The former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has advised Bayelsa indigenes not to be bothered regarding the forthcoming governorship election in the state, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is poised to win the elections.
Dr. Jonathan gave the advice in Bayelsa during an interactive session organised by the PDP in the state.
According to him, ‘politics is grassroots business and PDP controls the grassroots’.
The meeting, which was held alongside a Unity Dinner, sought to reassure members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party that the Bayelsa State Chapter of the party was intact and set to have a landslide victory in the upcoming polls.
His Royal Highness A. J. Turner, the Obibomikimiki of Opume Kingdom and Chief T.K. Okorotie were also at the meeting which was the first public appearance of the former President since he left office in May.
Dr. Jonathan, who describes himself as an ordinary citizen, informed Bayelsans that he was backing the candidature of Governor Seriake Dickson who intend to contest for a second term in office.
The former President told the national officers of the party that the PDP was still the dominant party in the state.
Having heard from the owners of the land and interacted with ordinary Bayelsans, Chief Tony Anenih, who is a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, advised the state PDP to close ranks and be prepared to receive back into their fold, members who had erred.
The former President remained confident of victory despite some defections that the PDP had recorded after it lost power in the centre to the All Progressives Congress in the presidential election of March 28.
The Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said the few cases of defections were normal experience in the party, but claimed they had happened because some of the party’s members were not used to being in the opposition.
He, however, encouraged members of the party to remain committed to supporting the party, expressing optimism that the party would recover power in the centre in 2019.
