There had been much anticipation in the days leading to the Presidential campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State given the alleged chasm between Governor Serikae Dickson and the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan.
The First Lady had been alleged to be behind those scheming to be working to stop Governor Dickson from aspiring towards a second term in office.
For her alleged inclination, some stakeholders in the state had warned the first lady not to come along with the president for the rally. Her supporters on the other hand were alleged to have also conceived a plot to humiliate the governor by booing him at the campaign ground.
As if envisaging trouble, the organisers had banned the use of sachet water which they feared could be used by any of the warring sides to pelt their antagonists on the podium.
Even more, a day to the rally of last Friday that the police came out in full force in a show of force to intimidate the troublemakers.
As early as 8.00 a.m. thousands of residents of Yenagoa had trooped out of their homes early as 8am to line up the major roads to give the august visitors a rousing welcome. To bolster the crowd, the state government had closed all schools in the capital city for that day.
The massive crowd at the stadium, including large number of pro-Jonathan groups led by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and Women groups, defied the sweltering sun singing dancing as the event was turned into a huge carnival..
The situation was not different outside the campaign ground as the army of supporters who could not access the sport facility waited patiently for over six hours for the arrival of the president, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan herself a great mobilise, and their entourage.
Some women and men who could not stand the scorching sun collapsed. Many were dehydrated as they were barred from entering the campaign ground with sachet or bottled water following alleged security reports of plan to use such objects as missiles.
It was as if God saw the plight of the crowd, the heaven opened up and poured its showers of rain to cool the heat just as the President was about to give his speech at the event.
The fear of many security officials and non-partisan political observers was quickly brought to fore when Governor Dickson rose to welcome the president and his delegation. Just as he commenced[i] a section of the crowd as had been feared booed him[/i] but this was countered by the singing and drumming of his supporters.
But the governor, a former policeman was hardly perturbed as he proceeded as if unbothered by the revolt of his political antagonists who had reportedly combined with those who have faulted his slow execution of stomach infrastructure.
The president, however, later came to his aid to rebut the insinuations in some quarters that the First Family was agreed on the campaign to hound the governor out of office.
Clad in Ijaw traditional attire and amidst thunderous applause from supporters, the president expressed happiness to be back and appreciated the support he has received from the people of the state during his political journey which has seen him move from deputy governor to president.
He was quick to address the issue of the alleged contention between his wife and Dickson as according to him, the relationship between him and the governor remained good and that anyone that quarrelled with the latter should consider it a fight against him.
President Jonathan, who described his coming to the state as a thank you visit and not a campaign, urged Bayelsans not to be deceived by the antics of his (Dickson) detractors but to work with the governor to develop the state.
“Let me use this opportunity to make it clear that for me to work hard and help my people I am working closely with the governor of the state and you must make sure that you support us.
“Those who don’t like the governor don’t like me. I am hearing stories of people who are coming to spoil your minds. If you don’t like the leadership we put in place, you don’t like me. Don’t allow people to spoil your minds you young people.
Jonathan’s comment was a soothing balm to Governor Dickson’s camp as it was seen as an open endorsement of the governor’s second term bid given the insinuations that he has lost the support of the President in the wake of the alleged frosty relationship with the First Family.
According to the President, “I have noticed that you are being instigated by those who don’t like us and I am telling you that you must work with the governor of this state for you to benefit from us. We are together, we are working together to bring the dividends of democracy to this state and don’t allow anybody to deceive you. I am telling you as a father, uncle and elder brother that we must work with the governor to develop the state”.
He thanked Bayelsans for their support assuring that his administration would ensure that everybody enjoy the fruits of democracy.
Dame Patience in her own speech did not give the governor such dignity. She neither recognised him nor paid protocols to him as in her speech, she focussed on the re-election of her husband.
Rather, she called on the women of the state to intensify prayer for the re-election of her husband based on performance and the fulfilment of the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in the country.
Dame Jonathan also called on the Nigerian women to support President Jonathan in order to be ahead in modern technology including the use of computer for study as against what she referred to as “Analog” way of life.
Other speakers at the rally included the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, the Chairman of the South-South Governors and the Cross Rivers State Governor, Senator Imoke and the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu.
It was indeed a rally to remember and a victory for the Dickson’s camp following his open endorsement by the President.
Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/jonathans-home-trouble-dame-dickson/#sthash.9q0mRmXv.veUolBPS.dpuf
The First Lady had been alleged to be behind those scheming to be working to stop Governor Dickson from aspiring towards a second term in office.
For her alleged inclination, some stakeholders in the state had warned the first lady not to come along with the president for the rally. Her supporters on the other hand were alleged to have also conceived a plot to humiliate the governor by booing him at the campaign ground.
As if envisaging trouble, the organisers had banned the use of sachet water which they feared could be used by any of the warring sides to pelt their antagonists on the podium.
Even more, a day to the rally of last Friday that the police came out in full force in a show of force to intimidate the troublemakers.
As early as 8.00 a.m. thousands of residents of Yenagoa had trooped out of their homes early as 8am to line up the major roads to give the august visitors a rousing welcome. To bolster the crowd, the state government had closed all schools in the capital city for that day.
The massive crowd at the stadium, including large number of pro-Jonathan groups led by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and Women groups, defied the sweltering sun singing dancing as the event was turned into a huge carnival..
The situation was not different outside the campaign ground as the army of supporters who could not access the sport facility waited patiently for over six hours for the arrival of the president, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan herself a great mobilise, and their entourage.
Some women and men who could not stand the scorching sun collapsed. Many were dehydrated as they were barred from entering the campaign ground with sachet or bottled water following alleged security reports of plan to use such objects as missiles.
It was as if God saw the plight of the crowd, the heaven opened up and poured its showers of rain to cool the heat just as the President was about to give his speech at the event.
The fear of many security officials and non-partisan political observers was quickly brought to fore when Governor Dickson rose to welcome the president and his delegation. Just as he commenced[i] a section of the crowd as had been feared booed him[/i] but this was countered by the singing and drumming of his supporters.
But the governor, a former policeman was hardly perturbed as he proceeded as if unbothered by the revolt of his political antagonists who had reportedly combined with those who have faulted his slow execution of stomach infrastructure.
The president, however, later came to his aid to rebut the insinuations in some quarters that the First Family was agreed on the campaign to hound the governor out of office.
Clad in Ijaw traditional attire and amidst thunderous applause from supporters, the president expressed happiness to be back and appreciated the support he has received from the people of the state during his political journey which has seen him move from deputy governor to president.
He was quick to address the issue of the alleged contention between his wife and Dickson as according to him, the relationship between him and the governor remained good and that anyone that quarrelled with the latter should consider it a fight against him.
President Jonathan, who described his coming to the state as a thank you visit and not a campaign, urged Bayelsans not to be deceived by the antics of his (Dickson) detractors but to work with the governor to develop the state.
“Let me use this opportunity to make it clear that for me to work hard and help my people I am working closely with the governor of the state and you must make sure that you support us.
“Those who don’t like the governor don’t like me. I am hearing stories of people who are coming to spoil your minds. If you don’t like the leadership we put in place, you don’t like me. Don’t allow people to spoil your minds you young people.
Jonathan’s comment was a soothing balm to Governor Dickson’s camp as it was seen as an open endorsement of the governor’s second term bid given the insinuations that he has lost the support of the President in the wake of the alleged frosty relationship with the First Family.
According to the President, “I have noticed that you are being instigated by those who don’t like us and I am telling you that you must work with the governor of this state for you to benefit from us. We are together, we are working together to bring the dividends of democracy to this state and don’t allow anybody to deceive you. I am telling you as a father, uncle and elder brother that we must work with the governor to develop the state”.
He thanked Bayelsans for their support assuring that his administration would ensure that everybody enjoy the fruits of democracy.
Dame Patience in her own speech did not give the governor such dignity. She neither recognised him nor paid protocols to him as in her speech, she focussed on the re-election of her husband.
Rather, she called on the women of the state to intensify prayer for the re-election of her husband based on performance and the fulfilment of the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in the country.
Dame Jonathan also called on the Nigerian women to support President Jonathan in order to be ahead in modern technology including the use of computer for study as against what she referred to as “Analog” way of life.
Other speakers at the rally included the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, the Chairman of the South-South Governors and the Cross Rivers State Governor, Senator Imoke and the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu.
It was indeed a rally to remember and a victory for the Dickson’s camp following his open endorsement by the President.
Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/jonathans-home-trouble-dame-dickson/#sthash.9q0mRmXv.veUolBPS.dpuf
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