BAYELSA GUBER: DICKSON DECLARES AMIDST TIGHT SECURITY
House of Representatives member and governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson has formally flagged off his campaign to fly the party's flag under tight security. He promised to rid the state of what he called bad leadership and reckless abuse of power and resources.
The tight security, which included a combined team of soldiers, mobile police, anti- bomb squad of the Nigeria Police and State Security Service (SSS) might not be unconnected to the killing of five Bayelsa youths on the eve of the campaign.
The killing, which took place at a pub in Edipie was said to have prompted the security agencies to beef up security around the venue of the flag-off to forestall any ugly incident.
Dickson in his address to the crowd of supporters drawn from the eight local government areas of the state commended the people for turning out despite attempts to intimidate them with the killing of the five youths on Sunday.
According to him, he and others behind the Bayelsa Restoration Team were the ones who campaigned for and installed the present administration into power. He, however, lamented that having observed the state of things in the state, the team had decided with the support of the people to effect a change in the administration in the state from February 2012.
Recalling his life as a police constable in 1986, Dickson said he learnt the true meaning of service as a policeman as he devoted his life to fight crime and criminality, adding that he was offering himself again to help restore the dignity of Bayelsa State.
His words: 'I am reporting for duty of service to restore Bayelsa to its lost glory. I am aware of the fundamental principles of this state and I promise to reconcile the people. I want to offer service to rescue the state from the grip of anarchy, insecurity, bad leadership and reckless abuse of power and resources.'
Dickson who challenged the present administration to present its score card before it could run for another term lamented that the Sylva government could not run for office on its strength of achievements.
While carpeting the Sylva government for not fulfilling its promises on the three senatorial roads, model schools and other basic infrastructure, he pointed out that he did not plan to contest but was prevailed on by the people.
Dickson promised to unveil an economic blueprint that would ensure the diversification of the Bayelsa economy, as well as operating a transparent and open government. He assured the people that once he was elected, education of Bayelsans would be a priority as he would redesign and build modern primary schools in the state.
Meanwhile the Bayelsa State Police command has launched an investigation into the killing of the five people on Sunday. Police sources said investigations commenced immediately the news of the killing got to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hilary Opara