Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Governor Seriake Dickson:

Eschewing party politics,Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State over the weekend called on members of the National Assembly from the state to support the ministerial nomination of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri,who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Governor Dickson made the call when members of the 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.

He 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 All Progressives Congress, 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 political campaign in PDP led Rivers state against the ministerial nomination of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who was the Director-General of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign.

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.

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.

The national lawmaker, 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.