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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There was a massive boost for the Peoples Democratic Party PDP) in Bayelsa State as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Gabriel Claudius, aka One Million Man, defected with thousands of supporters at Elebele community, Ogbia Local Government Area.
Speaking at the defection rally over the weekend, Claudius declared that the PDP is alive, strong, and ready to take its rightful place in Bayelsa.
According to him, the people of Elebele believed the PDP would ensure dividends of democracy get to them.
Speaking in the same vein, chairman of the party, George Alabh Turnah, who was visibly elated with the massive crowd, said it was a morale booster for the PDP.
Turnah, who vowed that the PDP would reclaim its mandate in Bayelsa State, berated the APC-led government in the state for worsening poverty, hunger and unemployment in the state.
According to him, the Senator Douye Diri-led administration had promised Bayelsans prosperity, but after six years, Bayelsans had been confronted with a poverty agenda.
He challenged the state government to publish one woman or youth it has empowered in Elebele community through its centre for women and youth development.
“We have been engaging the Bayelsa State government on poverty, hunger, unemployment, and an economy that is collapsing. The administration of Governor Douye Diri promised Bayelsa prosperity, but after six years, what we have is a poverty agenda. Bayelsa is number two in the poverty index in Nigeria, according to the NBS. Bayelsans are among the poorest people in Nigeria. That is not good enough with all the allocation coming to the state.”
The leader of the party in the state, Joshua Maclver, in his remarks, pointed out that politics is not for the weak.
He noted that those who think that because Diri had defected to APC, the ruling party would have an easy ride in 2027 should have a rethink.
Maclver expressed confidence that with the level of preparedness and campaign strategy of the PDP, it would surprise the ruling party in Bayelsa.
“As the leader of PDP in Bayelsa State, I have made it very clear that those who think that because the governor has moved to APC, there would be no election as APC will take all should have a rethink. The tsunami that is coming will shock them. We are not here to joke. We are not going to win all the elections, but there are some seats in the National Assembly and in the House of Assembly that we have marked, and whether those in Government House like it or not, we are going to work hard to win.’’
Maclver had earlier visited the palace of the paramount ruler, King David Osene Osene (Ogbolo XI), where he bemoaned the state of the palace and donated N20 million and one trailer of cement to commence the building of a new palace.
