Former President Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson for a second term citing his excellent track record of regular payment of workers salaries, reduction of the state’s huge debt profile and infrastructural development.
The former President who spoke while receiving
Governor Dickson at his country home, Otuoke in
Ogbia local government area of the state said his
decision was based on the developmental strides
of the governor in the last three and half years in
the state.
He said, “if Bayelsa is compared to other states in
the country in terms of the level of physical
infrastructure coupled with the degree of
indebtedness in terms of bank loans and capital
market, Dickson deserved to be praised.”
“I am not expecting the governor to score 100 per
cent. There are three key parametres I will like to
score Governor Dickson which are payment of
salaries, physical infrastructure and low
indebtedness of the state in terms of bank loans
and in the capital markets.
“If you compare what has happened in other parts
of the country, you will praise the governor. People
should think more of about the way the state is
being run and prepared for our future generation.
“Bayelsa is not a cursed state. On the notion that
governors in Bayelsa cannot do 8 years; it slows
down the rate of development and except there is
continuation in government, development will be
truncated. Performance is not about satisfying
individual needs and so we need to encourage
Governor Dickson to go for second term.”
He described Dickson as his political first son,
adding that if Governor Dickson was given the
opportunity of a second term, he would strive to
consolidate on the achievements already recorded.
Earlier in his remarks, Dickson had solicited the
support and encouragement from Dr. Jonathan to
run for a second term, stressing that he and his
entourage needed to seek his support, as he is the
leader of PDP both at the state and national levels.
Dickson who has been canvassing support from
stakeholders of the party as well as royal fathers of
the state preceding his formal declaration to run
for the governorship election had earlier paid
homage to the Chairman of the state Traditional
Rulers Council, King Alfred Diete Spiff.
The governor, who equated Dr. Jonathan’s support
to him to the “Rock of Gibraltar” said his
encouragement dated back to 2005 when he
served in the former president’s cabinet as
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
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