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 in the Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, threw their weight behind the incumbent governor.
Also, former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, leader of the defunct Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, Chief George Turner, Mrs Remi Kuku, among others, said Dickson deserved a re-election to consolidate on his transformation of the state.
The stadium venue of the declaration was filled beyond capacity. PDP leaders, faithful and wellwishers came in droves to witness the declaration.
Among prominent personalities that came to celebrate with Dickson were Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Olusegun Mimiko; wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Deputy Governor of Ebony State, Kelechi Igwe and deputy Governor of Delta State, Dennis Otuaro.
Others were deputy governor of Kogi, Prince Awoniyi, former Deputy governor of Bayelsa, Perebemowei Ebebi, Nollywood actors – Kenneth Okonkwo, Zack Orji, Rosemary Imgbi, Ngozi Nwosu and Yemi Black.
Addressing the crowd, Jonathan said contrary to speculations, the PDP, which had been in control of the state since its inception in 1999, still had what it took to win the forthcoming governorship election convincingly.
Jonathan, who decried that Ijaw people were fond of ‘killing’ themselves and spoiling their own, appealed to Bayelsans to allow Dickson to continue as the governor for the second term as he is a truly tested and God-fearing person.
“We are begging everybody to come together to build our state and not to destroy it,”he said.
He also commended Dickson for improving security of lives and property, payment of workers salaries and not being indebted to World bank and other lending agencies in the country.
Jonathan equally lauded Dickson for building the first flyover in the state and embarking on construction of bridges linking riverine communities in the state and developing communities through networks of roads. Punch
