Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, on Thursday appealed to Nigerians to rally round the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to rescue the country from its litany of woes.

Governor Dickson made the appeal when he played host to PDP presidential aspirant and former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and his campaign team in Government House, Yenagoa.

A press statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Francis Ottah Agbo, says Honourable Dickson described the current security and economic challenges in the country as unparalleled, stressing that, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has failed to deliver on its mandate to the citizenry.

The Governor, who noted that the APC has shown gross incompetence in the last 3 years, pointed out that, it is only the PDP that has the capacity to tackle the challenges facing the country to foster a united, prosperous and stable Nigeria, where even the minorities would have a sense of belonging.

He expressed gratitude to Alhaji Sule Lamido and other progressive-minded stakeholders of the party for giving the Niger Delta, which is a minority region, the opportunity to produce a president in the person of Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

Describing Alhaji Sule as a consistent, dependable and courageous mobiliser, Governor Dickson emphasised the need for all contestants to pursue their aspirations with the collective interest of the PDP at heart to enable the party to organise a free, fair and credible primary that would produce a widely accepted flag bearer.

His words: “You are consistent, dependable and courageous mobilisers for our party. This state remembers the storms you have weathered to defend the best interest of our party. These are very trying times, but you stood by what was right for Nigeria and for the PDP.

“The state appreciates your steadfastness, even our party leaders are waiting at the secretariat to receive you. All I want to say is that, we appreciate, your steadfastness and progressive views.

“We call on you and other contestants to be ready to collaborate with the national leadership of our party when the delegates come together to vote in a free and fair primary that would produce an acceptable leader.”

The Governor called on former members still on the other side to have faith in the PDP and return, having realised their mistakes and urged other presidential aspirants to go round the country to mobilise support without bitterness and rancour.

In his remarks, the PDP presidential aspirant Alhaji Sule Lamido, commended Governor Dickson for his resilience and the critical role he has been playing to keep the party together.

He observed that the PDP has been consistent in terms of its name and vision for the country, since its formation in 1998 and expressed optimism that, it would remain so, even after the 2019 general elections.

According to the former Jigawa State Governor, he is in the state, not to beg, but demand support as a brother, who shares in the concerns and aspirations of the state and the Niger Delta region.

“Bayelsans are lucky to have a great Governor. I am proud of you, and the PDP family is proud of you, for flying the flag of the PDP. You have been here since 1998, you have been resilient, and you have produced a president for the country.

“The founding leaders of the PDP conceived Nigeria as a federation of human beings who have equal stake in the affairs of the country and passionately defended this position until 2015. But the APC came in to deceive Nigerians, under the three subtitles of security, economy and corruption. But, I thank God that Nigerians have seen the truth and the difference.”

•Photo by Lucky Francis shows Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left), explaining something of interest to the former Governor of Jigawa State and PDP Presidential Aspirant, Dr. Sule Lamido (centre), during a courtesy call at Government House, Yenagoa, while the former Minister of State for Justice and Director General, Sule Lamido National Campaign Council, Hon. Barr. Musa Elayo (right), looks on.

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