Lokpobiri challenges Gov Dickson to prove arms allegation

Akam James, Yenagoa

The Minister of state, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has challenged the incumbent Governor of Bayelsa state, Hon. Seriake Dickson, to prove beyond words the allegation that the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in the state was stockpiling arms for the general elections in the state. The Minister gave the challenge through a statement by his media aide on Monday in Yenagoa, noted that it is on record that Dickson is the one stockpiling arms and using the instrumentality of some security agencies to harass, intimidate and bully the people. He also accused the governor of going ahead of the elections to appoint militants as Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Local Government Councils in order to use them in perpetrating violence across the state, adding that luckily, the security agents are now on red alert to deal with anybody caught fomenting trouble or instigating violence in the state. Speaking further, Lokpobiri said Dickson has undertaken a voyage of blame-game against the main opposition political party, accusing the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state of, “plotting to use the security agencies to rig, manipulate and unleash violence on voters in the state.” In the warped imagination of the governor, the leadership of the main opposition political party in the state, “is arming thugs with all sorts of ammunition and weapons to attack the electorates.” This allegation comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with the political antics and deceit of the governor. It is on record that every time the governor contemplates or indeed perpetrates any political violence and sinister acts, he is always the first to come out to cry blue murder. The statement further read “APC is not surprised at this recent allegation by Dickson. Suddenly, it has dawned on His Excellency that the game is up for him following last week’s protest rally led by the leadership of APC where the plot by the Governor to use the police to kill, maim, cause violence and eventually rig the forthcoming elections in the state was exposed to the whole world. Only last week, some hoodlums, who were later found to be card-carrying members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were apprehended with guns molesting and harassing innocent citizens in Yenegoa, the Bayelsa State capital. These miscreants upon interrogation revealed the source and funders of the arms found in their possession. The moving train is on in Bayelsa and not even Dickson can stop the movement. The APC is moving in full force to reclaim the state, starting with a landslide victory at the Presidential and National Assembly polls, which will take place on Saturday, February 16. The door-to-door political campaign of APC has since commenced throughout the nooks and crannies of the state and Dickson is obviously frightened at the wave and massive support APC is receiving in its fold in the state. The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (PhD) is of the firm position that there is no reason for APC, a party cruising to electoral victory to be involved in any form of political violence or amassment of weapons, or the recruitment of any political thugs for that matter. Lokpobiri believes that Dickson is only trying to run away from his negative shadows haunting him, by cooking allegations to cover up his failure in office. The governor should face the obvious challenge of explaining his stewardship in office to the people of Bayelsa. He must explain what he did with the over N1.3 trillion he has so far received from the Federal Government. The obvious truth, according to the Minister, is that, in this state controlled by PDP, they have done nothing. What Dickson has gotten is more than N1.3 trillion in about 7 years from the Federal Government, excluding local government allocations, excluding loans. Unfortunately, if you go to Yenegoa it is a ghost of a city; Yenegoa is the darkest city in the world. Dickson is not developing new infrastructure nor is he maintaining the existing ones. Look at the roads, everything has gone kaput. Bayelsa people are like forgotten lots. The governor is conscious that his tenure in office would soon come to an end and it would be time to account for his stewardship, this is why he is panicky. It is time for PDP to pack and go.