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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, has urged the religious team and the body of clergy in the state to organize special prayers for the emergence of his successor.
The governor said while speaking during a live media chat on Tuesday that the issue of the selection of a governor for Bayelsa State was so crucial that it was important for the state to commit the process into the hand of God.
A statement by the special adviser on media relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor as saying that he would embark on extensive consultations with key stakeholders of the state, including Dr. Jonathan towards ensuring a peaceful and hitch-free primaries designed to produce the party’s flag bearer.
“I wish to also mention on this important issue of the next person to govern the state, I have directed our religious team to come up with a date when we will formally gather to fast and pray in seeking the face of God concerning the person who will take over from me as governor of the state. The team has chosen June and so we will all find time as a party to have that event,” he said.
He stressed that anyone who should qualify to fly the PDP gubernatorial ticket must have the requisite qualities of courage, commitment, vision and grits to protect the interests of the state and Ijaw nation.
According to him, the candidate of the PDP should have the consciousness and capacity to play opposition politics in the country.
He stressed that the stakes in the next governorship poll were too high to be left in the hands of “lily-livered politicians who only play establishment politics and shy away from the realities on ground.”
Commenting on the forthcoming local government elections, the governor emphasized that women and youths would be given priority for councillorship positions across the state in recognition of their sustained support to his administration.
“I desire to see more youths and women being carried along in the forthcoming local government election because of the incredible support they have always given to my administration.
“A minimum of 20% should be given to the women in appreciation of their support and as a source of empowerment to their families.”
The governor, who also commented on the worrisome increase in the spate of kidnapping in the state and along the East West Road, warned the perpetrators to desist from the heinous crime.
He urged those whose relatives had been kidnapped to resist payment of ransom to those holding them.
The governor who appealed to the kidnappers to ensure immediate release of the hostages in their custody warned that the state would go after anybody engaged in kidnap in Bayelsa.
According to him, may kidnappers have been convicted and waiting for him to sign their death warrant.
