A former governor of Bayelsa State and current Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, Seriake Dickson, has declared his support for candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Duoye Diri, who is seeking a second term of office ahead of the November 11 election in the state.
Dickson, who had previously been silent and not participated in any of the governor’s campaigns since it kicked-off three weeks ago, finally put to rest speculations of rift between him and the governor.
Speaking Thursday when he hosted Diri at his Toru-Orua country home in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, Dickson said Diri’s re-election will be a smooth sail.
He said the coast was clear for Diri to be elected for a second term while endorsing him and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The former governor applauded Diri and his campaign team for relentlessly mobilising support and strengthening the political base of the PDP in the state, stating that there was no opposition in the state to contend with him in the forthcoming election.
Dickson said, “I congratulate the Director General of the Diri governorship campaign and his team on doing a good job by galvanising the base of our party. I can see that the coast is clear. From the eyes of an experienced hunter, l can see that your current hunt will be very successful.”
He also expressed optimism that the governor and his running mate’s second tenure will be successful if given the mandate.
The former governor, who said Diri’s visit was a demonstration of the fact that he had not forgotten where he started his political journey, however, explained that his absence from the governorship campaigns was deliberate.
“When l endorsed Senator Diri in 2019, all hell broke loose. But today, l am very happy that the Diri they said l imposed on them has become a good product for Bayelsa. The visit of the governor and his entourage demonstrates that a man who starts hunting in the thick forest, started from somewhere and this visit shows that he had not forgotten the road from where he got into that thick forest,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri appreciated Dickson for his support over the years.
He said, “For the benefit of anybody who is in doubt about the relationship between Senator Dickson and I, l want to make it clear that there is no rift between us. I am sure beyond reasonable doubt that he is with me.
