating unnecessary political tension as they go on campaigns.
In a related development, kinsmen of the late Ijaw leader, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, at the weekend, trooped out at a mega rally in Amassoma with a resounding pledge to ensure that Dickson is re-elected on December 5.
The governor had rounded off his extensive campaign tour to the Ogboin Kingdom meeting the people in Otuan, Amassoma and Amatolo communities on his re-election bid and solicited their support.
In their speeches, the traditional rulers, political leaders, youths and women groups from the kingdom lauded what they said were the impressive performance of the governor in his first term and assured him of their preparedness to make his re-election bid a reality.
Bubaraye Azebi, who spoke on behalf of the Amassoma community, lamented the sudden passage of Chief Alamieyeseigha, who he described as a political hero, but expressed confidence in the governor’s ability to sustain the vision of their deceased son in terms of developing the area in particular and the state in general.
According to him, the community was happy to identify with Dickson’s re-election because of the sense of belonging he said his administration had given to them, citing the connection of Amassoma to the national grid, appointment of several indigenes to positions of public trust, construction of the Etegwe-Tombia section of the Yenagoa/Amassoma road, building of schools and the international cargo airport in the area.
Speaker after speaker at the rally including the Commissioner for Transport, Hon Akpoebide Alamieyeseigha; a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon Kate Owoko; Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council, Chief Remember Ogbe; ex-lawmaker, Hon Kuroakigha Dorgu; Special Adviser on Youth Mobilisation, Hon Steven Diver; Chief Douye Naingba; Chief Patrick Osunu, Hon Solomon Apreala, Mrs Apretari Ogugu and Chairman of Ogboin Rural Development Authority, Hon Timpre Asari, assured the governor of victory in the area.
Responding, a highly-elated Dickson expressed delight at the massive turn out and groundswell of support demonstrated by the people and announced that state government’s decision to immediately clear the outstanding electricity bills amounting to 10 million naira owed by the Amassoma community to enable them enjoy power supply.
While assuring the people of the area of more government’s presence in his second term, Dickson urged the people to remain steadfast in their support for the PDP and not allow themselves to be intimidated on the day of the election.
He reiterated his call on the Federal Government to do everything possible to provide a level playing ground for all political parties participating in the election in order to maintain the existing peace and stability in the state before, during and after the poll.
The governor, who called for a moment of silence in honour of the late Alamieyeseigha said: “Today comes across both as a sad and happy day to me and my team. Sad in the sense that if our leader were alive, he would not have only addressed us here but would have also hosted us in his house for dinner before our departure.
“But be that as it may, I know his spirit is still with us seeing the kind of support and the very warm reception you have given to me and the entire campaign team. Since the inception of my administration, I have never for once doubted your support. You have always been good to me. That is why this government will continue to carry you along in its scheme of things
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He further noted: “We have not come here to campaign but assure you that God Almighty will keep all of you safe on the day of the election as you come out to vote massively for the PDP that has always protected our interest. We know that the other party is not ready for election. They don’t even regard you the voters that is why they are threatening that they will win the election by any means. But I urge you not to be intimidated by anybody including those who want to wear fake military uniforms on that day.
Come out and vote and also stay back to protect your votes because I repeat nobody can intimidate or harass you as there will be adequate security on ground.”
Present at the rally were Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), Chairman,Advisory Council of the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange; Director General of the Campaign Organisation, Chief Fred Agbedi, former deputy governor of the state, Peremobowei Ebebi, among other PDP stalwarts.
