Bayelsa Guber: We are not afraid of APC – PDP Senator

Senator Foster Ogola representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, on Monday declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not afraid of aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the December 5 governorship election.

He, however, assured that the incumbent governor, Seriaki Dickson, will be returned on the platform of the PDP describing other contenders as expired politicians.

He specifically stated that neither a former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe, nor a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, who are governorship aspirants under the APC do not pose a threat to Dickson.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, Ogola urged Bayelsans and Nigerians to “ignore expired politicians” who have been going about misinforming the public on the true state of things in Bayelsa state.

Ogola stated that Dickson has transformed Bayelsa state into a modern city. He added that in the next four years the governor will to consolidate on what he has achieved so far.

He said, “The PDP cannot be scared or afraid of Timi Alaibe’s entrance into the governorship race. Dickson is not scared of Sylva. President Muhammadu Buhari was elected because of his anti-corruption stance right from when he was Head of State. Why should APC be presenting characters having one case or the other. Timi Alaibe is not on ground in Bayelsa, he has not won election.

“Bayelsans are determined to return Seriake Dickson. But some political charlatans are trying to misinform the public. Some expired politicians are the ones trying to mislead and misinform the public. They have no followers. They said in the interviews they granted that Governor Dickson has not commissioned any project since he assumed office. My senatorial district was not on the national grid until Dickson connected us.

“Governor Dickson runs an all-inclusive government. He pays the aged in the state and has saved so much money for the people because of financial prudence. Dickson has brought transparency into governance. Now, local governments give account and that is because Dickson ensured it. There is safety of lives and properties. Night life is back. Nobody thought that flyovers were needed in Bayelsa until Dickson brought it.”

He wondered why the opposition are saying they need to change the guards, if Dickson has done very well.

“If APC is talking about fighting corruption, why will they field a candidate like Timi Alaibe? All the people they are fielding have one or two corruption cases hanging on their necks. When Alaibe was NDDC boss, did he develop the Niger Delta? He has no follower-ship and therefore does not pose any threats.

“Let me tell you. Timi Alaibe has no followership. He has never won any elections. He is a political gambler. He shops from one political party to another. Timi Alaibe will not win in his own local government when elections are held on the 5th of June,” Ogola stated.