A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dan Etete, has warned the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to desist from meddling in the internal politics of Bayelsa state.
He also accused the First Lady of being “jealous” of the “exceptional performance” of Dickson with a promise to lead the fight to stop Mrs Jonathan from further sabotaging the efforts of the governor.
The former minister who spoke at the weekend in Yenagoa during an event to commemorate his 70th birthday, expressed surprise that instead of clearing the path for her husband’s re-election, the First Lady had preoccupied herself with a mission to remove Governor Dickson from office.
He wondered when it became a rule that Mrs Jonathan should determine who becomes governor and who should not.
“I am using this opportunity to warn the First Lady not to make the mistake of trying to dislodge Governor Dickson to impose a thief and a criminal as Governor of Bayelsa State.
“It is a known fact that Dickson has performed beyond the expectation of most Bayelsans, and that out of nothing but sheer jealousy the First Lady and her cheerleaders want him out to pave way for their selfish interests,” Etete said.
At the event which had Governor Dickson and prominent Ijaw leader and First Republic Minister of Information, Edwin Clark, among other in attendance, Etete stated that his 15-year absence from Bayelsa had not blocked his understanding of political events in the state.
He carpeted Mrs Jonathan for failing to appreciate Dickson’s efforts to assist her husband Dr. Goodluck Jonathan succeed as president.
“We have Governor Dickson working his heart out to galvanize support for President Jonathan’s second term in office. On the other hand, the First Lady is aligning with all the opposition elements in the state to create crisis for the young governor.
“Her aim is to return to power the same thieves and criminals who failed the state in the past, and turn back the hands of the clock for this great state,” noted Etete, stressing, “we won’t allow such to happen”, he stressed.
Also speaking, Clark endorsed Governor Dickson for a second term. “By God’s grace, I’ll celebrate my 90th birthday here in Bayelsa in 2017, during Dickson’s second term in office,” prayed the octogenarian.
Responding, Governor Dickson thanked the Ijaw leaders for their support, stressing that the re-election of President Jonathan should be the concern of all those who truly love Nigeria.
The Governor called for the collective efforts of Ijaw leaders for what he described as “sincerity of purpose.”
While challenging the people to stand up for what they believe is right, Dickson said it was impossible to claim to support President Jonathan’s re-election bid and at the same time be causing confusion in the President’s home state.
“You can’t claim to be for Mr. President and yet be sabotaging his home state”, Dickson said in apparent reference to the First Lady.
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