The race for the Creek Haven Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has narrowed down from 20 candidates to 10 following the withdrawal of 10 candidates from the race.
The 10 candidate have in a surprise move, thrown their weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, saying he is best suited among all the aspirants to take the state to the next level.
The candidates led by APGA’s flag-bearer, Chief Christopher Enai, made this known on Thursday when Sylva’s campaign train stormed Ekeremor, the local government area of the Minister for State (Agriculture), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
Their withdrawal from their parties was accepted by the sstate APC Chairman, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe and the entire town was agog as party faithful and sympathisers were treated to music by popular Ijaw musician, Barrister Smooth as Sylva and his entourage arrived.
Enai, who disclosed this, however refused to give the names of other parties and the candidates who had withdrew as he wanted them to personally do so themselves.
He insisted that Sylva is the best candidate for the governorship, hence the reason why he and others withdrew.
“My withdrawal is not that I am leaving APGA entirely, I want a situation where we can achieve a new Bayelsa and I believe that the APC candidate can do it.
“My supporting APC is not that I do not have followers while in APGA but my reason is that I want to support my brother, Timipre Sylva, because, this is the time to face reality in Bayelsa politics.
“I must say that I am in love with APC, so, I am using this opportunity to call on our people to vote for the real change and for the good governance.
“Of course, I am not the only candidate leaving his party, I know them all but I am not in the right position to be mentioning them for publication.
“Right now, out of 20 political parties in the race, about 10 have stepped down for the APC candidate; but this is democracy and you have the right to join any party.”
In his remarks, Sylva said a new day has dawn in Bayelsa, and urged the people to embrace change In order to move the state to the next level of socio-economic and political development.
Sylva said: “I will link Sagbama with Ekeremor by road. I want to assure Bayelsans that I will not play ‘419’ because some people are doing 419 with the road. I will truly empower Ekeremor people and all areas in Bayelsa State,” the former governor stated.
Meanwhile, kinsmen of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan in Ogbia kingdom, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have expressed their determination to work for the re-election of Governor Seriake Dickson, as a reward for his performance in his first term.
The governor and his entourage were in Ogbia kingdom in continuation of his community-to-community tour, where they were received by leaders and members of the various communities in the kingdom comprising of Jonathan’s Otuoke, Ologi, Otuokpoti, Anyama,Okodi, Epebu, Otuasega, Kolo town, Emeyal, Imiringi, Elebele, Opume, Oloibiri, Ogbia,Otakeme, Otuabagi and others.
In endorsing Dickson for re-election, they noted that in spite of the dwindling allocations from the Federation Account, the governor has been able to change the face of the state with the provision of the needed infrastructure in all the communities, adding that prompt payment of workers’ salary, welfare package for the senior citizens and his administration’s effective action to curb activities of the sea pirates on waterways were significant achievements.
“If this could be achieved in four years, then our amiable governor should be given the opportunity to serve another four years term in office’ declared Chief Graham Ipigansi who spoke on behalf of the community.
Addressing the supporters who received him at Epebu, the governor said this was the time they needed to stand firm by the PDP as a party that has given the people of the state particularly the Ogbia kingdom a pride of place in the political history of the country.
He promised that his administration would intensify efforts to link the communities along the Anyama axis with a road to Yenagoa, the state capital, adding that he has approved the rehabilitation of the dilapidated power lines from the Kolo creek gas turbine to provide electricity for Anyama and its environs.
He assured the people of the various communities visited including Otuokpoti that if supported to actualize his re-election bid, he would surpass the achievements of his first term.
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