Dickson meets Obi, condemns attempts to intimidate opposition

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

Former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, has met with one of the opposition leaders in the country, Peter Obi. Dickson also met with three opposition lawmakers in Bayelsa State for what was termed a consultative visit.

The former governor, who has emerged as a top opposition senator in the National Assembly, took to his Facebook page to share details of the meeting, stating that he had an engaging discussion on national issues with Obi.

According to him, during their discussion: “We reaffirmed our shared commitment to Nigeria’s progress and unity.”

Dickson condemned the attack on some African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftains at the residence of former governor of Edo State, Chief Odigie Oyegun, and called on the Federal Government to unravel those behind the act.

“I commiserated with him over the dastardly attempt to intimidate or assassinate opposition leaders at the private residence of His Excellency, Chief Oyegun, an 85-year-old elder statesman in Benin.

“I expressed my concerns to Mr. Obi and others affected, and I expressed hope that the Federal Government and security agencies will bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that such an act never occurs again, either in Benin City or anywhere else in Nigeria.’’

Details of the meeting with the three opposition lawmakers from Bayelsa, namely, Hon Ted Elemeforo (Yenagoa Constituency III), Hon Wisdom Fafi (Kolokuma/ Opokuma Constituency II), and Hon Godbless Oyinke(Sagbama Constituency I), were not shared.

Sources, however, stated that the meeting with them centred on political developments in Bayelsa State, especially as it affects 2027 elections.

Dickson, in media interaction in early February, refused to write off the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, noting that discussions were on-going.

Sources, however, noted that the chances of Dickson and his loyalists contesting on the platform of the PDP were increasingly slim, thus his quest for an alternative platform.