Jonathan, Wike Absent As Dickson Locks Down Yenagoa For Diri

Former President Goodluck Jonathan was conspicuously absent on Wednesday at the grand finale of the People’s Democratic Party PDP governorship campaign in Bayelsa State.

The absence of Dr. Jonathan, who failed to send either a written message or a representative, at the rally attended by some PDP governors, further lent credence to the breakdown in relationship between him and the state governor, Seriake Dickson.

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, whose state shares border with Bayelsa, was also missing in action at the mega rally that was held at the Ox-Bow Lake Pavilion, Yenagoa, the state capital.

But the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus led other national executive members of the party to the occasion, which was attended by mammoth crowd of party faithful.

The Governors of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal; Bauchi, Bala Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council; Imo, Emeka Ihedioha and Delta States, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, graced the occasion.

Also present were some National Assembly members, various youth and women groups.

Secondus, who presented the flag of the PDP to the party’s Governorship Candidate, Senator Douye Diri, described Bayelsa as a PDP state and warned security agencies against compromising the election.

He said the PDP was on ground in the state alleging that there was no federal presence or that of the APC in Bayelsa.

He said the APC took the control of the Federal Government from former President Goodluck Jonathan, a son of Bayelsa and appealed to voters to shun the APC.

Secondus, who derided the APC Candidate, Chief David Lyon, said there was a huge difference in qualification between him and the candidate of the PDP.

He said while Diri was tested, trusted and educated to govern Bayelsa, Lyon lacked the academic qualifications to represent Bayelsa as a governor.

He said: “There is a great difference between our candidate and their candidate. Lyon cannot represent himself. It is not enough to say I want to be a governor. It is not a village affair. We don’t want people who will go there and will not represent Bayelsa.

“If they wished Bayelsa good, will they bring that kind of candidate? Douye Diri has been tested and has performed. He will not hire professors. He is professor himself. With Douye and his running mate, what else are you looking for? Don’t be deceived.

“The leader of APC wants a man he can control. Are there no professors in APC. The APC and its leaders must apologize for bringing such a candidate. We call on security agencies not to allow themselves to be used by the APC to rig this election. We know that the APC is not on ground but they are planning to come with evil”.

Speaking after receiving the flag, Diri promised to consolidate on the achievements of Dickson in education, infrastructure and health.

He said his administration would surpass Dickson’s achievements and create prosperity for everybody in the state.

In his reaction, Tambuwal said the crowd at the event was a clear testimony that Bayelsa belonged to the PDP and urged the people to come out enmasse and vote for the PDP.

He said; “We are aware of their plans to rig the election as they are not on ground. Please come out en masse, vote and protect your votes so that Diri would be elected governor and take over from Dickson, on his part said the event was an opportunity for the people to thank the PDP for being their party.

“Nobody should believe the propaganda, the sponsored decamping and continued vilification of the leadership that has done so much for our people. Nobody should believe because 15 political appointees out of over 3000 appointees that PDP would shake.

“Let me tell the whole country and the whole world that the APC has as at today is not in any position to win any unit in a free and fair election. The statistics is there for those who are ready to distort history and spread propaganda to justify rigging. We have started operation deliver your unit, your community and constituency.

“A message to the men in uniformed services who would be told to come here to rig election, kill and maim.”

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