Yesterday, the Governor and his Deputy, party chairman, campaign DG and all stakeholders visited me at my country home in Toru Orua.
I accompanied the governor and his entourage to the palace of my elder cousin and king, His Royal Majesty, King Seiyefa Koroye, Pere of Tarakiri Kingdom and he gave them his royal blessings.
The leaders of my community, the paramount rulers of Toru Orua and Bolou Orua and the Kolobiri council of chiefs treated us to a war canoe display Ama-aru (Orua traditional war canoe) in which we had a ride. There after we addressed the people who assembled from the senatorial district, stakeholders of the party including leaders, youths and women across the state.
In my brief remarks, I welcomed the governor, his deputy and his entourage to my community and home. I thanked him for his presence of mind in coming to visit me. I made him know that it is his home and it shows he has not forgotten where he started.
When he became governor, I told him that the crocodiles in the Orua lake (Oka lake) doesn’t feed on the fish in the lake but goes elsewhere to feed and then return. Almost four years down the line, I believe yesterday he saw and understood the meaning of that.
I also stated that his coming shows that as a hunter in the ‘governorship forest’, he knows the roots from which he started and I pray that he does not get distracted by the squirrels, birds, snakes, insects and several wild animals in the forest.
I put a question to the people assembled whether they will support his candidacy for a second term and they all unanimously answered yes and I affirmed that the coast is clear.
I told the governor that he should not bother to campaign in Sagbama as that is a strong base of the party but he should feel free to go round, interact and greet his people as I am a party leader from Sagbama and together with the deputy governor and other stakeholders working, Sagbama is the safest anyday. Ekeremor, even with some of the shenanigans the past few years, is equally relatively strong.
By my personal convictions, I do not believe anyone can or should govern for another and I have shown since 2019 that I mean that in all its ramifications and have again by my conduct, tolerance, wisdom, distance and political maturity set another standard since living office which has become a reference point for a number of former colleagues, and which has also become a basis for the existing political tranquility in the state inspite of everything.
Apart from non interference and the distance observed in a government I facilitated, the governor runs his government freely as he deems fit without interference in all matters and without me even coming around. I have been available for consultation and advice, whenever he deems fit and to his credit, he finds time to visit me whenever he is in Abuja and for me that is ok.
Arising from this in 2019, when he became candidate, even when I was seating governor, my position was that he and his running mate should traverse the nooks and cranny of the state, know and interact with the people, know the state and the problems of the people as he prepares for governorship. That has been my standard. I only led the campaign in my senatorial district and in the governor’s Local Government where I needed to remind them of the importance of not loosing the golden opportunity I and the PDP offered them at that time. I also led the campaign in Yenagoa Local Government the state capital.
Now almost four years in office, my position which I discussed with the governor is that he again should lead the campaign and present himself to the people, interact with them, know their problems more and be the face of his reelection campaign. While I and other stakeholders, remain at the background giving support and playing advisory roles as we have always done.
I reminded him from my little experience that there is no small election and every election must be taken seriously. Secondly that an election is not over until it is over. Thirdly, that attention should be paid to the details of the election day activities, that is the election ground game despite an impressive campaign.
I also said in my capacity as one of the leaders of the state, that I have a duty, using this opportunity of his visit to call on all contestants to maintain peace and stability in all communities, wards and Local Governments in the state. That as governor for eight years, I laid the foundation for peace, tolerance in the state which he is building on and that the other candidate is himself a major stakeholder and experienced. The former president of the IYC and others I do not know are also contesting and I called on all of them to work together for peace, that the election is not a do or die affair and that after elections we remain brothers, friends and fellow Bayelsans and Ijaws.
I fought against violence and criminality for eight years, stopped political rascality and pettiness and indiscipline in governance and the public service generally. I established institutions and mechanisms for enduring peace, while holding on to my own firm and strong belief on issues in the interest of Bayelsa and Ijaw nation.
All contestants, leaders and parties should tone down the abusiveness and hate speech on social media and focus their campaigns on issues.
The youths of Bayelsa should not be canon fodder for anyone’s ambition, nor should they be used to derogate and run down elders of the state on social media as is currently happening.
I call on the traditional rulers to be apolitical and to maintain peace and stability in their domains. I also call on the security agencies to maintain peace and not allow or condone any form of brigandage or violence in any part of the state.
I commend the state party chairman and his executives at all levels, the Director General of the campaign and his campaign council for the impressive campaigns so far.
I wish the governor, his running mate and our party the best.
HSD.
