About 1000 youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Southern
\nIjaw in Bayelsa State at the weekend defected to the Peoples Democratic
\nParty (PDP).<\/p>\n
They were received into the party by the state Governor Seriake Dickson at
\nthe banquet hall of government house over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Dickson told the youths that the future of the state and the Ijaw nation
\nlied with them as he challenged them to come to stand firm and defend
\ntheir votes.<\/p>\n
He said that anyone who loved the Ijaw nation would not have anything to
\ndo with the APC and congratulated them for dumping it for the PDP.<\/p>\n
The governor who was elated by the decision of the youths later renamed
\nthe group as Patriotic Bayelsa Youth Forum as he praised the leader,
\nOkilo Mathew, as truly an Ijaw man.<\/p>\n
He urged them to get the group ready for the task ahead, adding that he
\nwill encourage them to enable them increase their membership and become
\nrelevant in the scheme of things.<\/p>\n
.
\nDickson assured the youths that there would be adequate security during
\nthe election as he enjoined them not to be intimidated by any threats
\nfrom the APC.<\/p>\n
“This election is about Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC). Sensitize your
\nmembers, friends and colleagues about the adequate security measures at
\nall the polling units before, during and after elections. The era of
\nballot stuffing and snatching is a thing of the past.\u00a0 Don’t be
\nintimidated by the APC threats\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
.
\nHe also told the youths that his administration is poised to continue
\nmaking a difference in the lives of people who are ready to work for a
\nbetter Bayelsa State.<\/p>\n
His words: “The era of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop is gone for good.
\nThat is why we will be meeting with you after our victory to say a proper
\nthank you\u201d<\/p>\n
He thereafter offered direct appointment to two of the group leaders,
\nOkilo Mathew and Momotimi Macaulay.<\/p>\n
Two young ladies in the group, Caroline Samson and Queen Soromo, who are
\ninto bead making and salon services respectively would also receive
\nfinancial support from the state- owned Izon-Ebe Microfinance Bank, to
\nenhance their businesses, the governor directed.<\/p>\n
Earlier in his remarks, Mathew, who doubles as the Chairman of the
\nCommunity Development Committee in the area said their decision to ditch
\nTimipre Sylva and the APC for Governor Dickson was informed by so many
\nfactors.<\/p>\n
The group spokesperson, Momotimi Macaulay said after a careful analysis
\nof the situation in the state, they decided to work with the PDP.<\/p>\n
He stated: \u201cOur decision to leave APC was informed by several factors.
\nChief among them is the prevailing peace in the state, which was revived
\nby the present government. We from Southern Ijaw are aware of the daily
\nkilling and maiming of our youths by the previous regime. But since
\nDickson regime we now know peace. Please keep it up, sir.<\/p>\n
“Secondly, when we talk of education, I recall when during my tour of
\nsome communities, before this regime came on board, at Torebeni, I met a
\ngroup of children sitting in a village square. And I thought they were in
\na market square but upon a close observation, I discovered that they were
\nactually school children studying under such inhuman condition.<\/p>\n
“Your excellency, the reason we are gathered here is because of your
\npurposeful leadership. When I visited that same community recently, I
\ndiscovered that the governor has built and equipped a new school. That is
\njust one of the numerous projects that this administration has built
\nacross the state. We are here to tell you that your votes are secured in
\nSouthern Ijaw. We will not sell our votes for any reason. We are here to
\nlet you know that we are true youths of Bayelsa State.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also commended the governor for his empowerment programmes enjoyed by
\nthe youths, noting that he benefited from the recent Restoration Cup,
\nwhich, he said, played a major role in the unity that communities have
\nembraced in the area.<\/p>\n
He added that the group was aware of the monthly stipends government pays
\nto parents, uncles and aunties and thanked the governor as he affirmed the
\ngroup\u2019s total support for PDP.<\/p>\n
“We are all registered voters, we are going to work with other group and
\nin Southern Ijaw your votes will count. Our question was that what has
\nSylva forgotten in the government house? A man who couldn\u2019t manage the
\nvast resources then, can\u2019t manage what is coming to the state now\u201d, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
About 1000 youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa State at the weekend defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They were received into the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n