Qualities Bayelsans should look out for in choosing my successor, by Dickson

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has reiterated the need for Bayelsans not to make the mistake of enthroning a leader who would undermine their interests and mortgage the collective future of not only the state but also the entire Ijaw nation.

Dickson stated this while inaugurating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Grassroots Youth Movement drawn from four local councils of the state preparatory to the November 16 governorship election in Yenagoa.

A statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor as stressing that the state and Ijaw nation needed a governor who would protect the interest of the people on issues such as marginalisation and despoliation of the environment by international oil companies operating in the region.

He said the office of a governor is crucial, noting that decisions of the office affect lives. His words: “This state and Ijaw nation need a governor who will be our leader and our spokesman. We need a leader who will speak on our environment, on what the oil companies are doing to our people and not colluding with them and being a mercenary for them.

“What we know is that in Senator Douye Diri, we have a man who has been prepared and groomed for this high and important office. “This office is a very important one where very serious decisions that a governor takes have consequences for all of us, not just for the present but the future. So, in this office, in this our only homogenous state, we have no room for a rookie governor that people will programme like a computer and remote-control.”

Dickson, therefore, urged the youth movement to effectively mobilise Bayelsans across the wards and local councils to support and vote for Diri, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the forthcoming election.He added that by the time campaigns kick off, Bayelsans would be convinced that the PDP has a presentable candidate to take over the leadership of the state come November 16.

Speaking on behalf of the PDP Grassroots Youth Movement, Mr. Ekisa Esinkumo said they would work hard to ensure that Diri emerges victorious on Election Day.The youths were drawn from Sagbama, Ekeremor, Nembe and Kolokuma/Opokuma local councils.