Philip Eke
Hon. Patterson Ikpi, the great financial Secretary of PDP Bayelsa State, a man of great political acumen and a resourceful philanthropist with great political followership for his few years of stewardship, who has carved a niche for himself in Bayelsa State and beyond, perhaps of his administrative skill, who has done so much for governance in Bayela state PDP that culminated to the most peaceful PDP party primaries in the state, that was often applauded by
Bayelsans. In this interview with Mr Philip Eke, Bayelsa state correspondent, highlights several striking issues, especially the GREAT PDP Rally and others.
Excerpt
Sir, as a party leader of PDP Bayelsa State, precisely, the financial secretary of the largest party in Africa sub-region, what was the secret of the peacefulness of the past PDP primaries in Bayelsa state?
Well, to be specific, the success of the PDP primaries in Bayelsa state was as a result of the unity, love and the need of good governance of party officials, his Excellency, (Hon.) Henry Seriake Dickson, the chairman of the party in Bayelsa state Col (Dr.) Sam Inokoba (Rtd) and other working committee members, down to ward chairmen are speaking one voice. There is synergy of operation for a common goal, that is why success was recorded in the PDP party primaries in Bayelsa state.
Although, some party people are aggrieved after the primaries, which is not new, even in our individual family homes, there are frictions and acrimonies that are of the same father and mother. There tend to be disagreement in all strata of the society. This propelled amiable Governor of Bayelsa state to set up reconciliation committee which the committee is working seriously in making one united PDP in Bayelsa state, stressing that today is not your turn, but tomorrow can be your turn, so is politics, it should not be a do or die affairs, some aggrieved politicians have been invited for reconciliatory meetings, some rather ignored the so called meeting, rather than they grumble which is not the best. The PDP party is moving on, the Chairman of the party is very strong and a man of high administrative skill, the
stabilizing factor, engine room of the party Mr. Keku Godspower. He is another hard working man that stabilized the PDP party affairs; above
all, the Governor, who often meet with party officials regularly in solving the needs of the party, and this is a commendable feat.
Sir, the Bayelsa state PDP presidential rally is around the corner. What are the expectations of Bayelsans? and more so,how the Bayelsa PDP will mobilize support for our own son, brother, father,who has travelled and visited almost all the states in Nigeria, do you think the Bayelsa state PDP rally will make a difference from other states of the federation?
The president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is home coming, he is actually visiting his own state and in virtue of that, there should be unprecedented welcome, Bayelsans are ready “we did it and we must show ultimate solidarity of support for the world to see that he is personally our own son, father, brother”. Jonathan is not coming for campaign; the president does not need campaign in Bayelsa state, because, there is no opposition. So what we will do is to invite all peace loving Bayelsans in all the villages, in all the Local Governments Areas to tell the people, “Thank you for supporting our
president, that day the entire world will see that we are greatly supporting the president for his second term bid, come March 28, 2015 in making another history. The election will be very peaceful and it will be free and fair in all ramifications, because President Jonathan is an advocate of good governance in Nigeria.President Jonathan is not coming to campaign or canvas for votes, he is coming to thank you for your support and it would be an interesting thing.
The recent APC rally was a well attended rally in Samson Siasia sports complex. The crowd was mammoth, don’t you think it is a threat to President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP presidential ticket in the president’s own state?
If you called that crowd a mammoth crowd, then I am confused, you called it mammoth, I saw what happened. Even the few persons you saw, they were promised money, but they were never giving, People were fighting because there was no money, they promised them in vanity so sad and disappointed.
I promise you, you will see a crowd that will be unprecedented. The love and interest of Bayelsans will show, will speak volume and it will be so historical in our body polity. You saw what happened in peace park recently when PDP inaugurated the presidential campaign committee and hand over flags to PDP party flag bearers in a grand- breaking event, you saw the crowd, can you compare the APC rally with the PDP mini event recently? No, APC is not a threat to PDP, not just in Bayelsa State but in Nigeria. In fact, I doubt weather there is APC in Bayelsa State.
Sir, what is your comment on APC presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari’s certificate saga, that is making news around the town, what is your view as a reputable party administrator in Bayelsa state and Nigeria at large, do you think the certificate showed by Gen. Buhari is a true reflection.
We cannot fool ourselves; the certificate that carries Katsina State Government, when Buhari went to school was there everything like Katsina state in existence. Apart from that, the passport picture shown in the certificate, how many years was he, when that certificate was issued? Nigerians are now very wise, Buhari should apologized to Nigerians, he lied to an oath, we are not lawyers , but every things is clear, so general Buhari is not fit to govern Nigeria, our beloved country , if he lied to an oath taking by him, it is better he openly tell APC, I cannot contest again, please ,I have resigned, that is what we expected from him, if he can go to court and lie to a oath, infact, it is straight and open matter.
Recently, there was a threat massage from one NGO that Nigerian first Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan should stay clear from the venue of the forth coming PDP presidential rally slated in yenagoa, what is your take of this matter Sir?
We are all from Bayelsa, people should not hide themselves, we know ourselves, no body will dare our courageous first lady who is one of the pillars of our politics in terms of mobilizing women, she is coming to her own state, who can stop her coming to her state, they are faceless groups, no body will do the first lady any arm, she will come with her husband our president and go back freely, no threat can move us, no body can disgrace her, she is our own mother, she is the president’s wife, mama peace , she will come and go back peacefully, the Bayelsa state government have made every thing possible for the security of lives and property in Bayelsa state, Bayelsans are peace
lovers, and that love must surely be exhibited during the rally and thereafter, security apparatus wound be well coordinated, hoodlums would be arrested and prosecuted, so there is no cause for alarm. it will be well coordinated in that great day, we all expected to witness the great day, it is just on pages of news papers they are making noise, they are faceless human beings, the governor of Bayelsa state, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson will be very happy to receive the president and his entourage wholeheartedly.
What will be your candid words for Bayelsans and the entire Nigerians,
regarding the forth – coming general elections, although Governorship
election in Bayelsa state is slated 2016?
Well, to Bayelsans, let every electorate should collect their permanent voters card, that is the strength of their voting right and power, For all Nigerians, president Goodluck is a good luck to Nigerians, so we must not toy with the opportunity giving to us, who has transformed Nigeria in all sectors, I urged Nigerians to vote for president Goodluck Jonathan and his amiable submissive vice president, more so, vote for all PDP candidates in all elections in bringing the dividends of democracy, the hand work of God is upon president Goodluck Jonathan, eighty-five percent of Nigerians will vote for
president Jonathan second term bid, because he is God sent and he will be victorious come march 2015, few days to the election
