Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders at the weekend promised to mobilise two million people in Bayelsa State for a march to support the governorship candidate of their party for the November 16 election, Senator Douye Diri.
The leaders under the auspices of the Ijaw Leaders Consultative Forum (ILCF) said they took a decision to support Diri to enable him consolidate on the achievements of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson.
ILCF in a statement signed by its Leader, Hendricks Opukeme, said the current challenges confronting the Ijaw nation could not be entrusted in the hands of a local community pipeline contractor.
Congratulating Diri for his emergence as the flag bearer of the PDP, Opukeme said the candidate was versatile and prepared for governance in all ramifications.
He said: “Most importantly the emergence of Douye Diri could not have come at a more appropriate time than now considering the fact that there was actually anxiety and trepidation from well meaning ijaw as to who succeeds Governor Seriake Dickson.
“We want a candidate that would not only consolidate on the achievements of the Restoration administration but understands the cause and salient issues confronting the Ijaw nation within the context of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We therefore, commend Governor Dickson for the clarity of purpose,direction and commitment which characterized the political process that culminated in the emergence Senator Douye Diri.
“The ijaw Leaders Consultative Forum commend PDP for the conduct of credible and transparent primaries and we urge all shades of opinion who participated in the primaries to close rank and vote massively for Senator Douye Diri.
“As part of our collective support ,endorsement and solidarity, the Ijaw Leaders Consultative Forum is billed to stage a two million man open air rally in Yenegoa in the next couple of weeks.
“The rally would draw participants from the youths, women,organized kabout, civil society, ethnic nationality platforms, faith based organisations, community based groups,student union governments,market associations, academia and professional associations.
“The development challenges confronting the Ijaw nation and the calling of a governor cannot be entrusted in the hands of a local community pipeline contractor as the APC intends.
“Consequently, the good people of Bayelsa State is therefore enjoined to rally behind Senator Douye Diri who is versatile and prepared for governance in all ramifications”.
