BAYELSA GUBER: DICKSON BEGINS CAMPAIGN

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the February governorship elections in Bayelsa, House of Representatives member, Henry Seriake Dickson, in his bid to penetrate the grassroots for electoral victory has inaugurated 1,500 volunteers from 300 communities in the state in the Keme-to-Keme (Person-to-Person) campaign strategy.

Dickson who expressed happiness that the PDP was not alone in the agenda to restore Bayelsa to its lost glory noted that the efforts of the volunteers would go a long way to ensure that the reign of the present administration came to an end.

He said, 'I want to thank all of you for believing in our vision to change Bayelsa State. With volunteers like you, the crusade has just started. We are happy that the PDP is not alone as you have bought into the new vision to transform Bayelsa State. Just spread the gospel and I assure you that the days of destruction are over; the days of under development are over and the days of wasteful venture are over in Bayelsa. We must build new roads, new infrastructure, revive our educational system, health sector and power.

'In Bayelsa State as we talk now, we are faced with what I call arrested development or arrested destiny faced with underdevelopment in the face of huge allocation. We don't even know how they spend our money or use our resources, your resources. They seat in Abuja and apply state funds and share with their allies to pursue things that are not beneficial to me and you. With available funds, we can build roads to Oporoma, Nembe, Brass, Agge and so on. We can also create new employment. For us, we will run a government that will not abuse state powers.'

The initiator and coordinator of the Keme-to-Keme, Dr. Stella Dorgu, said the team of volunteers was committed to the cause of enthroning good governance in the state. She said the 1,500 team spread across the eight local government areas would go from door-to-door to spread the message of change brought by the Dickson/Jonah PDP gubernatorial ticket to develop the state.

Meanwhile, at the commencement of governorship campaigns in Yenagoa, Dickson accused Sylva of allegedly misappropriating public funds belonging to Bayelsa State.

While lamenting that Yenagoa did not befit the status of a state capital, Dickson declared that he would launch a new campaign modus operandi, 'Operation Vote Them Out', so that the new administration could implement the Yenagoa masterplan.

'The situation in our dear state is what I call arrested development or arrested destiny. No development is taking place in Bayelsa State for now.

'The people are very desperate and because they know they have not done well, they are afraid. Instead of using the state resources to build roads and other things, they are buying bombs and training our boys. But with your prayers and support, a new dawn has come in Bayelsa. Please, turn out en mass during the election and vote for change. We have to vote out those who are playing bazaar with our resources.'