Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, rounded off his tour of
communities across the state in Nembe on Thursday sending the entire Nembe
town into a total lock-down as a large crowd of people made their presence
felt during the campaign.
Traditional rulers, retinue of chiefs and people of Nembe communities
including Ogbolmabiri, Bassambiri, Oluasiri, Okoroba and several others
were seen in jubilant mood surging in droves to be part of a mega rally
held in the ancient town.
“This is an unprecedented crowd never witnessed in the history of politics
in Bayelsa State and an indication of a possible landslide at the
election”, remarked the acting State PDP chairman, Chief Serena
Dokuboh-Spiff, in his estimation of the crowd of party supporters and
admirers at the rally.
Leading other prominent personalities from the area to receive the
governor and members of his Restoration Campaign Organization were
Senator Nimi Barigha Amange and Chief George Fente who said their support
for Dickson was based on performance not sentiment.
They assured the governor of their 100 per cent loyalty, adding that
nothing would make them to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives
Congress, (APC), Timipre Sylva, despite his claim of indigeneship.
According to them, it was pay-back time for Sylva, who they accused of
failing to address their concern to have a road linking their area to the
state capital, Yenagoa, when he was the governor for five years.
They commended Dickson over the multi-billion naira Ogbia-Nembe road, now
about 90 per cent ready, the newly commissioned Izon Ibe Micro Finance
Bank and other developmental projects executed by his administration in
the area and accordingly endorsed his re-election bid.
“Election into a position of trust is not about indigeneship but
performance. If Governor Dickson could achieve so much in less than four
years in office, endorsing his re-election bid is not out of place”, they
said.
The ongoing Nembe road project by the Dickson administration, they noted,
has reduced crime rate in the area and boosted commercial activities.
They also said that by the time the road is completed, it will create
employment for the teeming youths noting the proximity of the area to the
Brass Island where the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is located.
Other developmental projects in the area such as school infrastructure,
the Nembe City Stadium and unprecedented political appointments for their
sons and daughters, they said, recommended Dickson as a true lover of
Nembe.
Responding, Dickson who was visibly overwhelmed with joy expressed
gratitude to Nembe people for demonstrating a remarkable support for his
administration and assured them of more dividends of democracy if
re-elected.
At Oluasiri community, the governor promised to rebuild the market which
was reportedly sacked in the wake of the disturbances that trailed the
disputed ownership of the Soku oilfields.
The governor also used the opportunity to inaugurate the state owned Izon
Ibe Micro Finance Bank, describing it as facilities aimed at driving the
growth of Small and Medium Scale enterprises in the state.