From, Christopher Uche, Yenagoa
A group under the aegis of Network for Bayelsa People’s Agenda (NBPA) has commended the action of Bayelsans last Friday during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential rally in Yenagoa, the state capital for their boldness in saying No, to the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson.
The group said the booing of the Governor at the Sampson Siasia Sports complex by the people of the state is an evidence that the people have lost confidence in the leadership style of the Governor.
In a statement issued and made available to news men yesterday in Yenagoa, the Chairman of the group, Comrade Ibipa Oweiza wondered why a Governor should be handling state matters as if it were a private affair, saying the action of the youths has only shown that the people of the state doesn’t like the Governor’s style of leadership.
It will be recalled that when Governor Seriake Dickson came out to the podium on that PDP Presidential rally day to address the people of Bayelsa, every statement he made was received with total rejection by the crowd who were mostly youths.
Part of what the youths said were their grievances was the fact that the Governor had consistently empowered only his kins men and in-laws, but continued to tell other Bayelsans that there was no money in the state due to drop in federal allocation.
The youths were particularly aggrieved due to what they described as ‘tight situation’ in the state which they said has made many of them to go back into crimes and other vices, insisting they would never support the second term ambition of the Governor.
The group also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the demands of these youths who could not even calm down when he (the President) was addressing the crowd as the youths continued to shout No, No No, to the administration of Governor Dickson.
The group noted that though, President Goodluck Jonathan used the opportunity to clear the air on the alleged frosty relationship between him and the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the youths were not happy with the Governor due to his (The Governor’s) high handedness and lack of human feeling.
The statement quoted the President as saying, “I have a good relationship with the Governor, and I am working closely with him. And I want you to know that those who don’t like the Governor,don’t like me.If you don’t like Dickson,you don’t like me. I know that a few persons have infuriated your midst and are spreading lies. You must work with the Bayelsa Governor.For you to benefit anything from the federal,you must work with him.Dont allow anybody to deceive you.I am telling you as a brother, father and uncle”.
But the group pointed out that despite all what Mr. President said, the youths continued to rent the air with, “No, No, No, we don’t want him, let him go”, saying that the people who are feeling the pains of Dickson’s leadership are the people who are in a better position to say so, asking President Jonathan to listen to the voice of the people.
