Dec. 5: Nembe Communities Reject Sylva, Back Dickson

Bayelsa State Gov­ernor, Henry Seriake Dickson, over the week­end, rounded off his tour of communities across the state in Nembe with a large crowd of people en­dorsing him for a second term.
Traditional rulers, reti­nue of chiefs and people of Nembe communities including Ogbolomabiri, Bassambiri, Oluasiri, Okoroba and several oth­ers were seen in jubilant mood surging in droves to be part of a mega rally held in the ancient town.
“This is an unprecedent­ed crowd never witnessed in the history of politics in Bayelsa State and an indication of a possible landslide at the election”, remarked the acting State PDP chairman, Chief Ser­ena Dokubo-Spiff, in his assessment of the crowd of party supporters and admirers at the rally.
Leading other promi­nent personalities from the area to receive the governor and members of his Restoration Campaign Organization were Sena­tor Nimi Barigha Amange and Chief George Fente who said their support for Dickson was based on performance and not senti­ment.
They assured the gov­ernor of their 100 per cent loyalty, adding that noth­ing would make them to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Con­gress, (APC), Timipre Sylva, despite his claim of indigeneship.
According to them, it was pay-back time for Sylva, who they accused of failing to address their concern to have a road linking their area to the state capital, Yenagoa, when he was the governor for five years.
They commended Dick­son over the multi-billion naira Ogbia-Nembe road, now about 90 per cent ready, the newly com­missioned Izon Ibe Micro Finance Bank and other developmental projects executed by his admin­istration in the area and accordingly endorsed his re-election bid.
“Election into a posi­tion of trust is not about indigeneship but perfor­mance. If Governor Dick­son could achieve so much in less than four years in office, endorsing his re-election bid is not out of place”, they said.
The ongoing Nembe road project by the Dick­son’s administration, they noted, has reduced crime rate in the area and boost­ed commercial activities.
They also said that by the time the road is com­pleted, it will create em­ployment for the teeming youths noting the proxim­ity of the area to the Brass Island where the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is located.
Other developmental projects in the area such as school infrastructure, the Nembe City Stadium and unprecedented po­litical appointments for their sons and daughters, they said, recommended Dickson as a true lover of Nembe. Responding, Dickson who was vis­ibly overwhelmed with joy expressed gratitude to Nembe people for demon­strating a remarkable sup­port for his administration and assured them of more dividends of democracy if re-elected.