DICKSON CONGRATULATES WIKE ON RIVERS AT 50, REGRETS ABSENSE AT EVENTS

PORT HARCOURT, Rivers, Nigeria – As Rivers State concludes the celebrations of its Golden Jubilee, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, said on Thursday that he was not invited by Governor Nyesome Wike in the planning for the anniversary.

According to him, the event, in actual sense, should have been an event for both states; celebrating their history, bond, trials and achievements. Dickson in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the he couldn’t have attended the event because Wike did not invite or involved Bayelsa state.

He regretted the non-involvement of the Government and people of Bayelsa State at the anniversary celebration, despite the historical ties of the two sister states and the pre-eminent roles played by citizens and leaders of the states in the creation and development of Rivers State.

Dickson however congratulated the Government and the good people of Rivers State for a well-deserved Golden Jubilee.

While expressing shock over the non-involvement of Bayelsa State in the anniversary celebration,he said his government was ever willing to partner with Rivers State in the best interest of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

The Governor also said the bond between the two states is very strong, stressing that in spite of all the distractions and propaganda sponsored against his government, all Bayelsans, still regard Rivers State as home.

He therefore, called on the people of Rivers State to live peacefully amongst themselves, adding that no meaningful development can take place without peace.

Dickson also acknowledged the attacks on his person by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike saying he has in deference to the good people of Rivers State refused to join issues with him.

The statement added that Governor Dickson as an older Governor believes that both Rivers and Bayelsa states are not rivals but sister states that stand to gain by working together. He therefore calls on the people of both states to continue to live in peace as they have been doing over the years.

The Governor advises those who have a penchant for promoting discord, division and disunity for their selfish interests to desist from doing.

He said they should rather promote unity and better understanding between the people of the two states and their leaders as he will not give in to such antics because the Governor knows them very well!