Supporters of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming election in Bayelsa State have staged a massive rally in Yenagoa, the state capital to showcase their strength and readiness to win in the election slated for February.
The rally, tagged, One-Million-Man March, featured solidarity speeches, dances and songs in favour of Serieke Dickson, who emerged victorious in the contentious primary last month.
The crowd marched through major streets of the state capital, brandishing Dickson’s campaign materials and extolling his virtues as a seasoned political leader who should be supported by all.
The massive turnout and show of support by the PDP supporters, however, caused some difficulty along the major highways and streets in the state capital, with motorists finding it difficult to access their routes.
The rally, which was organised by the New Nigeria Initiative (NNI), an advocacy group led by the former commissioner for Agriculture under the administration of Governor Timipre Sylva, attracted hundreds of youths, women and political leaders in the state.
The? supporters later converged at Seriake Dickson’s campaign office on? Okaka Road, where his running mate, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) and other party chieftains were on hand to receive them. Jonah,? a former commandant of the Nigeria War College, urged the supporters to be steadfast and committed to the PDP.
But reacting to the development, the Bayelsa State government, through the commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Chief Nathan Egba, condemned the blockade of major roads in the state by the group in the name of rally.
“The government of Bayelsa State under Chief Timipre Sylva wishes to commend the people of the state for their patience and self restraint in the face of undeserved suffering imposed on residents of Yenagoa today by some politicians under the guise of a million- man march.
“Knowing full well the nature of our roads and taking into cognizance the festive season in which people and goods need to move about freely, one would have expected any public spirited politician not to embark on activities that would severely disrupt? people’s lives,’’ Egba said in? a statement.