Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on Friday in Yenagoa led
prominent citizens in the Country, including the foremost Ijaw leader,
Chief Edwin Clark and Alhaji Tanko Yakassai in calling for a united
and formidable Nigeria devoid of ethnicity, terrorism and religious
bigotry.
Reminding the people of the historic collaboration that existed
between the Northern and Southern axis of the country, Hon. Dickson at
the 2013 edition of Major Isaac Adaka Boro Anniversary stressed the
need for its re-establishment, adding that it would assist in
addressing issues of terrorism, ethnicity and religious bigotry.
The alliance, according to the Governor has brought about positive
developments such as creation of Rivers State and the election of a
minority in the person of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as President of the
country.
“I want to thank you through our leaders, Alhaji Yakassai of the
support and the solidarity that our people have enjoyed from our
brothers in the North. I will like to on behalf of our people urge the
leadership of the North to remember the historic alliance between them
and the people of the Niger Delta.”
Describing the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as the only
formidable party in the Country with due consideration for both the
majority and minority groups in the Country, the Governor thanked
Nigerians and the Party for giving the Niger Delta region the
opportunity to produce the leadership of the country.
“I like to thank my party, Africa’s biggest party, the PDP which first
gave presidential nomination to our brother, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
This is important because from my little knowledge and perhaps by the
time I interact more and benefit from the experience ad knowledge of
people like Alhaji Yakassai and our Ijaw National Congress Board of
Trustees Chairman, Chief Edwin Clark, we will know whether before PDP,
any National political party thought it proper or expedient to
nominate a so called minority politician as its Presidential flag
bearer. To the best of my little knowledge, only the PDP did that.
Now, we hear that there are alliances and coalition coming up and they
go by several names. We wish them the best but there is a challenge
that you must beat. The PDP has already led the way. Nigerians and all
lovers of Nigeria are waiting for other political formations that
truly aspire to national power that believe in the genuine integration
and unity of our Country and have the capacity to march the example of
the PDP by giving their presidential ticket to somebody the “bloc”
I agree completely that our nation has moved by far more integrated
today but we have a challenge of forging the various national and
ethnic or tribal identities and collapsing all of these into one
coherent single Nigerian identity.
My message to all of us and friends is to see how we can work hard and
build bridges of understanding and solidarity.
In his address, the Ijaw foremost leader, Chief Edwin Clark drummed
support for the re-election of President Jonathan in 2015, adding that
he has the right to seek re-election.
His re-election, according to Chief Clark will afford him the
opportunity to complete the good works he has already started in the
Country.
Stressing the need for a united Nigeria, Chief Clark stated, I desire
one Nigeria where no one will be superior to the other as we have in
the case of the United States of America where President Barak Obama
was elected for the second term.
Commending Governor Dickson for recognizing the selfless efforts of
the past heroes, Chief Clark noted that this would be the first time
Boro Day would be celebrated by the Ijaws in Yenagoa.
In his lecture titled, Oil and Peace; Compatibility for sustainable
growth in Nigeria, two time Presidential aspirant of the United States
of America, Revd Jesse Jackson identified violence, greed and jealousy
as the bane of socio-economic and political development of any nation.
He noted that God has bestowed Nigeria with both natural and human
resources, adding, Nigerians are a brilliant people. They are at the
heart of the economy in the Diaspora. Many of the World’s greatest
scholars, scientists, teachers and engineers are from Nigeria.
Nigeria won its Independence-but it’s not enough to be free, the
people will not rest until there is economic justice and equality. It
is a sin in this Garden of Eden for such inequality and poverty to
exist alongside such riches and oil resources.
It is not the lack of resources but greed, jealously and violence that
hinders our development. We cannot allow the oil companies to
denigrate our Garden of Eden, to pollute our air and water and land
and violate the preciousness of the Niger Delta with environmental
warfare.
Also speaking, the former Special Adviser on National Assembly
matters, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai said the activities of the dreaded
Islamic sect-Boko Haram predated the present political administration.
He stated that the sect became active in 2001 when it attacked five
states in the North, arguing that it was not aimed at undermining the
government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as being assumed in some quarters.
