The Bayelsa State Government on Saturday warned the social media team of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against issues that could distract them from issue-based campaign ahead of 2019 general elections.

Issuing the warning when the team visited him in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said focus remained the key to victory in 2019.

He described social media as the fastest means of disseminating information and the most compelling source of information all over the world.

He, however, decried some of the negative effects of social media which he noted was due to wrong application and charged the team to be very objective and factual in their work.

Iworiso-Markson, who lauded the leadership of the party for the appointment said those in the team were carefully selected because of their pedigree, diligence and dexterity in the social media industry.

He reminded the PDP Social media team that the coming election would be another litmus test and cautioned them against abusive tendencies.

He asked them to engage members of the opposition on issues that had to do with the achievements of the restoration government and the party.

The commissioner said he would be working closely with them to repeat the same feat achieved in the last general and governorship election.

While congratulating them on their appointment, Iworiso-Markson asked the team to start profiling the candidates of the PDP in the coming elections so that Bayelsans would know their prospective representatives.

He stated that those, contesting under the party had a track record of performance and would not fail if given the opportunity to represent the people in the national and state House of Assembly.

Iworiso-Markson stressed that what Bayelsa needed were people, who could sustain the legacies of the restoration government of Governor Seriake Dickson.

He said in seven years, the government made huge success in turning the state from a once rural enclave to a place that is now an investor’s paradise because of the revolution in education, health, infrastructure, security and so on.

He said: “Let me thank you for this visit. I was glad when I heard of your appointment and i want to sincerely thank the leadership of the PDP in the State for given all of you this unique opportunity.

“Clearly your job is cut out. You need to hit the ground running. The social media is like the main thing now. It is fast gaining more popularity and acceptability than the traditional media because of the speed at which information through it goes viral to reach billions of people across the globe.

“We are now in an election season and a lot of things are required of you. You need to use your position to advance the course of the restoration government. What you should be doing is to engage the opposition on issues like performance. They cannot performance our performance, not in a million years. So put out the truth, the facts about our performance so that the world can see.

“You don’t need to abuse anybody. Our achievements should speak for us. We did this in 2015 and we will replicate it in 2019. We have said this election will be a referendum on the performance of the Restoration Government especially for all our candidates running on the ticket of the PDP-led government in the State.

“I will be working closely with you to ensure that together we move in the same direction. So very soon, I will organize a situation room right here in my office. I will also invite social media experts to meet with you to talk to us on social media trends that will help to further guide you”.

Earlier, Director of the PDP Social media team, Mr. Perekebena Okoyen said the visit was to enable them familiarize with the Commissioner as the Head of the state media team and official spokesman of the government.

Okoyen, who praised the commissioner for his high level of professionalism and uncommon approach to issues said they would be pleased to be under his counselling throughout the period leading to the main election.

He described the Bayelsa PDP Social Media team as a grassroot movement targeted to work with all youth groups, organizations and volunteers in the eight Local Government Area in order to mobilize massive support for the party and her candidates.

Okoyen maintained that the team will as part of its campaign show the incontestable achievements of the restoration government in all the sectors which has made Bayelsa a leading state.

He appealed for support and encouragement from critical stakeholders in the state for effective delivery of their mandate.

•Sourced from The Nation report

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