…EXTENDS HAND OF FELLOWSHIP TO OPPOSITION PARTIES
BY PHILIP EKE, YENAGOA

Thousands of PDP supporters, including serving and former PDP
governors, legislators at the Federal and state levels, traditional
rulers, captains of Industry, traditional rulers on Sunday stormed
Samson Siasia Sports complex, Yenagoa, the venue of the Swearing in and Thanksgiving ceremony of Governor Seriake Dickson for another term of four years in office.

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State

Dressed in blue traditional attire, the Governor restated his
commitment to security of lives and property of the people in the
state, calling for the collaboration of relevant security agencies.

Expressing dismay over the violence that trailed the conduct of the
governorship election in the state, Governor Dickson said now that the election was over, it is high time members of the opposition party put aside their political differences and join the Restoration government in its efforts to rebuild the state.

According to him, “I respect your right to hold different views. Your
participation in the process made this contest more vibrant and our
victory more worthwhile and legitimate”

“Yesterday we were opponents; today, we must be partners for the
security, development and prosperity of Bayelsa State. I now invite
you all to join me in this enterprise of consolidating the gains of
restoration.  Let us work together to move our state forward.

“I salute the leaders and members of the opposition majority of who
are already amenable to this new thinking of building a united and
prosperous Bayelsa.

“In the nearest future, we shall be convening an all-Bayelsa Summit to discuss our common challenges, aspirations and the way forward.
Arising there-from, we should be in the vanguard of leading our region to engage our brothers in the Nigeria Project, and to build a stronger and more egalitarian country”

On the need for the sustenance of the existing peace in the state, the
Governor submitted that, this is the only way to attract foreign and
local investors to the state, adding that, this could only be achieved
through the collaboration of stakeholders, including security
operatives.

He warned the government officials both at at state and federal levels against the use of their positions to encourage crime and criminality under any guise.

According to him, ‘security officials at federal or state levels
should not be afraid to execute their statutory functions for fear of
retribution. Nobody, regardless of political persuasion should be
allowed to subvert national institutions or undermine the security and stability of the state or the nation.

“Our experience in Bayelsa State in the recent past has shown a
tendency to misconstrue membership of the political party at the
center as cover and license to kill, maim and destroy while security
officials look on helplessly. Let us not allow partisanship to slide
our country into anarchy. The consequences will be too grave”

The state governors in attendance were; Mr. Ayodele Fayose, (Ekiti
state), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, (Delta state), Barrister Nyesom Wike, (Rivers state), Chief Okezie Ikpeazu, (Abia state), Emmanuel Udom, (Akwa-Ibom). Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, (Gombe state), Darius Ishiaku, (Taraba State), former governor of Borno state, Alhaji Ali Modu Sherif, Dr. Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state and Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari, former deputy  governor of Sokoto state.

Others were, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the governorship candidate of PDM, Moses Siloko Siasia, PDP governorship candidate, Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, former Deputy governor, Bayelsa state, Rt. Hon.
Peremobowei Ebebi, members of the State House of Assembly, traditional rulers, clergies to mention but few.

In a related development, Pastor Doutimi Amatari, in his sermon,
described Governor Dickson’s victory as divine, submitting that, he
was able to overcome the federal might that never recognised that,
there is God in heaven, who rules over the affairs of men.

He noted that thanksgiving has three dimensions; yesterday, today and tomorrow, adding that, tomorrow is determined by what people do with God today, through thanksgiving.