PDP Carpets APC Over Exclusion Of Bayelsa in School Feeding, Wants Electorate To Be Vigilant By Enideneze Etete

YENAGOA/ The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State Chapter, has chided the All Progressives Congress (APC) for not carrying the state along in some of its policies and programmes. Consequently, the PDP, Bayelsa Central Senatorial District has cautioned voters in the district and the state not to be deceived by the populist programmes of the APC-led Federal Government, meant to cheaply get votes from the people.

Director General of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo gave an instance of the Federal Government’s School Feeding Programme as one of such programmes, which though, is to score cheap political point, yet Bayelsa is sidelined. According to him, the Federal Government promised to include other States in the scheme after test running it in pilot states, but that up till now, the programme has not been implemented in Bayelsa State.

“Bayelsa State was wickedly left out from school feeding programme. But this is where the money is sourced for that programme”, Rt. Hon. Ongolo fumed. Ongolo spoke before a crowd of PDP’s supporters during Bayelsa Central Senatorial District’s campaign rally at Igbainwari in Opokuma Clan, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the State. He said the PDP’s Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has proper knowledge of the problems of Bayelsa and the Niger Delta, contending that he (Atiku) will carry Bayelsa along when voted to office as president.

Rt. Hon. Ongolo thus called on voters within and outside Bayelsa Central Senatorial District to vote for all candidates of the party in February and March this Year. Similarly, many speakers, including Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Barr Kemela Okara; Prof. Seifa Bresibe; Engr. Olis Kemenanabo; Elder Renner Tiebiri; Barr Eunice Akeni stressed that PDP has done well, and should be voted for in the next elections. According to them, Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, just like the entire state, has been one of the strongholds of the PDP since 1999, declaring, it cannot loose it to any party. They urged the electorate to vote Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Hon.Douye Diri for Senate (Bayelsa Central); Prof. Steve Sinikiem Azaiki for House of Reps (Yelga/Kolga) and the party’s State House of Assembly candidates.

Meanwhile, standard bearers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have implored the people to remain steadfast in their support for them and other candidates of the PDP, as the elections draw closer. Speaking while thanking the people for honouring invitation to the presentation of the party’s candidates at Opokuma clan, Hon. Douye Diri; Hon. Tonye Isenah and Hon. Wisdom Fafi assured the electorate of effective representation and service delivery when elected.

In his speech, the PDP’s candidate for Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal House of Representatives, Prof. Steve Sinikiem Azaiki,urged the people of Opokuma Clan in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to sustain support for the party until the forthcoming elections are won. Speaking after being presented along with the other candidates to the teaming supporters, Prof. Azaiki appreciated the people of Opokuma clan for turning up at Igbainwari, Sagbagriea and Igbedi rallies to showcase their support for the party. He called on the electorates to translate their support into action by turning out in large numbers to give all candidates of the PDP one hundred percent votes, assuring the party won’t disappoint them when voted into power. Making remarks, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, assured that Kolga is for PDP, consequently the electorates will deliver hundred percent votes to all of the party’s flag bearers. Chief Alaibe advised youths to be firm and shouldn’t be intimidated by any party during the elections.
He said PDP took development to Opokuma clan by constructing roads and other projects to open up the area, through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Earlier at Opokuma Town, a political heavy weight in the area, Prof. Tarilah Tebepah, described Prof. Azaiki and the other candidates as well qualified for the various positions. Prof. Tebepah, stated that the PDP government in the state, under Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, has transformed the state in terms of provision of major infrastructures, saying the only way to appreciate is to ensure that PDP takes the state, presidency and the national assembly in the forthcoming elections. Speaking about the candidates, Prof. Tebepah extolled the quality of candidates paraded by the PDP, stating that, Hons. Douye Diri; Tonye Isena and Wisdom Fafi as well as Prof. Steve Sinikiem Azaiki have been properly groomed by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson to occupy the positions they are contesting.
Tebepah described Prof. Azaiki as a highly connected person, adding that his networks will enable him lobby for interest of the Yelga/Kolga Federal Constituency. Earlier, Chief of Staff to Governor Dickson, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo, said Prof Azaiki’s popularity and affiliations across many continents is amazing. Hence Rt. Hon. Ongolo appealed to the people to vote for Prof. Azaiki and the other candidates of the party, for best representations and good governance.

In his speech, during presentation of the candidates, chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the PDP, Barr. Cleopas Moses said PDP fairly nominated candidates for the National Assembly by rotating tickets to all the areas, unlike the other parties. Thus, he implored the people to vote for PDP’s candidates, stating that they all have capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy. He said, apart from that, PDP has presented candidates who have track record of good performance. According to him, Hon. Diri raised many issues affecting Yelga/Kolga Federal Constituency which he represents, as well as matters concerning Bayelsa and the Niger Delta before the House of Representatives. Therefore, he said, Diri is suitable for Senate, Moses asserted. Moses called for votes to the candidates of the PDP, for better best representation, cautioning voters that legislative business was not for the inexperienced.