Political activities ahead of the 2019 elections in Bayelsa State was Thursday kick-started with the trading of words between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the defection of a local government party coordinator, Hon. Soukiri Jackson, and 7,000 others into the ruling party in Odi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

While the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, described the return to the PDP of the APC defectors as welcomed and that the PDP is the only party with the machinery to win in a general election.

The Acting Chairman of APC in Bayelsa State Hon. Joseph Fafi expressed his regret that the PDP in the state has decided to start the New Year with lies and deceit, describing as mother of all lies, “the stage managed defection of moles within the APC and act of desperation by the PDP.”

Governor Seriake Dickson while speaking during the defection of the APC members in Odi community admonished the political class to connect with their people, especially at the grassroots level at all times and not only when they need the votes of the people at elections.

He urged the political class to have closer contact with the electorate, by regularly visiting, connecting and interacting with them, stressing that it is by so doing that politicians would gain the trust and confidence of the people.

According to him, as a countryman and a grassroots politician, he will remain connected to the people in appreciation of the massive support he has received from them over the years, especially in his political adventures.

He said: “The power of the people is the most potent weapon, you can find anywhere in the world; more potent than any armoury. The difference between me and many politicians is that I am a Countryman. I connect with the people, I feel their pains, when they are happy I am happy and vice versa. I appreciate the people because they have made me what I am and above all, they have made the PDP the strongest party, the only party that can win election in our state.

“For those who seek political office, we must not go out to hurt people for their welfare and interest should ordinarily be the reason for being in politics. We should be civil as we carry out our activities in 2018, being a crucial election!”

Also speaking, Chief Whip of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and member representing Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency I, Hon. Tonye Isenah described Suokiri as a high profile politician, who has traversed the political landscape for over decades, noting that, his return would positively impact on the PDP in the local government.

He called on other APC members in the state to retrace their steps, as the PDP remains the party of every right thinking Bayelsan, who means well for the state and its people

Bayelsa State Chairman of the PDP, Hon Cleopas Moses, commended Hon. Suokiri for his decision to quit the APC for the PDP which he said was his home. He stressed that, Suokiri was a committed and deep rooted PDP member before those wielding the broom hoodwinked him into joining them. He noted that, as a foundation member of the party in the state, he has truly returned to rejoin the family he rightful belongs

Reacting to the purported defection, the chairman of APC in Bayelsa, Hon Joseph Fafi, described the claim as the mother of all lies and a clear indication of the growing frustration of the party in the state.

According to Hon. Fafi, “It is pertinent to note that all the efforts by the PDP to promote crises in the APC have failed. The APC in the state has become more formidable and a big threat to the PDP.”

On the issue of the 7,000 decampees, Hon Fafi noted that the total votes received by PDP during the 2015 guber election were a little over 7,000 while the APC scored over 6,000 votes. It is therefore surprising how and where Hon Jackson got 7,000 APC members from KOLGA alone to decamp with him.

Hon Fafi called on the PDP to play politics with character and truthfulness noting that it’s outrageous lies like this that keep decent people away from politic. For the avoidance of doubt Hon. Jackson only decamped with members of his immediate family in the presence of other PDP supporters.

On Hon Jackson, the APC Ag. Chairman stated that the APC in Bayelsa State is not losing sleep over his defection as they are sure he will be back to APC before the next elections in the state. (Blueprint)

Update news