GOV DICKSON RECEIVES OVER 2,000 APC DEFECTORS, SAYS APC IS GRADUALLY WINDING UP IN BAYELSA

 

 The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on Monday alongside chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party received over 2,000 decampees from the All Progressives Congress, describing the development as a signal to the end of the party in the state.Governor Dickson said the action of more defectors from the APC to thePDP was an indication of the fact that, the machinations of the APC have been exposed, which it displayed in the Governorship election in the state.The returnees, according to the governor, were deceived by the leadership of the APC, noting that, now that they have known the truth, they have retraced their steps to the PDP, as over 5,000 have concluded plans to defect.Assuring the returnees of the readiness of the leadership of the PDP to give them a sense of belonging, Hon. Dickson said the umbrella is big enough to accommodate them.

The governor described the PDP as the only formidable party in the country, that operates within the guidelines that promotes unity among all Nigerians, which he noted has endeared it to the hearts of lovers of democracy, within and outside the country.Commenting on the violence that marred the conduct of the re-scheduled governorship election in Southern Ijaw local government, the governor said, the APC should be held responsible, arguing that, instead of preparing people for the election, the APC was preparing the innocent youths forviolence.His words, “this ceremony of receiving APC defectors is most significant, because it signals the winding up of APC in Bayelsa State, which is known as 'operation winding up APC in Bayelsa'.I listened to your reasons for being deceived into the APC fold, so you all shall be carried along in the new government and as your fathers, we believe you have not done anything wrong.

 

Similarly, Governor Dickson said, as the governor of the state, he was prepared to receive everyone, and all political parties, including defectors from the APC and Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM unconditionally and urged all defectors to stand up and vote the PDP at the supplementary election in Southern Ijaw LGA, soon.He commended youths from Ekowe and Amassoma as well as women for their gallantry in resisting the soldiers, who collaborated with militants in carting away ballot boxes at gun point on the election day and even dared to wait and voted by midnight amidst threats, winning their Units

Narrating his ordeal, the Acting State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Serena Dokubo Spiff, said he narrowly escaped death on the election day, as APC thugs attacked him and the governor's Speech Writer at his country home in Brass.In the same vein, the leaders of the APC decampees, Mr. Timiebi Odutebe from Ward (10) Southern Ijaw expressed gratitude to Governor Dickson for receiving them into the PDP fold, pointing out that, Governor Dickson has expanded the infrastructural base in the state.

 

Another leader and defector from APC to PDP, Mr. Owei Baba from Ward (14) Southern Ijaw, said he was delighted to have returned to the PDP, as Governor Dickson has already won the election.In a related development, Mr. Kingdom Amakiri from Ward (13) Southern Ijaw, who confessed to have snatched ballot boxes and fought for the APC.

Mrs.  Oyindouyefa Wariebi of Oporoma town in Ward (13) Southern Ijaw, acknowledged that governor Dickson has done well for Southern Ijaw and the entire State, in terms of development and has built the Ayama road that has immensely reduced the cost of transportation in the area.She explained that, she and her team were deluded to join the APC, which is a party characterized by violence stating that, she almost lost her life during the election, through the activities of the APC.