President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday gave reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stopped ex-governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State from seeking re-election attributing his exclusion to Sylva’s poor performance in the last four years in office.
In his first public statement since the PDP leadership shut out Sylva from participating in the governorship primaries, President Jonathan said even the people of the state were not pleased with Sylva’s tenure noting that it was the reason they stoned him during the October 2011 presidential rally.
He cited the non completion of the Tower Hotel and some other vital projects as some of Sylva’s sins.
His words: “Everybody knows that in our society, we need development. I was second in command to Alamieyeseigha. One thing I remember is the Tower Hotel. It was not my dream but it was conceptualised under the Alamieyeseigha administration. He discussed with the contractors. It is supposed to be a five-star hotel and it would attract people from all over the world. But now, it is a monument of disgrace. One thing I know is that God is with Bayelsa people.”
Addressing a crowd at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex Yenagoa, to formally flag-off the PDP governorship campaigns, President Jonathan lamented that Sylva was unable to complete any laudable project within his first four years in office.
Presenting Mr Henry Seriake Dickson as the party’s flagbearer in the forthcoming governorship election, President Jonathan warned that if elected into office, Dickson must perform, otherwise he (Jonathan) would join the citizenry in stoning him for non performance.
“Dickson, you brought the people from Abuja to present flag. The only thing I want to do is to tell you that sometimes ago I was in Bayelsa and the people stoned the governor. I was here and you must work hard for Bayelsa not to stone you. The day they stone you, I will follow to stone you,” Jonathan told the governorship candidate.
He noted that the peoples’ acceptance of the PDP must be translated into projects that would add meaning to their lives.
Appealing for support on behalf of Dickson, President Jonathan said the PDP remains the party to defeat in Bayelsa State.
In his remarks, a former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, also justified the exclusion of ex-governor Sylva from re-election.
Sounding philosophical, Anenih likened Sylva’s sins to stubbornness and inability to heed sound counsel. He however did not give details of the sins. His words: “You can never grow older than your parents. When you grow older
than your parents, you will never grow old. When a child insisted on eating the vulture and the father tried to convince him not to and he insists, it will be better you tell the child that those that ate vulture in the past are no more. I am
happy that the President is from the South-South. He needs the backing of the people. It is sad to hear that someone we don’t know can challenge him. It will not happen again. All is well.”
Dickson, in his speech, said he was humbled by the massive support he has enjoyed, stressing that he would not disappoint the people. “In the new PDP government in the state, we will be working with the youths
and elders to replace Bayelsa’s lost glory. We want to turn Bayelsa to the Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation. We will work with the people. I am aware of the unwarranted attack on the President, the blackmail and the rest; when we look back at what we did, prosperity will say we have done the right thing”, he stated.
Though party chieftains from across the country attended the rally, members of the National Assembly from Bayelsa State, the eight local government chairmen and some members of the state House of Assembly were absent.
Other dignitaries at the occasion include Senate President David Mark, PDP acting chairman, Alhaji Baraje; ex-BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, and Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Allison-Madueke among others.
In his first public statement since the PDP leadership shut out Sylva from participating in the governorship primaries, President Jonathan said even the people of the state were not pleased with Sylva’s tenure noting that it was the reason they stoned him during the October 2011 presidential rally.
He cited the non completion of the Tower Hotel and some other vital projects as some of Sylva’s sins.
His words: “Everybody knows that in our society, we need development. I was second in command to Alamieyeseigha. One thing I remember is the Tower Hotel. It was not my dream but it was conceptualised under the Alamieyeseigha administration. He discussed with the contractors. It is supposed to be a five-star hotel and it would attract people from all over the world. But now, it is a monument of disgrace. One thing I know is that God is with Bayelsa people.”
Addressing a crowd at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex Yenagoa, to formally flag-off the PDP governorship campaigns, President Jonathan lamented that Sylva was unable to complete any laudable project within his first four years in office.
Presenting Mr Henry Seriake Dickson as the party’s flagbearer in the forthcoming governorship election, President Jonathan warned that if elected into office, Dickson must perform, otherwise he (Jonathan) would join the citizenry in stoning him for non performance.
“Dickson, you brought the people from Abuja to present flag. The only thing I want to do is to tell you that sometimes ago I was in Bayelsa and the people stoned the governor. I was here and you must work hard for Bayelsa not to stone you. The day they stone you, I will follow to stone you,” Jonathan told the governorship candidate.
He noted that the peoples’ acceptance of the PDP must be translated into projects that would add meaning to their lives.
Appealing for support on behalf of Dickson, President Jonathan said the PDP remains the party to defeat in Bayelsa State.
In his remarks, a former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, also justified the exclusion of ex-governor Sylva from re-election.
Sounding philosophical, Anenih likened Sylva’s sins to stubbornness and inability to heed sound counsel. He however did not give details of the sins. His words: “You can never grow older than your parents. When you grow older
than your parents, you will never grow old. When a child insisted on eating the vulture and the father tried to convince him not to and he insists, it will be better you tell the child that those that ate vulture in the past are no more. I am
happy that the President is from the South-South. He needs the backing of the people. It is sad to hear that someone we don’t know can challenge him. It will not happen again. All is well.”
Dickson, in his speech, said he was humbled by the massive support he has enjoyed, stressing that he would not disappoint the people. “In the new PDP government in the state, we will be working with the youths
and elders to replace Bayelsa’s lost glory. We want to turn Bayelsa to the Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation. We will work with the people. I am aware of the unwarranted attack on the President, the blackmail and the rest; when we look back at what we did, prosperity will say we have done the right thing”, he stated.
Though party chieftains from across the country attended the rally, members of the National Assembly from Bayelsa State, the eight local government chairmen and some members of the state House of Assembly were absent.
Other dignitaries at the occasion include Senate President David Mark, PDP acting chairman, Alhaji Baraje; ex-BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, and Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Allison-Madueke among others.
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