Former president Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, appealed to his kinsmen in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to reciprocate the good developmental gestures of Governor Douye Diri in the area by voting massively for the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the November 11 governorship poll in the state.
Jonathan, who spoke at his country home in Otuoke, when Governor Diri led a high-powered delegation to visit him, said the Governor had demonstrated love towards the Ogbia kingdom in different ways and that the people needed to reciprocate that by re-electing him and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
This is coming 24 hours after the former president endorsed Diri’s second term bid, immediately after prominent leaders of the PDP, including governors, former governors, National Assembly members as well as members of the National Working Committee visited him on Tuesday at his Yenagoa residence.
The former president commended Governor Diri for choosing one of his political sons, Mitema Obordor, as Director-General of his governorship campaign council, stating that it is a signal of more good things to come to the East Senatorial District of the state.
Jonathan said, “I thank the Otuoke community for giving the governor and his team this warm reception. For us in this senatorial district, one thing we should know is that when somebody picks one of your own to lead him in a political contest that means that person will never forget you.
“For the governor to select Obordor from this senatorial district and indeed from Ogbia as his campaign DG, it means that Governor Diri has the mind to do something for you and will not forget you. And I plead with you all to reciprocate so we can get the benefit in store for us.”
Jonathan urged his kinsmen to renew Diri’s mandate on Saturday by voting massively for him.
Governor Diri, in his remarks, thanked the former president and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, for the warm reception and his freely given endorsement.
He described Jonathan as a unique democrat and patriot who always desired the best for the state and the country.
The Governor also stated that Jonathan had always been a father to all and not a political godfather.
Diri said those speculating that his endorsement by the former president and the former governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, was due to godfatherism were either ignorant or mischievous.
He stressed that they lacked the understanding of honouring those placed in a position to lift others like Jonathan and Dickson.
