By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

Ahead of the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State, a group, Society Watch Group (SWAG), has thrown its weight behind the second term bid of Governor Seriake Dickson, citing his numerous achievements. The Coordinator of SWAG, Douglas Koroye who spoke in Yenagoa called on the people of the state to come out en masse to ensure the Governor’s return to Creek Haven to enable him consolidate on the gains of his first term in office.

Gov Dickson

According to him, it was necessary for all Bayelsans to remain committed in their support for Dickson’s Restoration Government.

He said, “We have seen what he has done and his resolve towards the key interest of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation, which no one can wish away.”

The youth activist cautioned the people against politics of greed and self-centeredness which, according to him, were the bane of the state.

He noted that true development could only be made possible when public-spirited leaders were at the helm of affairs, as exemplified by Dickson who has made transparency and accountability the mantra of his administration.

This, according to him, should be the concern of the people rather than cultivating cut-throat politics and blackmailing his administration.

He insisted that the group endorsed Governor Seriake Dickson for a second term based on his record of performance in the last forty-seven months, adding that the Governor’s track record in terms of provision of infrastructure, education, health, urban renewal, economic diversification and general restructuring of the government to deliver on the welfare of the people were clear indications that he meant well for the state.

He said aside the massive infrastructural development embarked upon by the administration across the state   in spite of the dwindling revenue which had affected all the states, Dickson was still paying salaries of workers.

“We have seen his performance in terms of infra­ structural development and it is important that we don’t lose sight of the accountability and transparency policy which the government is running in the state. “Bayelsa State is not only paying workers’ salaries promptly but is also not listed among high profile debtor states,” he said.

“We believe that time and only time will vindicate the efforts made by the Governor in bringing the dividends of democracy to Bayelsans,” he declared. Dickson, he noted, has ensured even spread of projects in the state, citing the completion of the long abandoned Ebeni Bridge, the ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma Road in the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District and the Sagbama-Ekeremor road in the Bayelsa West Senatorial District among several other projects.

“After a thorough and unbiased assessment of a wide spectrum of the people-friendly policies, programmes and massive infrastructural projects that are evident in Bayelsa State, we at SWAG have resolved that Governor Seriake Dickson deserves our support for a second term in office to consolidate on his restoration agenda,” he said.