Austin Pade, Yenagoa
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has received no fewer than 3,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Ekeremor town, headquarters of Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
The decampees from the hometown of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, were led by his cousin, Mr. Felix Lokpobiri, to the umbrella shelter party.
Felix Lokpobiri, who is the Ward Chairman in Ekeremor defected alongside other APC chieftains in the area including, Chief Godday Millionnaire, Mr. Lawrence Lokri, Hon. Jumbo Engiama and a former House of Assembly member, Hon Isaac Oniye.
This, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said in a statement made available to journalists, that the APC chieftains threw away their brooms and embraced the PDP when Governor Dickson alongside other PDP chieftains drove in a convoy of cars for the first time in 40 years to Ekeremor community.
The APC chieftains cited the outstanding performance of the PDP government under the leadership of Governor Dickson especially the construction of the Sagbama/Ekeremor road, which is now at an advanced stage of completion as among the reasons for their defection.
According to them, the APC has nothing to offer the area as it had only been making empty promises ever since they joined the party.
In his remarks, Mr Lokpobiri expressed happiness over the road project, noting that with the latest defection, there was no longer any opposition in the area.
He said, “First of all, I want to thank God for keeping me alive to see the road that you are constructing.
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“When you made the promise during your campaigns, we dismissed it as a mere ploy to woo votes from our people. But today, you have proved all the doubting Thomas wrong including myself.
“You have truly proved yourself as a ‘talk na do ‘ governor. We want to thank you and the PDP government under your watch for addressing this age-long need.
“For me, this project alone is enough for any right thinking APC member in Ekeremor to crossover to the PDP which has demonstrated real love and care.
“I can say that we were in bondage in the APC and we are glad that we are out of that sterile party.”
On their parts, Chief Millionaire, Mr. Lokiri and Hon. Oniye assured the PDP of the support of the people as Governor Dickson has endeared himself to them by embarking on well-meaning projects in the area.
“We all drove on the road that you are constructing to Ekeremor, our headquarters. We are here to say a very big thank you and announce to the world that there is no more opposition in Ekeremor. As far as we are concerned, APC has collapsed”
Receiving the defectors after he had inspected the road in a long convoy of cars for the first time in the history of the state.
Governor Dickson expressed gratitude to the decamped APC members for retracing their steps back to the PDP.
He assured them of full integration into the party, noting that it was normal for people to disagree in politics. He stressed the need for politicians in the state to have the normal political disagreement but to go about them with civility and without threatening the peace and stability of the state.
Driving through the road amidst cheers by jubilant crowds who could not hold back their joy for seeing vehicles for the first time in their communities, the Governor was commended for fulfilling his earlier promise of taking the road to Ekeremor before the last Christmas .
Addressing the mammoth crowd at the Ekeremor Civic Centre, Governor Dickson described the road project as strategic not only to the Ekeremor people but also for the socio-economic development of the state and the Ijaw nation.
The governor decried the Federal Government for the lack of interest in developing the state in spite of its huge contribution to the sustenance of the national economy as portrayed in the abandonment of the Ekeremor-Sagbama Senatorial conceived over 40 years ago.
The governor, who charged the people to shun acts inimical to the peace and development of the area, also noted that Ekeremor is fast becoming an urban centre with the new road.
Appreciating the people for giving him their mandate twice to represent them in the House of Representatives and as governor, he assured that the on-going electrification project to connect the community to the national grid would be completed before the end of this year.
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His words, “We took the road to Aleibiri last year. Today, we are here because we have constructed all the bridges on the road without disturbances.
“We want to thank you for maintaining the peace. This road is very strategic not only to Ekeremor, but to Bayelsa State and Ijaw nation as a whole.
“I will do everything within my reach to turn this place to an urban centre. Already, I have awarded the contract to connect Ekeremor to the national grid and work is already on-going.”
Governor Dickson had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the Paramount ruler of Ekeremor community, Chief Agbodo Gbaseimo where he explained that he could not visit the community as earlier promised due to his bereavement.
In his remarks, Chief Agbodo expressed appreciation to the Governor for keeping faith with his electoral promise and assured him of the people’s continued support.
On behalf of the Ekeremor Council of Chiefs, the elated monarch conferred with the chieftaincy title of, “Ebikonbowei which means one who brings good things.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Restoration Caucus, Ekeremor local government area, Chief Thompson Okorotie described Governor Dickson as a perfectionist with an uncommon passion to develop the state.
According to Chief Okorotie, the road and other critical projects would open up Ekeremor to commercial and social activities, noting that an annual event would be chosen by the people to mark the historic feat.
“Ekeremor people are now ready to start their businesses. When a road gets to Nembe, it was no longer riverine. It is upland. We are going to get a day to make it an annual event, in honour of this day.
The PDP caucus also presented party candidates for State and National Assembly elections, just as they inspected some projects in the area.
“We are very happy that you have fulfilled your words. What you are doing for us, we will also reciprocate the gesture.
This is something we have been looking for over 40 years. The town is happy with you. You provided a standard hospital and a model school. We are grateful.We know of you intention to take the road to Agge.”