The Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has said that the country was in need of a highly educated and competent President.

Governor Dickson stated that the time had come for Nigeria to be led by a visionary leader, a nation builder and a democrat.

A statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations to the governor, Mr. FIdelis Soriwei, quoted him as having made the comment while playing the host to a Presidential Aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and members of his campaign team at the Government House Yenagoa.

Governor Dickson stressed that time had come for Nigeria to produce a detribalized consensus builder as president with a consciousness that he had a responsibility to all Nigerians.

The governor also said that those in leadership positions in the county had a key responsibility to rescue the country come 2019.

He said: “Nigeria needs a competent leader, an educated leader. I know you all, all your certificates are genuine. Nigeria needs a nation builder, a bridge builder. Nigeria needs a democrat and I know you are all of these.

“The nation needs a detribalized consensus builder who knows that he has a responsibility to all; We have got a responsibility to rescue this nation.”

Governor Dickson restated the position of Bayelsa State, the Ijaw Nation and associates in the Niger Delta that the 2019 election would be a referendum on restructuring.

According to him, the people’s votes would go to candidates with commitment to restructure the country and address the obvious imbalances in the country.

He said that it was the desire of the Ijaw Nation and indeed the Niger Delta to have a country that would protect all Nigerians and provide for all irrespective of region, religion and ethnicity.

Speaking earlier, the Governor of Sokoto State, Tambuwal who canvassed the support of Bayelsa and indeed delegates of the Ijaw Nation, promised to initiate a robust debate on restructuring if elected President.

He said that the pressing demand for resource control and fairness in resource allocation in the Niger Delta and the demand for true federalism were given the deserved attention under him as the leader of the country.

Tambuwal who also promised to revisit the issue of poverty in the northern part of the country, said that the challenge of transparency in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation would be tackled with the reintroduction of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

“We shall initiate a robust debate on restructuring and how this country should be governed going forward.

“I am aware that there is a growing desire across the country for this debate (restructuring) to take place. I assure you that I will not allow anything that will shut out Nigerians from such an important national discourse and engagement on the future of this country.

“I'm well aware that the great compatriots and people of the Niger Delta are very much interested in issues about resource control. I'm also aware that the people of the South West are interested in about issues bordering on true federalism.”

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