Former President Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson for a second term, citing his excellent track record of regular payment of workers’ salaries, reduction of the state’s huge debt profile and infrastructural development.
The former President who received Governor Dickson at his country home, Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, said his endorsement was based on the developmental strides of the governor in the last three and half years in the state.
He said: “If Bayelsa is compared to other states in the country in terms of level of physical infrastructure coupled with the degree of indebtedness in terms of bank loans and capital market, Dickson deserved to be praised.
“I am not expecting the governor to score 100 per cent. There are three key parameters I will like to score Dickson, which are payment of salaries, physical infrastructure and low indebtedness of the state in terms of bank loans and in the capital market.
“If you compare what has happened in other parts of the country, you will praise Dickson. People should think more of about the way the state is being run and prepare for our future generation.
“Bayelsa is not a cursed state. On the notion that governors in Bayelsa cannot do eight years, it slows down development and except there is continuation in government, development will be truncated. Performance is not about satisfying individual needs and so we need to encourage Governor Dickson to go for second term.”
He described Dickson as his political first son, adding that if he was given the opportunity of a second term, he would strive to consolidate on the achievements already recorded.
Earlier in his remarks, Dickson solicited the support and encouragement of Dr. Jonathan to run for a second term, saying that he and his entourage needed to seek his support, as he was the leader of PDP both at the state and national levels.
Dickson who has been canvassing support from stakeholders of the party as well as royal fathers of the state preceding his formal declaration to run for the governorship election had earlier paid homage to the Chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, King Alfred Diete Spiff.
