SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, (THEWILL) – The Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has regretted that the five-year period of the Goodluck Jonathan administration was a wasted opportunity as it did not bring about the needed development to the state.
Jonathan, who is the immediate past president, hails from Otuoke in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state, and had close aides from the state serving in the Presidential Villa between 2010 to 2015 when he reigned.
Dickson spoke on Tuesday when he
led his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) and members of his cabinet to the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, where handful of Ijaw leaders and youths gathered for the annual celebration of their hero, Major Adaka Boroh, who fought and died for the self determination struggle.
The governor stated that during the Jonathan years, ministers and other presidential aides from Bayelsa state were after selfish interests, thus losing the unique opportunity of attracting development to their state.
Speaking before laying wreaths at the tomb of Boroh in the Heroes’ Park, he recalled that the persons who served in the Presidency for six years failed to work with him in the quest to bring development to the state.
Dickson stated that they were rather preoccupied with “devilish plot” of unseating him and installing another governor in his stead.
“They suffered from the Bayelsa-Ijaw disease of pulling-him-down syndrome,” he said.
The governor lamented that similar scenario was playing out in the current administration at the federal level, where ministers and aides from the state had refused to use their positions to assist his government’s developmental efforts.
He added: “It is true that we are celebrating Boroh, but ask yourself whether you are doing your bit. Boroh came, saw and did his bit and has gone. I and my team have come and we have taken up the battle from where Boroh stopped and we are doing our duties.
“Each of us must examine ourselves and to be frank we have not done very serious examination in this state and in the Ijaw nation. We cannot blame God. God has been very merciful and kind to us particularly of late.”
The Nation reports that the event was also attended by former Military Administrator of old Rivers State and King of Twon Brass, Alfred Diette-Spiff; wife, daughter, other family members of the late Boroh and some traditional rulers.
