Business and commercial activities were temporarily put on hold at the weekend
in Yenagoa, as thousands of PDP supporters within and outside the
State led by the immediate past President; Dr. Goodluck Jonathan
thronged the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, venue of the PDP
governorship flag presentation rally.
The
crowd, which political watchers described as unprecedented in the
political annals of the state, further confirmed the supremacy of the
PDP and its candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson over other contesting
parties.
With
songs and dances, the party faithful left no one in doubt of their
preparedness to come out en mass to vote for the governorship
candidate of the PDP, which according to them, has rewritten the
political history of the State in the last four years.
The
security operatives had hectic times, controlling the crowd as market
men and women and thousands of the PDP supporters from across the
creeks of Bayelsa defied the scorching sun to witness what is being
described as the mother of all rallies.
Describing
Bayelsa state as a PDP stronghold, the immediate past president, Dr.
Jonathan in his solidarity message said that, Governor Dickson by all
conceivable standards has performed creditably well and is qualified
to do a second term in office.
He
called on Bayelsans, particularly the youths to secure their future
by voting for the PDP in next Saturday’s governorship election,
adding, Governor Dickson is the only candidate that can secure your
future.
Describing
Governor Dickson as a visionary leader, Dr. Jonathan stressed the
need for Bayelsans to reciprocate his good deeds in terms of
provision of infrastructure and laying the foundation for investment
and entrepreneurship to thrive in the State.
According
to him, “for the past 16 years, being a pioneer deputy Governor and
a Governor at the State level, a vice-president and President of our
Country, I am in a position to say that Dickson has tried and is
still trying.
“You
can see that within this short period, Dickson has been able to build
a flyover and dualize a number of roads in Yenagoa. He has been able
to build Toru-Ebeni Bridge. These are signs of development, in a town
that is growing to be a city”
Dr.
Jonathan, who later commissioned the first ever flyover and the newly
dualized Azikoro road in Yenagoa, shortly after the rally added, “we
should all be concerned about what Bayelsa will be in the next 25
years and beyond, and not what we want to gain today. You can only
see that from the kind of policies, projects and programmes that a
Governor brings to bear.
“I
have looked at his policies and programmes and I am convinced that he
is visionary. He is preparing Bayelsa state for tomorrow. I am
telling the young people that this election is not for Jonathan or
Dickson. This election is for you. So, vote for your liberation. You
vote to live in peace and a developed society.
Performing
the flag handing over ceremony, the Acting National Chairman of the
Party, Prince Uche Secondus berated the Buhari led Federal Government
for running the nation’s economy aground six months into office and
urged Bayelsans to totally reject the All Progressives Congress,
(APC) in the forthcoming election.
Prince
Secondus, who noted that the PDP was aware of clandestine moves being
made to rig the election, called on the electorate to come out en
masse to vote for the PDP and stand firm to defend their electoral
rights.
In
the same vein, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and
Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, described the APC
government as clueless and without direction in managing the national
economy.
He
urged Bayelsans to remain resolute in their support for the PDP
candidate, as a vote for Governor Dickson will usher in more
development, peace and stability.
In
his speech, Governor Dickson reiterated his commitment to peaceful
poll, and stressed the need for the Federal government to do
everything within its reach to ensure a free and fair election in the
state.
Appreciating
the National Working Committee of the PDP and his teeming supporters
within and outside the state, Governor Dickson disclosed that, the
turnout has further confirmed that the people of the state have
rejected the leading opposition party, (APC).
Dignitaries
in attendance include; the Acting Chairman of the PDP Board of
Trustees, Haliru Bello, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State,
Vice-Chairman, PDP, South-south, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Olisah
Metuh, serving and former National Assembly members, including,
Senators Adolphus Wabara, Ibrahim Mantu, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, Hon.
Leo Ogor, Nollyhood stars and a host of others.
