18th October, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
of Bayelsa State
In a rare show leadership devoid of partisan politics, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State over the weekend called on members of the National Assembly from the state to close ranks and ensure that ministerial nominee, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who recently defected from his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to All Progressives Congress, APC, is cleared.
Governor Dickson, who made the call, when the members under the aegis of National Assembly Caucus Forum paid a condolence visit to him in Government House, Yenagoa, over the demise of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Governor of the state, urged them to always commit themselves to the unity and progress of the state.
Senator Lokpobri was one of the prominent PDP members who defected to the APC, ditching Governor Dickson’s second term project.
Governor Dickson stressed that the development of Bayelsa was paramount, regardless of party affiliations or personal interest, expressing his resolve to collaborate with representatives of the state at the national level towards accelerating the pace of development.
Ironically, Dickson’s show of statesmanship is a direct opposite to politics in PDP-led Rivers state government which is opposed to the ministerial nomination of Chibuike Amaechi former Governor of Rivers and the Director-General of President Muhammadu Buhari campaign organization in this year’s election. APC defeated former President Goodluck Jonathan, an Ijaw from Bayelsa.
Dickson lauded members of the National Assembly from the state for partnering with the state government with a view to actualizing its vision, noting that development of the state was a collective responsibility.
On the death of Chief Alamieyeseigha, the Governor described him as one of the foremost Ijaw leaders, whose demise has created a vacuum, noting that one cannot query God, because He giveth and He taketh.
Speaking, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State National Assembly Caucus Forum, Senator Foster Ogola representing Bayelsa West Senatorial district, said Chief Alamieyeseigha was a political colossus, who laid the foundation for the development of the state.
Recounting the Ijaw leader’s achievements while he was Governor, Senator Ogola pointed out that he represented the voice of the Ijaw people across the country and protected their interest.
Ogola, who said a motion was moved to formally notify the National Assembly of Chief Alamieyeseigha’s death, noted that a minute silence was observed in the house in his honour and promised to participate in the funeral ceremony for the departed leader.
Highpoint of the visit was the signing of the condolence register by members of the assembly.