Bayelsa poll; Ijaw communities defy rain to receive Dickson, pledge loyalty
Felix Okoye
The people of Southern Ijaw communities have unanimously endorsed the re-election bid of the Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson, describing his visit as historic.
The governor during his three days community to community based campaign visited Koluama one and two, Foropa, Ukubie, Ogboinbiri, Olugbobiri and Korokorosei, Igbomotoru, Peremabiri and Azuzuama
In all the communities visited, the people came out in their numbers to give the campaign train a rousing reception with drumming, singing and dancing to solidarity songs.
Commending the governor for his developmental strides, especially the on-going Yenagoa-Oporoma road, the affected communities said when completed the road would attract local and foreign investors to the area.
The governor, according to them, has been able to impact on all the communities in Southern Ijaw local government area. Not only this, his achievement in the area of security is unequalled.
“The Restoration government has been able to curtail the activities of sea pirates on our waterways, while the issue of illegal oil bunkering in the area is gradually becoming a thing of the past”.
The communities which make up ward 16 assured the governor of their determination to give their votes’ en block to the PDP, adding, we had held tenaciously to the PDP in rain and shine in times past and no amount of flattery, deceit or bait can sway our concrete resolve. “History we vindicate you and the Tubo people that we are for the PDP and nothing else”.
They, however, appealed to the governor to construct the Toru-Ebeni –Ukubie-Lobia road, reconstruct the abandoned Ukubie General Hospital and canalize the Azuzuama river linking Ikebiri one community.
At Koluama, a onetime Commissioner for Housing Development under the Dickson led administration eulogized the governor for giving the communities a sense of belonging.
Responding, Governor Seriake Dickson expressed delight over their show of support and promised to look into their request. This is just as he assured the people of Peremabiri that his administration would work with the people to rebuild the community and resuscitate the rice farms.
Also, he called on the youths to shun drug abuse and other vices and urged the people to conduct themselves peacefully in the governorship election.
Presenting a joint address by the Lobia-Ukubie and Azuzuama communities, Mr. Dickson Okiti lauded the governor’s developmental strides in the provision of social amenities and appointment of sons and daughters of the area.
Governor Dickson also visited Ekowe community.