Dickson, Tompolo, Asari-Dokubo strategise for Jonathan’s re-election campaign

Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa state, has held a meeting with ex-militants in the Niger Delta region, as part of measures to ensure the success of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

In attendance were Kingsley Kuku, special adviser to the president and chairman of the presidential amnesty programme; Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, founder of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force (NDPVF); and Government Ekpemopulo (a.k.a Tompolo), a former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation for the Niger Delta (MEND).

Ebikabowei Victor Ben (a.k.a. Boy Loaf), also a militant leader and Udengs Eradiri, president of the Ijaw Youth Council also attended the meeting, which held in Yenagoa on Saturday.

Dickson said the time had come for stakeholders and interest groups in the region to pull resources together and work in one accord to ensure victory for the president.

He described the re-election campaign of the president as crucial to the development aspirations of the country in general and the Niger Delta in particular.

“As youths and freedom fighters, I urge you to woo your neighbours beyond the Niger Delta region to ensure the re-election of the president,” Dickson said.

Dickson said victory at the polls would afford the president the opportunity to consolidate on the achievements recorded in the various sectors of the economy.

Condemning the attacks on the convoy of Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi states, the kinsman of the president noted that Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the opposition party, was allowed to campaign peacefully in Bayelsa.

“You are witnesses to how the opposition presidential candidate campaigned here and left peacefully without any form of molestation,” Dickson said.

He called on the youths not to allow themselves to be deceived by empty promises and gifts from mischief makers, adding that such gifts and situations are not in the interest of the state and should be rejected.

In their collective resolve, the ex-militants pledged to work with other youth groups and stakeholders to ensure that Jonathan wins the election