The King of Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State, Dr. Edmond Daukoru, Mingi XIII, has called on the electorate in the state to be wary of politicians who make empty promises during election seasons, adding that they should be guided by what they can see.
King Daukoru made this call in his palace in Ogbolomabiri when Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the Peoples Democratic Party campaign trail visited him to seek royal blessings ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
Daukoru, who was a former Nigerian Minister for Energy and Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries also said his people would not allow politicians whose stock-in-trade was to deceive the electorate with vague promises.
He lauded Governor Diri’s passion towards the ongoing Nembe-Brass road project through his frequent inspection of the project, which he said has given the people of Nembe the assurance that the government and the kingdom are in safe hands.
The monarch also enjoined his subjects to be guided in their choice of who to vote on November 11 by the visible projects they can see in their domain and not by sweet talks and fancy stories of politicians.
He said, “Campaign time is when you have to explain to all that you mean well; that you need their mandate so that you can carry out your programme to the fullest. Nembe is going to vote and the people would not be bought over.
“We have to be guided by what we see. They can fool the people some of the time but cannot fool all the people all the time. Seeing is believing. People should be guided by what they see not by fancy stories or expectations.
“Nembe is only an island rearing to become a city. So, we cannot afford any bloodletting if we are to grow in cooperation, in skills and in our contribution to the state.
“I’m very happy that early in your campaign you found time to visit us. I do know that you come very often to see your beloved projects, to see things for yourself. That is the way it should be. It is an assurance that the government and the community are under your view altogether as one unit and not in opposition to one another.
“Let us live to inaugurate projects. Let us live to celebrate progress and not to be settling disputes and violence.”
Remarking, Governor Diri appreciated the monarch for his kind words and support, noting that he is a statesman who believes in the wellbeing of his people and the state.
The governor restated his position that monarchs must ensure peace and prevent electoral violence in their domain as his administration would wield the big stick and dethrone any of them found wanting.
At the King Koko Square in Ogbolomabiri, Diri told the large crowd of party members and supporters that he was glad to return to campaign peacefully in the community where he was denied access in 2019 by gunmen who attacked and killed scores of his supporters.
He called for a minute silence in honour of the departed just and thanked the people for voting massively for the PDP during the last National Assembly elections that ensured victory for all the party’s candidates.
The governor highlighted some of the projects of his administration in the Nembe Local Government Area, including the Nembe Unity Bridge, internal roads and the Nembe-Brass road.
Also, the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), said Governor Diri stood a better chance to win in Nembe because of the love he had demonstrated during his first tenure.
Also speaking, Prince Gabriel Jonah pledged the total support of his ‘Otita Force’ for Diri, noting that no opposition would withstand their movement and support for the governor’s reelection.
