PDP LOCKS DOWN BAYELSA,AS EX-PRESIDENT JONATHAN,PRINCE SECONDUS,GOV MIMIKO,OTHER PARTY STALWARTS PRESENT GOVERNORSHIP FLAG TO DICKSON

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,

BAYELSA PDP CLAIMS ELECTION POLL A FRAUD

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has discredited a purported polling firm, Election Frontline, over its survey on the forthcoming governorship election in the state which it claimed was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC).In a statement yesterday by the Director of Publicity of the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, the PDP described Election Frontline as an “emergency polling firm” with no track record of having conducted any election survey anywhere and as such the whole efforts by the firm was nothing but a fraud.Obuebite noted that the party’s checks on the firm revealed it has no fixed address and no record of any polling was found to be associated with it nor has it done anything meaningful as a corporate entity to give any semblance of a going concern that it could ever be seen as a serious organization.

]“We want to alert the general public to disregard the purported polling by the so-called Election Frontline (what a name!) over the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State which, obviously, was sponsored by the APC  for a favourable rating.We are convinced that it was a hatchet job. Our checks showed that” Election Frontline” has no address and no record of ever conducting any polling in the past. Our investigation also revealed that the survey administrator is a well-known fraudster and lacks integrity. The whole phantom election survey is a big fraud and stands discredited as we urge the public to disregard such unwholesome indulgence imagined to mislead the people”.Obuebite stated that the survey administrator had earlier approached the PDP to conduct similar survey but was turned down as it was made clear to him that the party did not need a polling to win the election, adding that Bayelsa voters were too discerning to fall for a fake poll.“The PDP don’t need any form of poll to help us win this election. We are a grassroots party and our candidate enjoys massive support across the length and breadth of the state. We will not only win, we will win by a very wide margin”, he stated.

 

GOV. DICKSON COMMENDS PRESIDENT BUHARI FOR DISCLOSING NATION’S ECONOMIC STATUS

Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for disclosing the economic status of the country.He urged Bayelsans to brace up for the harsh financial situation facing the state.Speaking during his charge to the new Special Advisers at Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, the governor said the way out of the present economic doldrums is diversification from oil and gas sector of the economy.Dickson said, "Already, you are all aware of the statement by the President that our country is in a very dire financial situation. That comment has attracted a lot of criticisms but I agree with the president that Nigerians are entitled to know the true state of the economy.“Investors who want to do business in Nigeria are entitled to know the true state of our economy. Let me use this opportunity to call on all Bayelsans to listen to what the President has said that the entire country is broke. He has made us understand that the financial situation that we are managing is a national phenomenon. It is not peculiar to Bayelsa.”for the allocation of last month, the Federation Account Allocation Committee could not meet until the past month because they didn’t have money to share to the state and , even when they met for the first time since I took over as governor, states have started getting zero allocation.“I don’t know why people are blaming the president for saying that our country is broke because that is the truth about the economy. States can’t pay salaries, we can’t meet our basic responsibilities. I can’t pay allowances to myself and my staff.“However, even in the midst of that we are managing to pay salaries. Even in this terrible month, we’ve directed that by Monday salaries of workers should be paid.”In his charge to the new appointees, the governor told them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the present administration’s efforts to consolidate on its achievements.According to him, the new aides are coming into government at a crucial moment of election and, therefore, urged them to join forces with other critical stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) to mobilize support for the party in the forthcoming election.He tasked them to work closely with the state economic team to resuscitate the Bayelsa Palm Limited as the future of the state economy rests on agriculture, industrial development and tourism.The newly sworn in appointees are; Chief Lambert Ototo, Special Adviser on Agriculture and Mr. Olaitari Ikemike, Special Adviser on Industrial Development.

OVER 625, EX AND SERVING COUNCILORS ENDORSE DICKSON FOR SECOND TERM

Over 625 ex and serving councilors under the aegis of Grassroots Forum from the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State on Wednesday put aside their political differences to endorse the incumbent Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson for second term, describing his achievements in four years as unequal.The councilors made the endorsement sequel to a motion moved by a representative of Brass Ward 8, Mr. Precious Daniel and seconded by Mr. Edward Oyaotu at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Yenagoa. Speaking, Chairman of the Councillors Forum, Mr. Tonkumo Igoniwari, said former and serving legislators from 1999 to date unanimously adopted Governor Dickson based on his achievements in the last couple of years, addressing the challenge of infrastructural deficit and issues of security and education in the state.Citing government’s efforts on the construction of the three senatorial district roads, Mr. Igoniwari expressed optimism that in the nearest future, he would be able to drive to Ekeremor.He described Governor Dickson as a true democrat by allowing them to serve out their tenure when he became governor of the state, pointing out that the gesture was a clear departure from the past.Responding, Governor Seriake Dickson expressed appreciation for the vote of confidence passed on him, noting that their support would spur him to do more exploits in the development of the state. The Governor who noted that even key opposition members were endorsing him, disclosing that more endorsements will still come as the election approaches.Describing the councilors as critical builders of democracy, he charged them to mobilize the people at the grassroots and ensure that they deliver their wards, units and local government areas in the coming election.The Governor, who emphasized that the opposition party does not have any structure in the state, said all the 105 councillors are of the PDP, 21 out of the 23 assembly seats belong to the PDP in addition to the PDP 8 local government chairmen. 

BAYELSA POLL: IJAW LEADERS SLAM TAMBUWAL, SAY APC PLANS TO RIG ELECTION

The Ijaw Leaders Forum (ILF), a body of leaders of thought, has expressed concern over the comments made by Sokoto State governor, Waziri Aminu Tambuwal, during the inauguration of the campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva.The ILF said the comment was a kite being flown by APC to rig theDecember 5 Bayelsa state governorship election.Tambuwal had said at the occasion that the APC will “deliver the state” but which the leaders said suggested a plot to rig APC into power by hook or crook. The leaders had predicated their understanding of Tambuwal’s comments on the notion that Sylva was not a popular candidate and as such could not win in a free and fair election except through rigging. In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the body, Prof. Friday Brisbie-Williams, on Wednesday and made available to the Press, it took a swipe at Tambuwal, warning that any attempt to rig the December 5 governorship election will be resisted by the people.The statement which noted that only Tambuwal among the five other members of the campaign council constituted by the APC national leadership attended the event, said plans by the opposition party in the state to manipulate the election will fail.It also said the absence of the other members was an indication that Sylva has been deserted because he carries much baggage that could dent their image and should better be avoided.The ILF commended Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, for turning down the offer to chair the campaign council just as the other absentee members were praised for “their sense of decency”.The statement recalled the role Tambuwal was

BAYELSA POLL: STOP TAKING US FOR A RIDE, GROUP TELLS SYLVA

The governorship ambition of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva suffered another setback on Wednesday as a socio-cultural group, Ijaw Elders for Good Governance accused him of taking the people of the state for granted by ignoring their calls to showcase his achievements while in office and what he intends to do.

The group noted with dismay that with less than forty days to the conduct of the governorship election, neither Sylva nor the leadership of his party is yet to intimate the people with the campaign plan.Making this known in a statement signed by its chairman, Elder Goodness Abbey, said Sylva has vindicated the position of opposition party that he has nothing to offer the state.The group posited that; if Sylva thinks President Mohammadu Buhari will support its violent approach to issues in order to win the election, he is making a mistake. Mr. President will not support anything that will tarnish his reputation.

Describing the APC approach as not only crude but undemocratic, the group said it is unheard of that a party is contesting an election without embarking on any campaign.

Calling on the security operatives to beam its searchlight on the APC, the group said the position of APC on the forthcoming election has lent credence to the submission of the Peoples Democratic Party that it is planning to seize power through violence.

The statement reads in part; the position of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) is clear on the issue of campaign. It is an opportunity for the party to unfold its developmental plans.However, this is not the case with the APC, rather than embarking on campaign, its members are disrupting the existing peace in the state.

Even though we are non partisan, we commended the efforts of the Peoples Democratic Party, especially its community based campaign approach. This has afforded the people the opportunity to assess its performance.

The APC should borrow a leaf from the PDP rather than banking on federal might and the use of violence.

APC THUGS ATTACK DICKSON'S CONVOY,AS GOV'S CAMPAIGN GROUP FAULT APC CAMPAIGN STRATEGY....DESCRIBES IT AS DECEITFUL

Suspected thugs in the All Progressives Congress, (APC) uniform on Tuesday attacked the campaign train of Governor Seriake Dickson at the popular Swali market in Yenagoa local government area of the State.The incident would have degenerated into a bloody brawl but for the prompt intervention of security aides attached to the Governor’s convoy.Describing the attack as barbaric and undemocratic, the Director of Publicity, Restoration Campaign Organization, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite  in a statement made available to the newsmen said the attack lends credence to what the people of Bayelsa have always known that the APC is a violent party.The statement reads, ‘clearly the APC in Bayelsa state is not prepared for any election. They are prepared for war but as a disciplined party, as a peaceful party and with a Governor like Dickson who came to restore peace in Bayelsa state.‘We advise all our supporters not to allow themselves to be provoked by the APC and its brand of violence politics.We must preach peace at all times and maintain law and order because we are people of peace’ he said.In another development, the Restoration Campaign Organization, has described as deceitful the campaign strategy adopted by the APC, advising the party to look for other sane and more dignifying means of campaign.The RCO advised Bayelsans and other residents of the state to be wary of the antics of the APC members "who are desperate to grab power through the back door by advancing various dubious means."A statement issued in Yenagoa by its Director of Media and Publicity, Hon. Jonathan was reacting to the flash sanitation exercise carried out by the APC which, it said, "has now confirmed to everyone the earlier assertion that it is indeed the so-called change party that is responsible for the heap of refuse around the state, particularly in Yenagoa the state capital. Obuabite described as embarrassing such cruel campaign strategy of the APC, adding that "they decided to carry out the show of shame on a day that is usually set aside by the state sanitation authority for evacuation."He advised the APC and its embattled candidate, Timipre Sylva to look for other sane and more dignifying means of campaign as this latest style would not secure for him the votes required to be elected.Obuebite added that Governor Dickson is fully committed to governance and ensuring a cleaner and healthy environment for all.