N1.5b expenditure on Dickson’s declaration is false – Ijaw group

The Ijaw Young Professionals in Bayelsa State has denounced the claim that about N1.5b was spent to host the recent declaration of Governor Seriake Dickson

[above] for a second term in office. 

Dickson had last Tuesday at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, the state capital, made a formal declaration in the presence of his PDP political family, friends and associates.

An unpopular organization in the state, Bayelsa Surveillance Group (BSG) thereafter claimed that the event cost the state N1.5 b using public funds.

But in its reaction on Thursday, the Ijaw Young Professionals (IYP) decried the accusation as “cheap and baseless propaganda” against the governor and his administration.

It also said the accusers were faceless as the purported surveillance group does not exist but a decoy sponsored by the opposition, All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Timi Alaibe, to deceive the people.

“It’s laughable to make such unfounded claim”, it said.

The reaction which was contained in a statement made available to the press in Yenagoa and signed by the spokesman, Barr. Seighfa Tonye-Brown said the accusation could not have been true knowing Dickson’s stand on public spending over time.

“Governor Dickson is a very principled, strict and morally upright gentleman. He will not spend a dime of government money to fund his declaration. 

“As one of the many pro-Dickson support groups that took part in that declaration, I should inform all such rumour mongers that we spent our own resources to mobilize two thousand of our members to attend the event to express our solidarity with the governor. 

“I know for a fact that similar support groups also contributed money to make their presence felt at the rally. 

Of course, we are aware that the APC governorship aspirant, Timi Alaibe, is behind the wild rumour because he is now jittery over the groundswell of support and popularity of the incumbent governor. It has nothing to do with government. 

“Governor Dickson is not the kind of person who will spend state resources for himself. He is that strict and those who are peddling such devilish propaganda are just being wicked and mischievous”, he stated.

The group called on Bayelsans to continue to support Dickson’s re-election, stating that “he is one man who means well for the state and cares about the prosperity of the people”.

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