Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson did not contemplate defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has said.
He described as false the claims by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike that Dickson wanted to jump ship ahead the last governorship election.
Iworiso-Markson insisted that the statement credited to Wike was false, adding that Dickson neither conceived nor planned such defection.
The commissioner, who spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, said Dickson could not have made such a move at a crucial moment he was planning to deliver his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the election.
“But a governor should respect boundaries, especially as they concern making certain utterances against a fellow governor. Governors are supposed to be role models in words and deeds. Making reckless, unguarded statements in public is a big minus for anybody who occupies very sensitive public office, such as the office of the governor of a state.
“Governor Wike, with all due respect, disappointed many Nigerians by such outlandish comments that lacked basis, without any iota of truth, just for the purpose of scoring cheap political points. It was so bad in taste. Whichever way you look at it, it’s condemnable.
“Of course, I don’t want to comment on some of the issues raised, but suffice it to say that it was inconceivable and outright unthinkable that Governor Dickson would be contemplating joining APC in a major election he wanted his party to win and having gone the extra length to field candidates that would, for the sake of continuity, carry on with some of the very laudable programmes and policies of his government for the greater benefit of Bayelsa people.
“Of course, the Restoration Government was founded on transparency and accountability; as such, I do not think there is anything to fear to warrant Governor Wike’s conspiracy theory on Dickson’s stewardship. It’s all hogwash to many right-thinking persons.