Bayelsa 2016: Dickson no longer electable—Group

NEDU MARK, Yenagoa

Ahead of 2016 governorship election in Bayelsa state, a socio-political group, the Bayelsa Democracy and Development Initiative, has declared that Governor Seriake Dickson is no longer electable.

This is just as sources at the state Government House have insisted that responding to the position of the groups would amount to ‘dignifying’ them.

The group, coordinated by former Chief Press Secretary under tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan as governor, Dr. Konrad Welson, stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might lose the governorship poll if it went ahead to present Dickson as candidate.

The political group said that its position was informed by the research and survey it had conducted recently in the state.

According to the group, it interacted with people from the urban and rural areas of the state involving men, women, students, workers, professional bodies and youths to arrive at its position.

“We conducted a field research and survey with the findings showing that a good percentage of people of the state are not favourably disposed to the re-election bid of the state governor.

“The state of affairs is as a result of what the people perceive as a failure to live up to their expectations when electing him (Dickson) in 2011, coupled with his hostile and divisive leadership style and that being the flag bearer of the PDP may lead to the loss of the party in the state.”

The group also noted that its interaction with the political class and civil society organisations in the last three months revealed alleged deep seethed disdain and disappointment in the quality of leadership offered by Dickson.

It cited the acrimony in the PDP and the inability of the state government to offer basic amenities such as roads, hospitals and potable water in the state after three and a half years in the saddle.

“In the same vein, the BDDI admonishes the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), not to take Bayelsans for granted by solely relying on the perceived and assumed influence of the Federal Government for their fortune at the forthcoming election.

“The APC must work hard to present a candidate that is competent, credible and capable of governing the people.”

The Konrad-led group, however, advised the political class in the state and the entire civil society to work collaboratively and cooperatively in electing the best person as a way of achieving social justice and good governance in Bayelsa.

Attempt to get reaction from the Chief Press Secretary to Dickson, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, failed as his mobile phone did not connect.

Reacting, Government House source, who craved anonymity, said they did not want to take issues with the group.

“Responding to the claim will amount to dignifying Konrad Welson. It is the government’s position that we do not react to such a statement,” the source stated.