A youth organization, the Bayelsa Youth Vanguard (BYV), has joined the fray between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson.
Governor Wike recently accused Dickson of trading off the last governorship election in the state in exchange for protection from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after leaving office.
Wike, who was also reacting to earlier positions of the Bayelsa governor that he sponsored the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, said Dickson had wanted to join the APC but was blocked by the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
Wike also derided Dickson on performance, saying he could not make infrastructural facilities available to the state.
The BYV, in a statement by Barrister ThankGod Erekefe, its Secretary, said Wike’s outburst was mere “hallucinations of a drunken man” who was all out to falsely discredit Governor Seriake Dickson and as such his comments should be disregarded by the public.
The statement said it was inconceivable that Dickson would condescend to join the APC in such a crucial election and would not be exposed by the opposition party than as a major political campaign weapon.
It also countered Wike on the allegation that Dickson was seeking EFCC protection after office, saying such comment was tantamount to blackmail as Governor Dickson had all along acted well his path in office and would not be afraid to render a full account of his dedicated stewardship before and after leaving office.
“Our attention has been drawn to the various comments credited to Governor Nyesom Wike wherein he unjustly derided Governor Seriake Dickson over the recent governorship election in the state and in particular the accusation of trading off the election to curry favour of protecting him after leaving office.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. Governor Dickson had all along acted well his path in office and would not be afraid to render a full account of his dedicated stewardship before and after leaving office. Dickson remains a staunch member of the PDP and his various strong positions on the roles of federal institutions leading to the manipulations of the said election are our cogent convictions on his integrity as a leader of substance. He is surely a politician of conviction.
