APC is the platform to actualise the change agenda in Bayelsa – Ikiogha

As the race for the governorship election in Bayelsa State intensifies, one of the aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Diekivie Ikiogha, has said that the ‘change agenda’ the state is craving for can be achieved under the platform of the APC-led government in the state.

IKiogha, who had occupied various positions under the PDP-led government in Bayelsa State, expressed optimism ahead of the party primaries, saying that he was qualified to be the next governor in the state considering his wealth of experience.

“I was a member of PDP but lately, we realised Bayelsa need a change. Bayelsa is one foremost resource state in the country, but when you get there you will almost weep as nothing is on ground to justify what the state receives as allocation.

“I feel that I can make Bayelsa one of the modern states in the world. I’m going into the race and I feel I’ll perform much better than other governors that have been produced in the past,” he said.

The retired director and one-time special adviser to the former President Goodluck Jonathan, when he was governor of Bayelsa State, said “his civil service experience gives him the premonition that he’s the right man to rescue Bayelsa from its current state.”

When asked whether he’s privy to the allegation making the round that the former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva was sponsoring some of the aspirants in order to split votes in his favour, Ikiogha said he was not a pretender in the race and could never be a party to such move.

“Whether forms were bought for one million persons is non of my business, I’m out to savage the poverty and bring about the needed development in Bayelsa State, that is why I’ve shown interest to contest in the race.

“One thing is certain, Bayelsans know who has the capacity and the fear of God to lead them, the person who can bring the development they are yearning for so whether forms were bought for some aspirants in order to split votes, one thing is certain, God is the one that gives power and he’ll do it for us who have the interest of Bayelsans at heart,” he said.

Responding to question on why he would blame the rots in the States on the past administrations which he was part of, Ikiogha stated expressed that there was little or nothing he could have done as an adviser to make any meaningful change as only the governor has the final say on everything.

“If you know how government works, you’ll know that in a state only the governor gives the direction on how the state will move and that’s where the appointees will follow. Some of us have been so critical in that direction, we normally disagree with the governors that are why we’ve been able to survive in government, and that is why we are coming out this time around to be involved 100 percent and not to be an appointees again where your advice don’t count,” he said.