16 lawmakers pass vote of confidence in Dickson amid defection rumours

Moved by defection rumours of some members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC), 16 of the 24 members yesterday passed a vote of confidence on Governor Seriake Dickson .

Speculations were rife in the state after Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ’ s ) loss to the APC in the gubernatorial election that 10 members of the House were set to defect to the victorious party.

It was also alleged that the members were set to joined their APC counterparts to begin impeachment proceedings against Dickson .

But in an interview in Yenagoa, Speaker of the Assembly, Hon . Monday Obolo – Bobou , said the House has enjoyed unbroken stability and cohesion for almost eight years under Governor Dickson ’s leadership.

The Speaker along with 15 members also denied speculations that some members were planning to defect from the PDP to other political parties.

He said the House of Assembly has had a robust partnership for almost eight years working with the executive arm of government led by Governor Dickson in the development of the state .

Obolo – Bobou explained that three members of the party were absent at the meeting due to other official engagements in the interest of the state .

He assured the people of the state that the House of Assembly was committed to ensuring that the Restoration Government finished strong on February 14, 2020.

Also, the Deputy Speaker , Hon . Abraham Ngobere and representative of Yenagoa 2 , Hon . Ebiwou Koku – Obiyai, said the members were committed to serving the people who elected them .

Meanwhile, the Presidency has described as reports that former President Goodluck Jonathan was blackmailed to support the APC in the just concluded Bayelsa State governorship poll as false and irresponsible , insisting that the party won the governorship election convincingly .

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu , expressed shock that such a story could be considered believable to the point of being published in some national dailies .

“ It just doesn ’t make any sense . Our media really must learn to verify whatever they publish. And people who make wild allegations during interviews should be made to produce the facts backing their claims by editors .

“ A newspaper can be sued for granting space to people who belch false allegations against individuals with no proof . ”
Shehu said the former president had been out of power for almost five years and without any previous allegations of government blackmail cropping up .

He also noted that there were enough reasons for Jonathan to work against the PDP in the just concluded Bayelsa polls without interference from President Muhammadu Buhari .
“ Anyone who has been following the politics of Bayelsa State should be aware of the sour relationship between Jonathan and Governor Dickson. That ’ s more than enough reason for the former president to decide to work against his party, if indeed he did .

“ We really must stop this habit of blaming President Buhari for everything , including issues that should ordinarily not be his business,” he added .