Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, and former Senate President, Senator David Mark, have urged all the 13 presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accept the outcome of the party’s convention schedule for October 6, 2018 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The duo made the call when the former Senate President and Presidential Aspirant led his campaign team on a consultative visit to Government House, Yenagoa on Friday.

A press release signed by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Governor Dickson as saying that the PDP could not afford to disappoint Nigerians as the citizenry was relying on the party to effect the desired change in leadership in 2019.

Governor Dickson urged all the aspirants to pursue their quest of becoming the PDP standard bearer with a spirit of sportsmanship and readiness to obey the supreme will of the party at all times.

Dickson who acknowledged the contributions of the former Senate President to nation building described him as one of the most qualified for the presidency of the country.

He described Mark as a true patriot who played a pivotal in stabilising the polity especially during the Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

He said: “You are one of the most qualified Nigerians to run for the Presidency of this country. You know this country very well as somebody who has gone through the entire mill. Let me therefore once again commend you for throwing your hat into the ring because our country is currently in dire need of experienced, tested and broadminded leaders like you.

“I want to also commend you for standing with and for us, the Ijaw people, at very difficult and trying times. When we needed support, in your characteristic manner you never let us down throughout the tenure of our brother.

“I saw how you deepen our democracy and stabilised the National Assembly by mobilising support for former President Goodluck Jonathan. And as a people who are known for rewarding those who stand by us, you will never find us wanting.

“Like I have told every other aspirant that has come here to canvass for support, there is need for all of you to develop a sense of sportsmanship and oneness.

“You don’t need to be bitter against one another because the most important thing every well-meaning Nigerian expects from the opposition is to bring about a credible leadership that can move this nation to an enviable height.”

Governor Dickson, who assured that he would work closely with other critical stakeholders to ensure a transparent and credible party primaries, urged the presidential aspirant to carry the Bayelsa and the Niger Delta along in the country's scheme of things when the PDP clinches power in the forthcoming general elections.

Earlier in his remark, the former Senate President and PDP Presidential Aspirant, Mark, appealed to Bayelsa delegates to vote for him, noting that as someone who had worked in the old Rivers State, his in-depth knowledge of the problems of the Niger Delta places him in a better position to address challenges confronting the region.

The Benue-born politician who described himself as the most suitably qualified aspirant to fly the PDP flag in the 2019 presidential election, however pledged to abide by the outcome of the party primaries billed to hold on the 6th of October 2018.

According to Sen. Mark, “I have been in politics since 1998. I know the problems of the Niger Delta; I have worked here when the whole of this area was under the old Rivers State. As far as I am concerned, what you are asking for is not a difficult thing to do. You are saying you lay the golden egg and therefore should be allowed to eat it. I want to assure you that I have the political will to enable you eat this golden egg you are laying when I become the President of this country.

“Your Excellency, You have worked very hard to make Bayelsa a progressive state. You have also been able to stem the high rate of insecurity in this area. You worked hard to stabilise and keep our party going. I will join you in reducing the unemployment rate in Bayelsa and even fix the insecurity in this country which has become more worrisome.

“Today, Nigeria has become so divided, it has never been like this before.

“Our country has had too much bigotry; it has to be a country for all Nigerians. You are one man who can unite this country.”

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