Stakeholders Move To Stop Seriake Dickson Over Bayelsa West Zoning Pact

Stakeholders of Bayelsa West Senatorial District, comprising Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Governments of Bayelsa State, have warned the member representing the district, Senator Seriake Dickson, to respect the zoning arrangement and drop his ambition to re-contest.

Briefing reporters in Yenagoa, the stakeholders, drawn from the two Local Governments, promised to revolt and mobilise the electorate against the candidature of the former governor if he decided to re-contest the senatorial election next year.

The stakeholders, under the aegis of Concerned Indigenes of Bayelsa West Senatorial District (CIBWSD), said there had been an existing zoning formula in the district since 1999 with the Senate and House of Representatives seats being rotated between the Councils, adding that it was the turn of Ekeremor to produce the next Senator.

One of the conveners of the socio-political pressure group and former Security Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Perekeme Richard Kpodoh, who is from Sagbama, wondered why Dickson, who claimed to be a proponent of zoning, would turn to become a champion of no zoning.

He said: “We don’t want the selfish interests of a few persons to jeopardise the peace between the people of Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Governments”.

“Why are we now dragging the senatorial position? It is greed that is leading us to this situation now. We are hearing that some people have contributed money to buy form for Dickson. You and I know that these are gimmicks and it is time for us to speak out.”

“How can only one person, you brought your Personal Assistant from nowhere and made him Commissioner for Works. It did not end there, the game was still on. You made that man again a Senator to hold that seat for you.” 

“When the time was due, you pulled him out and made him a Deputy Governor and you now occupy the senatorial seat. He made a statement that he was coming to complete the tenure of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.” 

“Today, you are fighting to go back. I ask a lot of questions; one, what are your contributions to Bayelsa State? For eight good years, we don’t have anything to show for it. We are in debt. What about the N1billion he claimed he was saving every month? Do you know how much it is for eight years?”

“Let them give us the account of their stewardship. Let them tell us how much they left behind for the new government that is there now. It is not by being arrogant and pompous, claiming what you are not meant to be.” 

“The truth is that, in Bayelsa West, there is a zoning system and that zoning stands. Let me also remind you that the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has agreed on zoning. So, who are you to challenge the party?”

Another co-convener of the group, Prince Bodi Arerebo, of Sagbama Local Government, said: “Sagbama and Ekeremor remain united. Our unity cannot be overemphasised. We will not allow anybody to divide us”.

“The issue of elective positions in Sagbama and Ekeremor is based on zoning. We should not allow anyone of us to cause catastrophe and acrimony within the brotherhood and love that we have shared over the years.”

“We will not allow unscrupulous, barbaric set of human beings; those who want to make themselves semi-gods, to come and destroy the peace that has been sustained over these years between Sagbama and Ekeremor.” 

“If any man wants to play God and undermine the people, what we are talking about is justice, fairness and equality. The people of Sagbama and Ekeremor will support what we call total revolution because power is in the hands of the people and we will do everything humanly possible to stop him.”

Emiemokumor Michael, a co-convener of the body, said if Dickson insists on re-contesting the senatorial election, the electorate would resist him.

He said, “Power lies in the electorate. They will decide who to vote for on the day of election because the voters in Ekeremor and Sagbama know that there is a zoning system.”

Michael recalled when Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who hails from Ekeremor, was stopped by the then governor, Dickson, from contesting while attempting to continue after doing eight years in the Red Chamber, in adherence to the zoning pact.

He alleged that those claiming to have donated N10million to buy Interest Form for Senator Dickson to re-contest were sent by their paymaster to cause confusion and fan the embers of disunity in the zone.
He urged Governor Douye Diri, the leader of the PDP in the state, to address the issue, to avoid pending implosion in the party.