…Enjoins him to leave Seriake alone
…Wants him to apologise to PDP
By Lubem Gena, Abuja
The Niger Delta Coalition of Civil Society Organizations have alleged that Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike Esq has used resources at his disposal to work tirelessly to ensure the defeat of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last elections in Bayelsa state.
Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, Comrade Fubara Briggs who led the members of the coalition insisted that there are evidence to point to their conclusion.
In his words: “The Governor of Rivers state had also funded the opposition in Bayelsa state to the tune of 5 Billion naira just to ensure that the PDP is humiliated. So if there is anyone to resign from the PDP for anti-party activities, it must be Governor Nyesom Wike. No responsible leader can achieve any meaningful milestone with the kind of flippancy, unguarded utterances and random bullying as demonstrated by the Governor of River State.
“As our kinsman, we have known Wike as a local government chairman, as a chief of staff to Governor Amaechi, as a Minister of the federal republic and now as a Governor. For us we do believe that something is wrong somewhere as the Wike we used to know is grossly at variance from the Wike of today who now speaks randomly before he thinks”.
According to him, it is rather surprising that in all the insults, abuses and accusations, the Governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson has remained calm, unperturbed and docile which are fundamental characteristics of quality leadership.
Mr. Wike had accused Governor Dickson of selling out and betraying the PDP for losing the 16th November, 2019 Governorship election in the state and for this reason, Governor Dickson should resign from the party.
“Firstly, the entire world is aware now that there was no election in Bayelsa state. What took place in Bayelsa was that all the collation/Returning officers from Benin City were handed over to the APC chieftains in various communities and already prepared results were adopted and returned.
“The killings of over 20 persons in Nembe Local Government Area during the PDP campaign was a major indicator. The fact that territories were already controlled by some blood thirsty militants who refused and prevented even observers from getting to some areas was a major threat to our democracy.
“The fact that communities were sacked and driven away and these people became Internally Displaces Persons (IDPs) in Yanegoa due to their preference for one political party was mind burgling and an indicator that the election was already compromised. Ordinarily, the election couldn’t have been lost going by the unprecedented giant -stride achievements and monumental infrastructural developments of the Seriake Dickson’s administration.
“Again, the fact that Seriake Dickson was able to institutionalize the culture of transparency in the state makes him stand out from most Governors. Every month, Bayelsans are assembled and all the federal allocation, IGR, expenditure, salaries, etc were stated clearly with inputs from labour, formal and informal private sector, civil servants, etc were made.
“So it becomes evident that Mr. Wike is really the one who has sold the PDP by first congratulating the opposition president on his victory in the court of Appeal. Wike’s candidate did not emerge in the presidential party primaries so he worked for the opposition against his party, the PDP.
“By this medium we wish to ask the Governor of Rivers State to issue an unreserved apology to the people of Bayelsa state, his party, the PDP and to Governor Siriake Dickson for speaking in a most unruly manner and for maximum betrayal of the party within a fourth night of this briefing.
“Finally, it is our firm belief that leadership models across the world are competing, they are also contending. But utterances that are derogatory is by all means and ramifications certainly anti-social and inimical to all leadership qualities globally”, the coalition emphasised.
