TheCable

Some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid a solidarity visit to former president, Goodluck Jonathan, in his Otuoke hometown, Bayelsa state, on Tuesday.

The governors were in the state for the campaign rally of Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa, who is seeking another term in office.

Those present were Olusegun Mimmiko of Ondo, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, and Dickson. Some deputy governors were in attendance as well.

Jonathan made his first public appearance after leaving office at the Samson Siasia Sports complex in Yenagoa, capital of the state, venue of the rally.

Accompanied by Patience, his wife, the former president described Dickson as the best candidate for the job, appealing to the people of the state to support the governor’s re-election bid.

In endorsing Dickson on Monday, Jonathan had said: “If Bayelsa is compared to other states in the country in terms of the level of physical infrastructure coupled with the degree of indebtedness in terms of bank loans and capital market, Dickson deserves to be praised.

“I am not expecting the governor to score 100 per cent. There are three key parametres I will like to score Governor Dickson on, which are payment of salaries, physical infrastructure and low indebtedness of the state in terms of bank loans and in the capital markets.

“If you compare what has happened in other parts of the country, you will praise the governor. People should think more about the way the state is being run and prepared for our future generation.

“Bayelsa is not a cursed state. On the notion that governors in Bayelsa cannot do eight years; it slows down the rate of development and except there is continuation in government, development will be truncated. Performance is not about satisfying individual needs and so we need to encourage Governor Dickson to go for second term.”