- Says party gave Ijaw platform emerge President of Nigeria
The Senator representing Bayelsa-West at the National Assembly (NASS), Seriake Dickson, has argued that Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, has no compelling reason to leave the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator Dickson, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, following the resignation of Governor Diri from the PDP.
“In Nigeria, everyone is rushing to the ruling party. You don’t even know what is pursuing them or what they are pursuing.
“But whatever it is belittles our democracy and endangers our multiparty democracy. I believe in a multiparty Nigeria. Plural Nigeria can only thrive in a plural democratic environment.
“As in this case, the governor consulted me several times, to his credit, and I was not convinced because I didn’t see any compelling reason for a second term governor to defect
“We know the issues in the PDP. The issues are there for the governors to solve, and by the leaders,” Dickson said.
Governor Diri announced his resignation from the PDP on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Speaking further at the news conference, Dickson reaffirmed his membership of PDP and emphasised his continued commitment to the party, while highlighting his loyalty.
He said: “I’m just using this time to say that I am still standing in the PDP that gave my Bayelsa people; my Ijaw people, and the Niger-Delta people, an opportunity to run elections and emerged as Vice-President, acting President of Nigeria, and President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I believe that there should be an opposition and democracy thrives on the presence of opposition political parties.
“If we don’t succeed in retrieving the PDP, in saving the PDP, then we’ll be part of a collective decision, which again should not be the ruling party, because I believe there must be opposition.
“Democracy without opposition ceases to be democracy, it becomes dictatorship from that day, it becomes totalitarianism from that day,” Dickson said.
On the nomination of Prof. Joash Amupitan as INEC chairman by President Bola Tinubu, the former governor said he supports his nomination based on the constitution.
“Opposition does not mean you have to be fighting. I’m here supporting the President’s nomination of INEC Chairman based on the constitution.
”It is the responsibility of the President to forward the name of INEC Chairman to the Senate. And he has done that.
“I know there are people who say a President, who is partisan should not have that power, but that is not the law, it is a constitutional responsibility and prerogative of the President to forward the name and if I find that worthy, I support.”
Dickson said as a federalist, he was not in political service for other considerations, but to advance the ideals of democracy and humanity.
“I am in to advance the ideals and values that are bigger than me; that are bigger than all of us. These are the things that moved me and that have brought me to this politics.”
He said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the INEC Chairman position hinged on the merits of the nomination.
“He is the kind of person that, God willing, with everyone’s support and encouragement should be able to introduce the reforms in the electoral system and even reforms in INEC itself,” Dickson said.