Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah, Retd, on Wednesday charged political parties in Nigeria, under the auspices of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, to promote, protect and project the unity of the country, despite their political affiliations.
Rear Admiral John-Jonah, gave the charge, when the National Legal Adviser of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Barrister Kenneth Udeze led members of IPAC’s electoral committee as well as the
newly elected members of the Bayelsa State chapter, to pay him a courtesy call at Government House, Yenagoa.
He stressed that, in other climes, national issues are not taken for granted by both the ruling party and the opposition, so as to ensure that, development is enthroned and called on politicians to encourage their followers to imbibe the spirit of unity of purpose.
He noted that, the division in the country has never been more pronounced as it is presently and expressed joy that, the various political parties are working together to prove that, the country can be better administered.
The Deputy Governor, who congratulated IPAC for conducting a free, fair and credible election in the state, urged those who have emerged victorious to be magnanimous in victory and the losers, to give the needed support to the new executive, stressing that, the essence of holding political office is to offer service.
Rear Admiral John-Jonah recalled that, after the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state, Governor Seriake Dickson made the move to bring everyone together, because of his conviction that, after elections, state and nation building should take center stage.
He acknowledged that, due the governor’s experience and robust approach, divergent views of the various political parties are accommodated, leading to stability of the state and the Niger Delta at
large.
The Bayelsa State deputy Governor, however assured that, the state government will remain committed to the development of the state by completing all projects targeted at impacting positively on the people, despite the fact that, it has less than 14 months left of the administration.
Earlier, the leader of the IPAC delegation, Barrister Kenneth Udeze had commended Governor Seriake Dickson for his giant developmental strides in the education, health, infrastructure and other critical sectors, as well as for the payment of monthly stipends to political parties in the state.
He recalled the role the body played in ensuring that, the mandate of Governor Dickson was not scuttled at the Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja and urged political parties to give support to any government that prioritizes the welfare of the people.
Similarly, the newly inaugurated IPAC Chairman in Bayelsa State, Pastor Eneye Zedougha, expressed gratitude to Governor Dickson for supporting IPAC in conducting successful elections, which was adjudged the most legitimate so far across the South-South and South-East Geo-Political Zones.
Pastor Zedougha, however appealed for an upward review of the monthly stipends to political parties in the state, the provision of a befitting secretariat and a vehicle to enable them run affairs of the body effectively.
