Former President
Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson for
a second term citing his excellent track record of regular payment of workers
salaries, reduction of the state’s huge debt profile and infrastructural
development.
The former
President who spoke while receiving Governor Dickson at his country home,
Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, said his decision was based
on the developmental strides of the governor in the last three and half years
in the state.
He said: “iIf
Bayelsa is compared to other states in the country in terms of the level of
physical infrastructure coupled with the degree of indebtedness in terms of
bank loans and capital market, Dickson deserved to be praised.”
“I am not
expecting the governor to score 100 per cent. There are three key parameters I
will like to score Governor Dickson which are payment of salaries, physical
infrastructure and low indebtedness of the state in terms of bank loans and in
the capital markets.
“If you compare
what has happened in other parts of the country, you will praise the governor.
People should think more of about the way the state is being run and prepared
for our future generation.
“Bayelsa is not a
cursed state. On the notion that governors in Bayelsa cannot do eight years; it
slows down the rate of development and except there is continuation in
government, development will be truncated. Performance is not about satisfying
individual needs and so we need to encourage Governor Dickson to go for second
term.”
He described
Dickson as his political first son, adding that if Governor Dickson was given
the opportunity of a second term, he would strive to consolidate on the
achievements already recorded.
Earlier in his
remarks, Dickson had solicited the support and encouragement from Jonathan to
run for a second term, stressing that he and his entourage needed to seek his
support, as he is the leader of PDP both at the state and national levels.
Dickson who has
been canvassing support from stakeholders of the party as well as royal fathers
of the state preceding his formal declaration to run for the governorship
election had earlier paid homage to the Chairman of the state Traditional
Rulers Council, King Alfred Diete Spiff.
The governor, who
equated Dr. Jonathan’s support to him to the “Rock of Gibraltar” said his
encouragement dated back to 2005 when he served in the former president’s
cabinet as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
-Thisday