BY PHILIP EKE, YENAGOA
As the 2019 General Election draw closer, a group known as Democratic Youths of Akassa embracing all the political wards of Akassa Clan has endorsed Hon Oberiakumo Yousuo, the immediate past Special Adviser to Governor Seriake Dickson on Hotels and Tourism Development for the 2019 Election into Constituency III of the State House of Assembly under the platform of the Action People’s Congress (APC).
The group in their thousands thronged the Bishop Crowther Memorial Primary School Field to declare their total support for Hon. Yousou, calling on him to contest the forthcoming State House of Assembly Election under the platform of the APC.
Addressing the youths, Chief Newton Igbani-Okuru, Chairman of the Kongn, Erewebie and Kotikiri Council of Chiefs and patron of the association, thanked the group for their doggedness and everybody present for finding time to attend the extraordinary meeting of the group.
Chief Igbani-Okuru enjoined the youths to be steadfast and remain resolute, stressing that he had worked with Hon. Oberiakumo Yousuo before and found him “a humble, God-fearing, intelligent and vocal politician” and enjoined them to come out in mass during the election in 2019 to vote Hon. Oberiakumo Yousuo as their house of assembly representative for Constituency III.
“Do not sell our votes. Let’s ensure that we take our destiny in our hands this time around”, he advised. Speaking in the same vein, one of the advisers to the group, Elder Itari james of Opu-Okumbiri said, although he had decided not to get involved in politics, he was attending the meeting because of what he sees in Hon. Oberiakumo Yousuo as a young and vibrant politician able to deliver, based on his antecedent in his political career.
“We should not sell our future because of N5,000 one politician will give to you on election day,” he advised, adding that the elders in Akassa clan have confidence in Oberiakumo Yousuo and appealed to women, youths and the traditional institution in the clan to stand by Hon. Oberiakumo Yousuo.
The meeting featured addresses from representatives of the four wards of the clan, all calling for support of Hon. Oberiakumo Yousuo whom they claim won the previous Legislative Election into the State Assembly but that INEC and PDP conspired to cancel the election. Said Mr. Wobe Dennis Agada and Kientimi Jacob Owei from Sangana in Ward 10: “No matter, we are not afraid of intimidation. Come rain, come sun, we will come out in mass and vote Hon. Oberiakumo Yousuo.”
Hon. Oberiakumo Yousuo was one time councilor of Brass Ward 7 in 1999, former PDP Chairman, Brass LGA 2005; former member Akassa LGA caretaker committee, former Vice Chairman Brass LGA 2010 -2012, former acting chairman Brass LGA for seven months from 2012 -2013. The last political post he held was that of being the former special adviser on hotels and tourism development to His Excellency, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, who has been tested, trusted, reliable and people oriented politician.
