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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
Communities of constituencies 2, 3 and 4 of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the largest LGA in Nigeria, Saturday were agog as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took its governorship campaign to their domain.
The carnival-like campaign which started in Korokosei Community, Constituency 4, home town of the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson, had major stakeholders of the PDP, support groups and other political actors of the constituency in attendance.
Former speaker, Benson, called on his people to rally round the candidacy of Senator Douye Diri, and his running mate, Lawrence Ewhrudjiakpo, describing the duo as the most experienced and qualified and the best pair to govern the state.
He said, “Our candidates, Diri/Ewhrudjiakpo have served Bayelsa State in different capacities. Douye Diri was commissioner during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as governor, he was the director-general, Bayelsa State centre for youth development in Alamieyeseigha’s government. When his Excellency, Seriake Dickson, became governor he appointed him as principal executive secretary to the governor, and because of his good works he was voted for to the House of Representatives. After serving meritoriously for one term, he was again sent higher to the Senate and just a few months in the senate because of his track record of service delivery, as one of the over 23 PDP guber aspirants he was voted as the party’s governorship candidate.
“Krokrosei, Olodiama, Apoi-ibe, Foropa, Bassan/Koluama, Constituency 4 do you want inexperienced people to rule you? Please though David Lyon is our son, our brother but you must know that the right people to govern this state are Diri/Ewhrudjiakpo and the right party is the PDP. This is the party that has empowered your children, sons and daughters. And it is the party that has commenced road construction to Southern Ijaw,” he said.
The member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 in the state Assembly, High chief Mac Donald Igbadiowei, called on the people to give their vote in block to the PDP, adding that from 1999 till date, constituency (IV) votes had always gone to the party.
The lawmaker described Diri and Ewhrudjiakpo as squared pegs in square holes, noting that with competent hands governing the state citizens would fare better, just as he assured the campaign team of victory for the party in the area.
In a similar vein, the people of southern Ijaw constituency 3 have also pledged their support for the Diri campaign team. This is coming on the heels of campaigns to the constituency headquarters, in the ancient city, Ekowe, same day.
At Ekowe, headquarters of Bomo clan and also of the state constituency, the lawmaker representing the area, Hon. Marlon Moses, made strong case for the duo of Diri/Ewhrudjiakpo, adding that the era for ineptitude and mediocrity in governance is over.
The Assembly member reaffirmed the commitment of party faithful and stakeholders in the area to continue galvanizing support for the electoral victory of the Peoples Democratic Party, not just on November 16th, re-stating that the PDP manifesto and its guber candidate’s political ideals are in line with the yearnings of the constituency. He told his constituents that they should cast their votes for the umbrella symbol and with it they should expect more democratic dividends.
On arrival at Oporoma, the council headquarters, for the grand finale, a visibly elated council chairman, Chief Nigeria Kia, described the All Progressives Congress as a party destined for failure in the forthcoming polls.
Kia, who described Diri as a worthy friend of the LGA, vowed to resist any attempt at unleashing pre or post-election terror on the people of the council, warning that any plan to subvert the wish of the electorates through rigging, intimidation and violence would be counteracted just as he declared the support of the Southern Ijaw people for the party’s candidate.
In separate remarks at Oporoma, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Obolo, and chief of staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo, respectively assured the campaign team of their readiness to re-enact history by giving the party landslide victory, calling on the electorates to give their mandate to the party in all elections, even as the two politicians reminded the Oporoma people and other communities within constituency 2, SILGA of the number of projects the outgoing PDP Restoration Government of Governor Dickson had embarked on in the area.
Making his campaign speech, Diri restated his resolve to consolidate on the achievements recorded by the Restoration team, re-emphasising that with Ewhrudjiakpo, a former commissioner of works as his running mate all projects started in the LGA by the out-going administration would be completed and others awarded so as to bring government to bear in terms of development in the area.