16th January, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Pressured by various group who are jostling to promote the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan the Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson has banned the activities of the leadership of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN and other groups in the state.
In a statement endorsed by Daniel Iwariso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, he claimed that the groups were only brewing crisis in Bayelsa.
“Those claiming to be campaigning for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, but are instead engaged in promoting subversive activities and inciting crisis and division within the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, to move their activities elsewhere.”
Dickson gave the advice at a meeting with the PDP flag bearers for next month’s general elections, at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa. In attendance were prominent personalities such as former governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Describing the PDP in the state as the only recognized political platform and structure saddled with the responsibility of leading the president’s campaign in the state, Dickson noted with serious dismay, the activities of TAN, which do not seem to serve the purpose for which it was created in the state.
The governor, who enjoined all groups and individuals to queue behind him, as the leader of the party in the state, pointing out that, TAN and some members of its top hierarchy have become tools of subversion, creating needless rancour, acrimony and division. He said the state government will no longer tolerate their actions.
“The activities of TAN and the other groups, if not checked, could be counter-productive, especially with the presidential and other elections, only a few weeks away, adding that, he has the mandate of Bayelsans to protect the stability, peace and security of the state.”
The governor, who announced the planned visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state, remarked that, he would use the opportunity of the visit on the 5th of February, to express appreciation to Nigerians for their unwavering support and solidarity to the transformation agenda.
He also noted that, the state is ready and the people were fully mobilized to accord the president a rousing reception for the mega rally that would be organized in honour of President Jonathan as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party at the national level.
The governor emphasized that, Bayelsa is a stronghold of the PDP and a strong support base for Jonathan, whom he noted, does not need to campaign in his home state.
Predicting victory for the party at all levels in next month’s general elections, Dickson dubbed the campaign for next month’s elections as ‘Operation Deliver PDP All The Way,’ and urged party leaders to work assiduously to win the elections.
“The agenda of this government is operation deliver PDP all the way as all the candidates of the party are my candidates, and I urge everyone to work round the clock to win the February 2015 elections.
While urging the party’s aspirants to remain loyal to the PDP and contribute their quota to the success of the party, he equally enjoined those, who lost in the primaries to be steadfast as they are still stakeholders of the PDP.
He also advised Bayelsans not to allow themselves to be misled by mischief makers and those who do not mean well for them and called on all contestants to conduct issue-based campaigns.
The governor, who attributed the peaceful conduct of the All Progressive Congress rally in the state some few days ago to his leadership style of political tolerance and maturity, described his administration as a pacesetter in issues of leadership.
“We are setting the pace for everything, including leadership, political tolerance and maturity. You saw what we did when we directed the security agencies to protect them at the Sports Complex. We do not want anybody to say it was when they came to the president’s home base that something bad happened to anybody.”
In his remarks, the state’s PDP Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba said flags would be presented to all candidates of the party during the flag off of the party’s campaign on Saturday, this week in Yenagoa.