•••as lawmaker says ‘Niger Delta needs experienced, capable representation’
Political leaders and stakeholders in Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of the Bayelsa West Senatorial District have purchased the Senatorial form for the 2023 election for Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
The gesture, it was learnt, was in fulfillment of the pledge by the two local government areas making up the senatorial district made last week to ensure Senator Dickson’s re-election and return following his sterling performance as a Senator within his two years in office.
The Senatorial District’s top political leaders and other stakeholders then took turns to speak on the need for Senator Dickson to be re-elected in 2023 to continue with his vibrant representation of their area at the National Assembly.
Speaking shortly after purchasing the nomination form for the Federal lawmaker, who is also a former governor of the state, Deputy Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr Michael Ogbere, said Dickson did exceptionally well as governor and Senator in the past two years as he had continued to execute a lot of projects that had been impacting positively on the lives of the people in the area.
He added that the Ekeremor people were impressed by Dickson’s overwhelming performance and unparalleled energy on issues of concern in the district, Bayelsa State, the Ijaw Nation and even the Niger Delta as a whole.
The Bayelsa Assembly deputy speaker therefore urged Senator Dickson to contest the 2023 election on the strength of his impressive credentials, which he said had made Bayelsa West the surest senatorial seat for the People’s Democratic Party in the state.
Ogbere, however, dismissed the issue of purported zoning of the National Assembly positions in the area as shown by the fact that previous senators from Ekeremor recontested for the third time and a former deputy governor from the area, Peremobowei Ebebi, contested and pursued the case on the electoral dispute to the Supreme Court, where he lost.
Also a former Speaker of the old Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Tuesday Kemeagbegh, who enumerated Senator Dickson’s achievements, including the Sagbama Ekeremor Road and many others, argued that it would be unfair and a monumental disservice to Bayelsa West to tell the former governor and incumbent Senator to hands off after doing just two years at the National Assembly.
He challenged those opposed to Senator Dickson’s aspiration to re-contest to campaign by showcasing their contributions to the development and well-being of the people of the District.
The Bayelsa State Assembly deputy speaker argued that the Ijaw people were in dire need of efficient, skilled and credible brand of vibrant representation which Senator Dickson had been providing effortlessly.
He said losing such advantage provided by Senator Dickson couldn’t be an option.
Speaking in the same vein, a former Permanent Secretary, Head of Service, who is the Chairman of the Bayelsa Civil Service Commission, Peter Singabele, said that Dickson had impacted so much in diverse ways which were too numerous to mention on the lives of the people of the area and must be allowed and supported to continue with his brand of productive leadership at the Senate.
Senator Dickson, who received and accepted the Senatorial nomination form from the political leaders, thanked them for what he described as their humbling support, encouragement and unflinching commitment to the promotion of the interest of the District.
He said that Bayelsa West, Bayelsa State, the Ijaw Nation and the Niger Delta were in dire need of skilled, experienced and effective representation as the country moves towards a critical period of transition.
The Federal lawmaker stressed that the country was at a difficult period with a lot of problems and expectations, which made it mandatory for experienced people to be at the Centre to provide the needed support to the state government and the requisite guidance back home.
Senator Dickson said, “This is going to be a very trying period, a transition unlike any other before now. And at this very difficult period, when our country is pregnant; pregnant with problems, pregnant with expectations, I agree that that we need steady hands at the Centre to continue to guide and to support and to make the case that we have make for our people.
“For some time, a number of you have been discussing with me on the need for continued experience and deployment of our national image and network at this particular time in the service of our people. And you have all given your various reasons as to why we should be in the ballot one more time, again.
“And today, after examining the various reasons and the need for steady experienced hand at the National Assembly and in the Senate, in particular for Bayelsa West, for Bayelsa State and for the Ijaw nation, working with other friends and allies in the service of our people in the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and after listening to all the arguments and the cases that have been made, I am humbled to accept this to continue to provide support this offer to run.
“I do so appreciating the need to be there to guide and to support the government of our people back home. The need to be a rallying unit, the need to mobilise and galvanise support for our party, the need to be involved as this country moves towards a very momentum election and transition.
“This is going to be a very trying period, a transition unlike any other before now. And at this very difficult period, when our country is pregnant, pregnant with problems, pregnant with expectations, I agree that that we need steady hands at the Centre to continue guide and to support and to make the case that we have to do for our people.”
Senator Dickson described Bayelsa West as the safest Senatorial seat in the entire country because the PDP leaders had been in firm control of the grassroots.
He urged the stakeholders and leaders to widen the scope of consultations to include the few yet to queue behind his candidacy.
Dickson, who appealed for tolerance, stressed that while disagreement in politics is normal, his brand of politics is totally devoid of violence, a culture which his teeming followers should embrace at all time.
Party leaders and stakeholders present at the event included Rt Hon Michael Ogbere (Deputy Speaker Bayelsa State House of Assembly); Mr Fyneman Wilson), Chairman PDP Caucus, Sagbama,) ;Chief Perekeme Bertola (Chair, Ekeremor LGA); Hon Embeleakpo Alele ( Chairman LGA); Chief Victor Okubonanabo ( Executive Secretary SUBEB); Tuesday Kemegbeye (former Speaker Old Rivers State); Dr Singabele Peter (Chairman Civil Service Commission); Chief Suru Oyarede (Former Permanent Secretary); Hon Godbless Oyinke, Hon Tolu Amatu, Esq, Bourdilion Ogugubeni, Ekeremor Senatorial Coordinator), Hon Dick Bekekeme, and Hon Mark Ayoro,
Others are Sinkumo Ekisah, (Commissioner for Special Duties); Chief Lucky Asanakpo, Bayelsa Volunteers; Comrade Stephen Okeima, Chief Ben Eyororokumoh, Elder Simeon Epebifiye, Barr Billy Tobiyei, Hon Randy Awolowo, Barr Alex Tesufa Dombo, Hon Didi Enginekeme, Barr Swipe Odudu, Hon Bekes Etifa, Hon Biu Chursor Obosi , Ebilade Erekefe ( IYC spokesman), Miller Ebiowei, Hon Richman Samuel Edekwe, Hon David K Nanakumo and others.