PDP: Agbaje advocates free, fair, credible convention  … Commends Dickson for promoting internal democracy 

A statement by Mr. Fidelis Soriwei,the Special Adviser on Media Relations to the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, quoted Agbaje as having stated this when he paid a condolence visit to Honourable Seriake Dickson, in his Toru Orua country home on Monday.

The mother of the Governor, Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson, died of lung cancer at the University of Texas M.D Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, in the United States at the age of 72.

Agbaje said if the accreditation of delegates, voting and the entire process of the convention were transparent and credible, it would not give room for conflicts and rancour within the party.

On the issue of many presidential aspirants within the PDP, Dr. Agbaje, said the beauty of democracy was about making choices among those presenting themselves for elective positions.

He stressed that, members of the party are not losing sleep over the number of candidates as they are looking forward to a peaceful, free, fair and transparent convention.

His words: “Democracy is about choices. What normally creates a problem is when people feel the process isn’t fair. If for example, on the day of the convention, accreditation goes well, there is no contest about who the delegates are and then people go out to vote peacefully, then the exercise will be seen to be free and fair.

“The idea of having many aspirants is good for our democracy. I don’t think we should lose sleep if there are many aspirants.”

Agbaje described the death of Mrs Dickson as painful in view of the close relationship that existed between her and her children including the governor.

He urged Governor Dickson to be consoled by the fact that the late Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson lived an exemplary life.

Describing Governor Dickson as a friend and a good party leader, he expressed gratitude for his invaluable contributions towards promoting internal democracy within the PDP, particularly the supportive role he played during his governorship election in 2015.

In response, the Governor thanked Agbaje for taking out time to visit his country home to commiserate with his family on the death of his mother.

He said that the demise of his mother had created a huge vacuum in the family that would be difficult to fill.

Acknowledging the importance of mothers, Governor Dickson said the family was encouraged by the visits and prayers of sympathizers.

He noted that the date of his mother’s interment would be announced soon.