Recently re-elected governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, on Tuesday canvassed support for the immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark, in the February 19 rerun for the seat of the Benue South Senatorial District.
The Court of Appeal had last year nullified Mr. Mark’s victory in the March 28 senatorial election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh election in the district.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Daniel Onjeh, had challenged the election of the former senate president who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Mr. Dickson, who toured the senatorial district, told the council of elders and chiefs at the Och’Otukpa’s Palace in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, that he was in the state not only to condole the family of his late commander of escorts, Ameh Ogbeh, a police inspector, but also to sensitize the people of the district on the dangers of exposing their territory to outsider during the poll.
He urged the people to return Mr. Mark to the upper legislative chamber to enable him continue with his good works.
He said, “I am one of you. Many of your sons and daughters are part of what I am doing in Bayelsa State. I have Idoma people as special advisers, aides, down to my domestic staff, unto whom I entrust my life. So, I am an Idoma man and whatever affects Idoma people affects me.
“I shall be back before the rerun election and I want you to know that, this is time, when Idoma nation has to stand for itself! All of us in Nigeria are looking up to the good and powerful people of Benue South Senatorial District in this rerun election.
“We want the people of Idoma to again, do what we did in Bayelsa State. Let Idoma people take their collective destiny in their own hands. Recently in Bayelsa, we resisted imposition from outside. We didn’t allow somebody from Abuja, Lagos or elsewhere to come and determine who leads us in our land. We did it in Bayelsa State and I’m sure Idoma people can do it here.
“This is not the time to wage war against ourselves. This is the time to protect the pride and dignity and honour of Idoma nation. Whatever it will take, I shall come back to assist people like Comrade Abba Moro and others in educating the people on how to defend their land, politically.
“I am an Idoma man and whatever touches Idoma people touches me. I have no doubt that the good people of Idoma would return Senator David Mark in the rerun election”.
Responding, the paramount Ruler of Otukpa who represented the Och’Idoma, Sunday Ekele, thanked Mr. Dickson for his continuous supports and contributions to the development of Idoma nation through the appointment of many Idoma sons and daughters into key positions in the Bayelsa State Government.
Also speaking, the member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hassan Saleh, and the Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Media and Strategies, Francis Agbo, lauded the leadership qualities of Mr. Dickson which they said, had a multiplier effects on the Idoma people.
