By Samson Boroh
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, has said only God and the people of the state will choose his successor in the forthcoming governorship election by end 2019.
Dickson spoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital at the Annual Lecture Series organised by the members of the Federated Correspondent Chapel led by Acting Chairman, Osaro Okhomina with the theme: “The quest for a People’s Governor: A case for Bayelsa State.”
The governor at the event said although he has been engaging in special prayers and seeking divine intervention from God, the observed that only God and the popular votes of Bayelsans would determined takes over from him.
A communiqué issued at the end of the annual lecture said the position of the governor was made by a Director in the State Ministry of Information and Orientation, Comrade Uzaka U. S. A, who represented the State Commissioner, Hon. Daniel Iworiso-Markson.
He noted that some unnamed politicians who are desperate had been holding clandestine meeting on how to capture governorship seat through violence and disruption of state architecture.
Dickson said, “Only God almighty will determine my successor. I believe that indeed power comes from God. I will most likely seek divine intervention on who succeed me. The divine choice of the person will thereafter have the stamp of the people on whose votes the Governor will emerge. So, it is going to be a defining moment for the State in 2019.
“The last governorship election in 2016 is still fresh in the memories of Bayelsans. It was more than an election, it was a war. The 2019 Governorship election may not be any different. The stakes are high as some persons are desperate to capture the State regardless of how unpopular they are among the people.
‘”In their desperate bid to launch a deadly come back, they have begun to gradually disrupt security architecture in the state. This they have done by using their previledged positions against the people. “
“In 2019,they are expected to be more daring but as always Bayelsans know them and in line with true Ijaw spirit, the people are ready to repel every attempts to circumvent to their will.”
…Sen. Amange, Jonathan former aide insist on free, fair process
Also speaking at the event, Mr Barigha Amange, a former Senator, Bayelsa East Senatorial District, said that only free, fair and transparent electoral processes, within the party and during general elections would ensure the people’s governor which is acceptable to the majority in Bayelsa will emerge.
Senator Amange noted that the theme “The Quest for People’s Governor: A case for Bayelsa State” for the lecture was appropriate as the general elections draw closer.
The Former Senator said that achieving the people’s governor in the forthcoming election will ensure that the much desired development from the grassroots will spread across the state , explained that the people’s governor was the person elected by the people to perform the executive functions on the peoples’ behalf.
“The people, therefore must be involved in the selection and election processes. This involvement of the people must start from the party primaries to the general elections.
“So, for us to have a people’s governor, the processes for the primary and general elections must be free, fair, credible end transparent. It must not be a governor that emerges through imposition or vote-buying”, he said.
The Chairman of the occasion and former Secretary General of the Ijaw National Congress (INC)., Engr.. Charles Ambaiowe, outlined that in the quest for a people’s governor, critical checks should be taken on candidates character, capacity, competence, courage and conscience.
Ambaiowe urged for rigorous enlightenment of people from the grassroots in order to cast their vote to the rightful candidate of their choice.
Mr Braeyi Ekiye, the Guest Lecturer at the event and former Principal Secretary to Former President Goodluck Jonathan, said for a people’s governor to emerge, there must be proper political education for the electorate.
“The people’s governor can be elected through the efficient use of PVC and not selling of vote. The people’s governor must be able to focus on people oriented projects and economic development,” he stated.
Also speaking the State Chairman of the NUJ, Bayelsa State Council,Comrade Samuel Numenegi, commended the Federated Correspondent Chapel for sustaining the annual lecture series,despite logistic challenge, in order to impart knowledge and educate the Bayelsa populace.
In his remark, the Acting Chairman of the Federated Correspondent Chapel, Mr Osaro Okhomina, said the programme was aimed at imparting knowledge on people and gather stakeholders in the bid to ensure that the successor to Gov. Dickson, being sought through the electoral process, will emerge peacefully and will be acceptable to all in the state.
Comrade Okhomina,who commended those that attended the lecture series, noted that aside from the political gladiators in Bayelsa, the media is a critical stakeholder, to ensure a peaceful transition and educate the electorate on the choices available ahead of the 2019 general elections.
