Bayelsa Guber: Ogbia Politicians Dare Dickson, PDP, As Scores Defect To APC

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Ahead of the November 16th, 2019 Bayelsa state governorship polls politician of Ogbia extraction of the Ogbia local government area of the state in their numbers have berated the governor Seriake Dickson’s administration just as they defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In an event tagged, “unity rally” held recently in Ogbia town, headquarter of Ogbia local government council, the defectors from major political parties in the state including the Peoples Democratic Party, AP and others respectively, the politicians decided what they alleged was Dickson’s dislike and rejection of the Ogbia people.

Speaking to newsmen former commissioner for Energy, now Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Maxwell Oko said as a party, the All Progressive Congress has opened its windows wide to receive those who are no longer comfortable with the Dickson’s PDP draconian method of governance, reassuring that the APC is a party that knows the challenges of Bayelsans and would bring development to bear in the state.

While commending the Ogbia people for their interest in the APC, chairman of the party for the local government, honourable Morris Abi pledged to protect and honour the inputs of the defectors to the party.

Abi applauded the defectors and spectators for coming in their numbers, reiterating his willingness to building a united and accommodating party for all to thrive, just as he said not sooner than later, the APC would again showcase to the world its winning prowess as the guber election fast approaches.

The chairman enjoined the Ogbia people to vote massively for the party’s governorship candidate, chief David Lyon.

The party chieftain who took a swipe on governor Dickson for giving Ogbia people back seat in his administration maintained that his rein the Ogbia people have faced severe marginalization and political ostracism.

Addressing party faithful, former chief of staff, Bayelsa state Government House, chief Samuel Ogbuku noted that it was not surprising that the Ogbia politicians have decided to embrace the APC, saying that the developmental strides of the party’s governors in states controlled by the party, the honesty and philanthropy of the party’s gubernatorial standard bearer alongside the capacity of the party’s leadership in the state has endeared the party to many, emphasizing that the mammoth crowd defecting to the party in Ogbia and other parts of the state is an indication that Bayelsans are yearning for a change which will take them to the next level.

Ogbuku called on the people to rally round the leadership of the party in the state in particular and Nigeria in general, emphasizing that through this the party will be stronger in the local government. The APC chieftain described the Ogbia people as the goose that lays the golden fleece for the nation .

Recounting reasons for their defection , the duo of the former special representative of Governor Dickson in Ogbia local government area, chief Alalibo Umokolo and one time member of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly , Honourable Augustus Osomu said the reasons for their defection was due to the injustice the Dickson’s government has meted out to the Ogbia people.

The duo said the Dickson’s government has oppressed and has continually been gradually and systematically downgrading the Ogbia people politically, hence they have pinch tents with the All Progressives Congress to right the anomalies.