Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday commended the developmental strides of Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, saying the state had progressed under his administration.
Jonathan, who spoke during the inauguration of the state Peoples Democratic Party Elders Advisory Council in Government House, Yenagoa, insisted the state had taken shape under Dickson.
A statement by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Media Relations Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said the former President praised the governor for building a befitting edifice as office complex and official residence for the governor and his deputy.
Jonathan, who noted he was visiting the new Governor’s Office for the first time, expressed happiness that the complex provided office spaces for other appointees of the government.
The former President recalled that former governors including himself used to reside in bungalows while in office.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the governor for this office. I am saying s because this is the first time I am entering the office and luckily all of us here are part of this story from 1996 and then of course as politicians when we took over May 1999.
“I knew that we started by using a bungalow, the party secretariat as the Government House office and so on. The governor started from living in a bungalow, the deputy also in a bungalow that was how when started and now the state has taken shape.
“We are now in a standard office. The governor is also residing in a standard house so Bayelsa state is progressing.
“So I thank the governor very sincerely. I always say that if you have the opportunity to be a head somewhere, president or governor, chairman of council or any other position, you should be able to add value to the environment”.
Jonathan observed the major problems within the PDP were internal crises but said that the Elders Advisory Council would play a key role in resolving all conflict and contending issues to move the party forward.
Dickson said the PDP was poised to retain its control of the state following the gubernatorial election scheduled for November 16, 2019.
He called on all gubernatorial aspirants under the platform of the PDP to avoid attacking one another and countering alleged subversive activities of the opposition in the state.
The governor, who called for stronger cohesion within the party, advised members and aspirants to avoid pursuing their ambitions at the expense of the party.
“The ambitions are legitimate but we must note that what is important is our unity and cohesion within the party”, he said.
The governor said the state chapter of the party was at a critical point where elders and members must come together to ensure victory and successful transition of power from one PDP government to the other.
Inaugurating the 61-member advisory council, the State PDP Chairman, Cleopas Moses, described the council as a vital organ of the party similar to the Board of Trustees, recognised by the party’s constitution in every state chapter.
He said with the caliber of people in the council, it was evident that no other political party could overshadow the PDP and win election in the state as Dickson had ensured victory for the party at all levels.
The meeting appointed Elder Statesman, a former member of Armed Forces Ruling Council, AVM Larry Koinyan, (retd) as the Chairman of the Council and Talford Ongolo as Acting Secretary.