I run inclusive government in Bayelsa, says Dickson

GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson has predicated his popularity in Bayelsa State on the inclusive government, which he ran in the last three and half years.

He also dismissed insinuations that he does not enjoy the support of the former president, Goodluck Jonathan, saying if there was anyone who believed and understood the imperative of why he should be re-elected, it was the former president.

The governor who hinted of his plan to make public his intention to seek a second term in office, also said he has been able to make impact in the lives of the people of the state in the last three and half years.

Stressing that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remained the party to beat in Bayelsa, he said the coming “governorship election is not a big deal” compared to the House of Assembly poll that took place in the state last April.

The governor noted that the party, being in control of both the state and local governments, has placed him ahead of any other contenders for the governorship position.

Commenting on the gale of defection that had hit the state chapter of the PDP, Dickson said although the party would have loved the members to stay in the party, he stressed that they could not sway the election in favour of the opposition in the state.

He described the defectors as those who benefitted largely from his administration, saying a lot of them were currently handling huge contracts.

“They didn’t come begging for those jobs; we sought for them. Alaibe has his nominees in government even as we speak, all of them,” he said, adding that such act would, however,, not dissuade him from doing good.