Leave Dickson alone, Etete tells Patience

An ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete, has cautioned the wife of the President, Patience Jonathan, to stop interfering in the internal politics of Bayelsa State.

Etete accused the Patience of being 'jealous' of the 'exceptional performance' of Governor Seriake Dickson, and promised to lead the fight to stop her from further frustrating Dickson.

Etete spoke on Sunday in Yenagoa at an event marking his 70th birthday.

The former minister expressed concern that instead of Mrs. Jonathan to clear the path for her husband's re-election, she preoccupied herself with anti-Dickson stance.

He wondered who appointed the President's wife as 'lord' over Bayelsa State to determine who became governor and who did not.

Etete said, 'I am using this opportunity to warn the president's wife not to make the mistake of trying to dislodge Dickson to impose a person of questionable character.

'It is a known fact that Dickson has performed beyond the expectation of most Bayelsans, and that out of nothing but sheer jealousy the President's wife and her cheer-leaders want him out to pave the way for their selfish interests.'

On the occasion, which had Dickson and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, among other leaders in attendance, Etete said his 15-year absence from Bayelsa had not prevented his understanding of political events in the state.

He condemned Mrs. Jonathan for her failure to appreciate the governor's efforts to assist her husband, Jonathan, to succeed as President.

Etete said 'We have Governor Dickson working his heart out to galvanise support for President Jonathan's second term in office. On the other hand, the Presidnet's wife is aligning with all the opposition elements in the state to create crisis for the young governor.

'Her aim is to return to power the same thieves and criminals who failed the state in the past and turned back the hands of the clock for this great state. We won't allow such to happen.'

In his remarks at the event, Clark endorsed Dickson for a second term.

'By God's grace, I'll celebrate my 90th birthday here in Bayelsa in 2017, during Dickson's second term in office,' the octogenarian said. Punch