Bayelsa Gov poll: Ben Bruce seeks support for Dickson’s re-election
Chairman of the Silverbird Group and senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Ben Murray Bruce, has called on his supporters and all Bayesians to make sure they support Governor Seriake Dickson’s ‘re-election on December 5.
Bruce in a statement on Wednesday hinged his appeal on the record of performance of the incumbent governor in the various areas of development, saying when compared with the past, “Dickson has done so well to justify his ‘re-election.”
According to him, the huge leap in education in Bayelsa state was due to the governor’s ambitious policy and programmes which have led to improvement both in school enrolment and academic performance.
Using figures from the African Health, Human and Social Development (Afrii-Dev), a policy think tank which provides factual data on human development indices in Nigeria and that of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) as a reference point, Bruce said education in particular has since achieved greater improvement from being one of those listed as educationally backward states in the past.
“Bayelsa State used to be one of those states listed as educationally backward states. Today, Bayelsa has gone from the bottom of the ladder to having the lowest rate of illiteracy among male Nigerians. In 2013, Bayelsa State had the 6th highest pass rates among Nigeria’s 36 states with 51 per cent pass rate.
He also made reference to the level of infrastructure and the economic benefits of the various roads and bridges especially the Elebele-Opolo and Opolo-Imiringi roads, the Nembe-Ogbia road as well as the two flyovers on Isaac Boro Expressway and the soon to be completed first airport in the state, among others across the state.
“I salute him (Governor Dickson) for releasing funds for the completion of the Nembe-Ogbia road. Children now will no longer have to swim to school. Cars can now come to the community”, Bruce declared.
He praised the governor’s leadership on tough decisions bothering on development, his integrity and vision to make a difference even at a cost.
“Where others see power as an opportunity, Dickson has seen it as a responsibility which is why the major grouse some people have against him is that government money is not circulating as it used to be.
“Seriake Dickson is on the right track. I keep repeating that it’s not the government’s job to circulate government money amongst the elite. It is the job of a state government to grow the people and the people will grow the economy which will allow money to circulate amongst evetybody and not just the elite”, he stated.