Ogbia Restoration Crusaders (ORC) has described as completely false, claims that politicians in Ogbia local government area have the endorsement of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in the forthcoming State Assembly Primary and 2019 general elections.
The organisation therefore warned mischievous politicians, especially those jostling for the ticket of the PDP, to desist from using the name of the governor to curry favour from prospective delegates and demoralise more competent and sellable aspirants.
The group said such false claims only existed in the imagination of “those failed politicians,” adding that Dickson had not endorsed anyone and would not do so because of his democratic nature of allowing the people to decide their representatives.
The Director General of the ORC, Okaniba Damson, in a statement issued on Tuesday said that the endorsement propaganda was also intended to cause confusion among loyal members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the area.
The group recalled that Dickson had at different fora, emphatically stated that only the most popular candidate who reflected the interest and wishes of his people would be allowed to fly the party’s flag.
The ORC said that the governor’s position was corroborated by the chairman of the PDP, Hon. Cleopas Moses, during a recent live radio interview in Yenagoa.
The group stated that they would not support the return of those who failed to use their previous mandate to help the people, but were relying on the relationship their godfathers had with Dickson to facilitate their return.
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The group stressed that they were the same people going around and bragging about their closeness to the governor and using same to deceive the people.
According to the statement, all aspirants should engage in wide consultations, win the support of the people of Ogbia kingdom in their various constituencies and go on to test their popularity during the primary rather than spread rumours of being anointed.
The group also gave a vote of confidence on Chief George Etor Okirinya-led Ogbia Restoration Caucus, saying the robust acceptability and accolades accorded to Gov. Dickson in Ogbia local government area was the handiwork of their tireless efforts.
“The Ogbia Restoration Caucus led by our father and leader, Chief Hon. George Etor Okirinya have consistently galvanized formidable support for the Restoration Government in various means. Therefore, we pass a Vote of Confidence on them and called on all PDP members in Ogbia to give them the necessary support at all times.
“When those who were condemning the government were painting the governor in bad colours, the caucus stood by him and today those same people are coming to use the governor’s name as a tool for their political survival,” it said.
While reinforcing the support for the Restoration Government, the group called on all Ogbia sons and daughters to remain united and continually work for the peace and development of the area.
