APC lacks presence to win in Bayelsa, says Jonathan – TheNigerialawyer

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared the Bayelsa
State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa
State lacked the political presence at the ward, local government
and state levels to win the November 16, 2019, governorship
election.

Jonathan, who spoke during the PDP Elders Advisory Council
meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, explained that the large
number of PDP aspirants showed the dominance of the party as as a
preferred platform for the election.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media
Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the former President as
saying that the PDP had all the requirements to record a landslide
victory at the forthcoming poll.

Jonathan commended Governor Seriake Dickson, the state Chairman
of the PDP, Mr. Moses Cleopas and all critical stakeholders
including the 21 aspirants for working for the continued stability
of the party.

He said that it was important for the PDP to get its acts
together so that it would not create room for opportunistic
platforms to steal the party’s victory.

He said: “I need to plead with all the aspirants and all
political leaders that there should be no mudslinging. We must free
the space and eschew rancour because finally one person will become
the candidate of the party and for that one person to win the
election, all aspirants must work for that person.

“It is only our unity that can give us victory and if we are not
united, they (APC) can get away with it.

“For example, it took the unity of the people of Rivers State
including women who were resolute against soldiers to get the PDP
victory in the state. If that had not happened, they (opposition)
would have taken it.

“For us to secure this state for PDP we need maximum unity and
that is why all the 21 aspirants are important to us; we must have
that maximum unity and must not create any form of division or
discrimination.

“At the end of the day one person will emerge and all of us will
work for whoever emerges as candidate of the party”.

Dickson stressed the need for members of the party to forge a
united front to maintain its dominance and control of power in the
state starting with the local council elections billed for August
10.

He called on all members of the party, particularly the
governorship aspirants to work hard for the victory of the
chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the PDP in the
Saturday’s election.

According to Dickson, the large number of governorship aspirants
only showed the democratic nature and style of leadership of the
PDP.

He called on the national leadership to complement the effort of
the state in providing a level playing ground for all the
aspirants.

The Governor explained that if he had taken a decision to stop
aspirants from picking the form, the reactions would have affect
the peace and stability of the party.

He said: “When people say that 21 aspirants are too many, I
disagree. In 2006 we had close to 11 aspirants and for a party that
is strong, has strength and attraction and connection, that is the
dominant political platform, it is expected.

“It’s not completely out of order as a ruling party, with all
that we have done and with the way we have decapitated, decimated
the other party because they virtually don’t exist in this
state.

“So it is normal for any serious-minded person who wants to
serve our people to think of doing so on our dominant platform
which we have led and all of us has built and made stronger even in
the face of very serious opposition. So my leaders, for me, there
is nothing to lose sleep over”.

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Eid-Kabir: FG Declares Monday, Tuesday, August 12-13,
2019 as Public Holidays

The Federal Government has declared Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th
August as Public Holidays to mark the 2019 Eid-Al-Kabir
celebrations.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Barr. Georgina
Ekeoma Ehuriah, MON, who made the declaration on behalf of the
Federal Government, congratulated the Muslim faithful on the
occasion and called on all Nigerians, at home and in diaspora, to
use the period of this year’s Eid-Al-Kabir celebration to embrace
the virtues of love, humility, peace and sacrifice as exemplified
by the Holy Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh).

She urged Nigerians to shun any form of disruptive tendencies
and join hands with the Federal Government to build a peaceful,
strong and united Nigeria so as to achieve an enviable Next Level
of growth and development.

Barr. Ehuriah reaffirmed the determination of the President
Muhammadu Buhari led-administration to protect the lives and
properties of Nigerians, adding that Security Agencies under the
Ministry have been directed to ensure the provision of adequate
security, before, during and after the the Eid-Al-Kabir
celebrations.

The Permanent Secretary restated Government’s desire for all
Nigerians to live a life of sacrifice, charity and love for one
another.
She wishes Nigerians a Happy, peaceful and fulfilling Eid-Al-Kabir
celebrations.

SIGNED
Mohammed Manga
Director (Press & Public Relations)
For: Permanent Secretary
6th August, 2019