The second term bid of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has received a boost following the decision of the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to support the incumbent in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The former First Lady, who for long had been at loggerhead with the incumbent governor and even resigned her appointment as a Permanent Secretary in the state civil service was said to have directed all her loyalists and aides of the former President in the state to work selflessly for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to ensure the party maintains its dominance in the predominantly riverine state.
Sources close to the former First Lady, claimed the decision to support the PDP and the second term bid of Dickson was based on the need to resist the perceived plan by the All Progressive Congress, APC, to dislodge PDP in Bayelsa, home base of the former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Others claimed that her decision to reconcile with Dickson was based on the series of interventions from some prominent Bayelsa elders, including former governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyesiegha.
A close relative of President Jonathan, Engr. Mike Ogiasa, confirmed that though the processes that led to the reconciliation between Dickson and the former First Lady were not known to him, she remained a strong supporter of the PDP.
He said: “As a close family member, I known her very well. She can suppress her anger against someone and do the right thing. As am talking to you, I believe, as a typical PDP woman, she can never support another political party against the choice of the PDP.
“In politics, there is unity in diversity. People disagree to agree. It was not a hidden fact that Governor Dickson was at loggerhead with Dame Jonathan. But it is also true that, by human nature, she may not have supported Dickson.
“But she has weighed it and discovered that the election is beyond Dickson. And because she is from Bayelsa and Rivers States, she knows what it took the Rivers man to retain the PDP leadership. She cannot now because of anger allow Bayelsa to be under the APC.
“Though I don’t know who she is supporting but I know that she can never vote APC against the PDP. If anyone emerges outside Dickson at the PDP primaries, she will support the person. And if Dickson emerges as flag bearer, I am hundred per cent sure she will support him.”
He added that the silence of the former President should not be termed anti-party posture against the PDP ahead of the forthcoming governorship primaries and election.
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