Elder Statesman And Foremost Ijaw Leader Chief Edwin Clark Endorses Gov Dickson For Another Term In OfficeSays Achievements Unprecedented
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has endorsed Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State for a second term in office given his track record in the developmental strides of the state in his 2 years old administration.
Chief Clark made the declaration during the re-burial of Major Adaka Boro as part of activities marking the Ijaw hero day celebration in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The elder statesman contended that Governor Dickson would go down in the annals of history in the Ijaw nation as the leader who brought home the remains of Adaka Boro to be buried in his ancestral land, which he said many people have not been able to do.
His words: 'You are now an Obama in Ijaw nation. Today, you have done what many people have not been able to do. You went to the place where the body of Boro was buried, exhumed it and today his remains are being re-buried
Today, you have changed the face of Bayelsa, particularly Yenagoa, the state capital. The structures are new you have new infrastructure everywhere. What is not new? It is in this regard that, we have decided to present this to you to show to you that you have to serve a second term to change the face of Bayelsa State.'
In his remarks, Governor Seriake Dickson warned unpatriotic Nigerians, who are playing politics with the current security challenges rocking the country to turn a new leaf.
The governor, who spoke alongside other eminent personalities including Dr Martin Luther King 111 from the United States of America, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade, who represented one-time Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, stressed the need for peace, noting that every crisis situation has its own attendant cost.
He observed that though some positive political developments have taken place since the death of the departed Ijaw freedom fighter, a lot of the issues Boro fought against are still inhibiting the progress of the nation.
While calling on youths of the Niger Delta region to continue the struggle using intellectual means, Hon. Dickson urged Nigerians of all persuasions to cooperate with President Goodluck Jonathan to work for the enthronement of a just, equitable and restructured Nigeria where no particular section will be superior to others.
His words, ' While we are grateful as a people for the support that you have continued to give to Mr President, we also want to remind those who want to create crisis; those who are playing politics with terrorism as a political tool to have a rethink because conflict, conflagration and crisis of any kind all have cost.
'Today lying before us is part of the cost of war, so let us collectively dedicate ourselves to a just, equitable and egalitarian Nigeria which Boro fought and died for. Our position as a state as presented by our delegates at the ongoing national confab is unmistakable. We stand for an equitable, restructured and truly federal Nigeria where all is equal and none is superior to the other.
'To our youths, let me tell you that the frontiers of Boro have changed because they are now intellectual. You are coming into a society that is increasingly knowledge-driven and in the new battle field where you are aspiring to take over from where Boro stopped, you must equip yourselves. That is why we are building schools and sending a whole lot of you out there. Part of what you have to learn from this memorial activity for our dear hero is that you must all work hard to equip yourseves with the right skills, values and knowledge to serve our people and country.'
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade, who represented former head of state, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Captain Samuel Owonaro were among dignitaries who paid glowing tributes to departed Ijaw freedom fighter, Late Major Isaac Adaka Boro.
Others who gave valedictory speeches include Acting President of the Ijaw National Congress, Engr Charles Ambaiowei, Boro's compatriot in the Nigerian Army, General Godwin Alabi-Isama (Rtd), his classmate at Hussey College Warri, Gen. Orho Obada, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, pioneer military governor of old Rivers State and Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.
Speaking at the event, Martin Luther King the 3rd, advocated non-violent revolution in the fight against injustice and oppression and appealed to the kidnappers of the 200 Chibok schoolgirls to release the girls and reject terrorism.
He also stressed the need to empower women and the girl child stating that if the people must change the world, women needed to be protected since they form a greater percentage of the population in the world.
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State