Greater Bayelsa Youth for Change (GBYC), a group of respected Bayelsa State indigenes with an impressive membership at home and in the Diaspora have come hard on President Goodluck Jonathan. They, however, hailed Governor Seriake Dickson for succeeding in keeping PDP in the state more formidable despite all odds.
The group, under the leadership of Comrade Abadi Timi said at a media briefing in Lagos recently that, “Jonathan’s lack of focus led him to undermine his state, instead of supporting Dickson who has been with him all through.”
According to Comrade Timi, “Presently, Dickson has so repositioned PDP in the state, which resulted in the April 11 polls’ victory by the party with 20 out of the 22 announced results. This is more of a referendum of the Dickson administration, because, he had inherited an entirely House of Assembly members dominated by Timipre Sylva loyalties.”

Timi said, “Another area we looked at is Dickson cordial relationship with labour. This is exemplified by the recent Labour Day reduction of PAYEE tax by 20 percent. The implication here is that being federal government taxation, Dickson will be paying the shortfall on their behalf. The workers fell short of endorsing him for second term as he relates very well with each section of the state economy. By this action Labour declared him the Most Popular Politician On Workforce.
“They however, declared total support on his developmental efforts, provision of modern secretariat building, salaries as at when due and more. This has expectedly earned Dickson needed popularity among women, students and artisans in the state. This is coming when most states of the federation can’t afford to pay salaries of their staff.”

Timi who, ironically, expressed joy at the change of fortune for Mrs. Patience Jonathan from Abuja, said, “Now we’ve spared madam’s madness. Bayelsans have now realized that it was all political propaganda. And the anger in Bayelsa is that President Jonathan’s presidency has left us worse than he met it. You can’t believe that after eight years at Abuja, not a single Bayelsa has an oil block, we were continually denied major contracts, and the only thing we have to show for his presidency is a federal university in his country home, Otuoke. Even at that, there is no motorable road to his village!

“Moreover we were left with only crisis, no project from the presidency. Apart from the state government that obtained a N20 billion loan with the help of the State House of Assembly, the only project from the presidency at the international cargo airport was abandoned at DPC level. With the loss of Jonathan at the polls, all the lies are coming to the fore and Bayelsa youths are wiser.