Bayelsa polls: Ijaws in FCT, youth groups endorse Dickson for another tenure

By: Felix Okoye
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Ijaw ethnic nationality in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria have joined thousands of Bayelsans at home and in the diaspora to endorse Governor Seriake Dickson for a second term in office.They are, Abuja chapter of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and University of Abuja chapter of Ijaw Students Union.

The group in their separate comments during a courtesy visit to Dickson in Abuja, they expressed satisfaction with Governor Dickson in the areas of job creation, massive infrastructural development, which has turned the State into a huge constuction yard, among others.

They jointly called on every Bayelsan, who mean well for the State to rally round the Governor in his well deserved bid for a second tenure in office.

According to the publicity secretary of the IYC, Abuja chapter, Alex Odogu and the Chairman of ISU, UNIABUJA, Ajube Ejitimi, they took the decision to endorse governor Dickson for second term, because they were impressed with his performance in office, pointing out that, there is no alternative to Dickson.Odogu said, “We are here to pay soli­darity visit to our governor and endorse his second term bid in the state. We have seen his performance in the areas of job creation and infra­structural development and would want to encourage him to continue.

“As far as we are con­cerned, we believe that there is no alternative to Seriake- Dickson because we want de­velopment to continue in our state.”

“Our governor has delivered in the last four years and we would want him to continue the developmental strides in the state. We can see a lot of road constructions, in­cluding fly-overs in the state and we won’t want these gains to be reversed, Ejitimi stated.

“We want continuity, we want prosperity, and we want progress.”Bayelsa State governor, Henry Seriake-Dickson has admonished the Ijaw people across the country to cooperate with the federal govern­ment in the task of na­tion building.

Responding to the solidarity messages, Governor Dickson said he has start­ed consultations with major stakeholders in the state and would soon address the Ijaw nation whenever he made up his mind on his next step.

“I want to thank you for fol­lowing closely developments back home. When I came on board, I called Bayelsa the Jerusalem of Ijaw nation. I assure you that in our hands, your Jerusalem, your future, will continue to be safe”, he said.

The Governor, who thanked the group for the visit, commended their peaceful disposition with other residents of the FCT and urged them to maintain the tempo, as peace remains the surest way to attaining any meaningful development.

“I want to appeal to you to continue to be peaceful. Wher­ever you find yourselves, we’re known as a peaceful and law abiding people, so I want you to continue to be peaceful because you are our ambassadors outside Bayelsa State.

“I can tell you that Bayelsa is on course, roads and roads and bridges are going on. Schools and schools are being constructed everyday because the future lies in educating the young people,” he added.

Governor Dickson declared that he would not renege in his constitutionally assigned duty to work for security, unity and progress of the country.He also restated his com­mitment to work in harmony with the government at the center and continue to work for the peace and prosperity of the nation, while equally the Ijaw nation to join him to ensure the success of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“what was important to us was to move the nation for­ward, no matter what political party produces the leadership at the federal level.”

Dickson further told his visitors: “I enjoin you to work with constituted authority because our country must be safe.

“We are determined to support the federal system because we must be sure that our country is safe. Political parties aside, we must all work for the security of Nigeria; work for security in Bayelsa and work for security in the Niger- Delta.”