Bayelsa: APC Parading Expired Politicians, Says Senator Ogola

With less than three months to the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State, Senato Foster Ogola, representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, has expressed optimism that the incumbent governor of the State, Henry Seriaki Dickson would be reelected because his contenders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) “are all expired politicians.”

Speaking with journalists on Monday in Abuja, Ogola said all Bayelsans should disregard any politician going about misinforming Nigerians on the state of things in the state as the Governor has done very well.

He said, “Bayelsans are determined to return Seriaki 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.”

According to him, neither a former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe nor a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, who are aspiring to be governor under the platform of the All Progressives Congress constitute a threat to Dickson.

He challenged Alaibe to account for the N45 billion that was allegedly siphoned “in the name of masterplan which has no bearing” while he was in NDDC.

Ogola said contrary to the falsehood being promoted by John Kojo Brambaifa, on behalf of Alaibe, Governor Dickson has transformed Bayelsa state into a modern city, adding that the next four years will be used to consolidate on what he has achieved.

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 never won any election.

“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.”

“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.

“Over 40 projects whose contracts were awarded by NDDC under Alaibe were not executed. Bayelsans should beware. He should explain the N183 billion audit query which was a voluminous document from Auditor-General of the Federation.

“Such fraudulent characters need not be believed by members of the public. We designed the three senatorial road projects in Bayelsa State. Dickson has completed the bridge started by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and DSP Alamieyeseigha. We survived the economic down turn because of the prudence of Dickson. Sylva’s reign was an era of kill and throw away; but under Dickson, we have restored night life to Yenagoa.

“We also have a robust educational sector, all free education. From this October, every institution in Bayelsa State will be boarding school. Alaibe had followed no politician. He always try to buy off appointive positions. He couldn’t use the vehicle of the NDDC to develop the Niger Delta.

“He awards contract to cronies. Who is following the Niger Delta masterplan? All he specialises in is blackmailing his MDs. That has been his weapon and kettle of fish. He awards contract to crony firms. He has 70 per cent of shares in JCC. He was one of those who ran down Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN). He should explain why he was detained after Interchange went down.”