Sylva’s Period Was A Set Back For Bayelsa – Alameiseigha

The first executive governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alameiseigha, yesterday rated the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson high above that of his predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva, in terms of infrastructural development and socio-economic policies in the last four years, declaring that there was the need for the people of the state to elect him for second term in office.

Chief Alameisiegha said though he is not out to castigate the six year administration of Sylva in the state, the administration of Dickson has done more with noticeable infrastructural development in most parts of the state despite challenges of dwindling state revenue and finances.

The former governor, who made his position known yesterday in his country home in Ammassoma community of the Southern Ijaw local government area, said the six and half years of Sylva’s tenure was characterised by lack of continuity of state projects left behind by Goodluck Jonathan as governor.

According to him, “Our problems has been the continuation of policies and programme of government. I served this state for six and a half years; Goodluck came in, served one year, the remaining six months he was campaigning for the office of the vice president, Governor Timipre Sylva came in, of course, I didn’t see anything visible on ground, I’m not castigating him but you could walk from Igbogene to Swali Market; I did not see anything that was added to what I left behind, even to complete the project I started was a problem.

“I feel very bitter when you come to government with good intention, start a project for the good of the people and that project is abandoned. So, that period, I think, was a set back. Dickson has come in, we can now drive to places that were impossible before and we can see changes; new things were springing up before the economic crisis hit the country; it is not only peculiar to Bayelsa State. I think he would have even done better because he was so ambitious. He wants to accomplish everything in fours years, so, if you bring him in the second tenure, he would master the ropes, he will no longer learn.
“Those that are planning to stay in the party and do anti party activities against the emergence of Governor Dickson will definitely change their minds”.