Sylva has failed to deliver democratic dividends – Jonathan

The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday said the former Governor of the state, Timi Sylva, failed in his four years as governor to deliver democratic dividends to the people of the state.

Jonathan, who spoke at the gubernatorial campaign of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in Bayelsa State, said this was the major reason the party did not give its ticket at its primaries to Sylva.

He said it was evident that the people of the state were not pleased with Sylva’s performance, adding that the possibility of the party losing the election was quite high if it fielded Sylva as its candidate.

Jonathan said: “Everybody knows that in our society, we need development.

“I was second in command to (former Governor DSP) Alamieyeseigha.

“One thing I remember is the Tower Hotel.

“It was not my dream but it was conceptualised under the Alamieyeseigha administration. He discussed with the contractors.

“It is supposed to be a five-star hotel and it would attract people from all over the world.

“But now, it is a monument of disgrace. One thing I know is that God is with Bayelsa people.”

Jonathan said it was not just the hotel project Sylva failed to deliver on.

He said the former governor has nothing to show for his first term in office.

He said the party’s candidate of the gubernatorial election, Henry Seriake Dickson, must perform or risk protests from the people.

He added: “Dickson, you brought the people from Abuja to present you the flag.

“The only thing I want to do is to tell you that sometimes ago I was in Bayelsa and the people stoned the governor.

“I was here and you must work hard for Bayelsa not to stone you.

“The day they stone you, I will follow to stone you.”

A former Minister of Works and former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, said at the campaign: “You can never grow older than your parents.

“When you grow older than your parents, you will never grow old.

“When a child insisted on eating the vulture and the father tried to convince him not to and he insists, it will be better you tell the child that those that ate vulture in the past are no more.

“I am happy that the President is from the South South.

“He needs the backing of the people.

“It is sad to hear that someone we don’t know can challenge him. It will not happen again. All is well.”

Dickson said: “In the new PDP government in the state, we will be working with the youths and elders to replace Bayelsa’s lost glory.

“We want to turn Bayelsa to the Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation.

“We will work with the people. I am aware of the unwarranted attack on the President, the blackmail and the rest.

“When we look back at what we did, prosperity will say we have done the right thing.”