A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Jackson Suokiri, was among those who defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday at Odi in Kolokuma Okpokuma Local Government of Bayelsa State.
Suokiri, a one-time secretary of PDP and commissioner defected to APC before the 2015 general election.
He was among the faithful who welcomed Governor Seriake Dickson to Odi community when he visited the place on Monday to celebrate the New Year Day.
Dickson admonished the political class to connect with the people, especially at the grassroots and not only when they needed their votes.
He urged the political class to have contact with the electorate by visiting and interacting with them, stressing that it is by so doing that politicians will gain the trust and confidence of the people.
The governor said as a grassroots politician, he would remain connected to the people in appreciation of the massive support he had received from them over the years.
He said: โThe power of the people is the most potent weapon you can find anywhere in the world; more potent than any armoury. The difference between me and many politicians is that I am a countryman. I connect with the people, I feel their pains, when they are happy I am happy and vice versa. I appreciate the people because they have made me what I am and above all, they have made PDP the strongest party, the only party that can win election in our state.
โFor those who seek political office, we must not go out to hurt people for their welfare and interest should ordinarily be the reason for being in politics. We should be civil as we carry out our activities in 2018, being a crucial year before the elections.โ
The Chief Whip of the House of Assembly and a member representing Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency I, Tonye Isenah, described Suokiri as a high profile politician, who had traversed the political landscape for decades, noting that his return would positively impact on PDP in the local government.
He enjoined other APC members to retrace their steps, โas PDP remains the party of every right thinking Bayelsan, who means well for the state and its people.โ
PDP state Chairman Cleopas Moses hailed Suokiri for quitting APC for PDP, which he said was his home.
He stressed that Suokiri was a committed and deep rooted PDP member before those wielding broom hoodwinked him into joining them.
Moses noted that as a foundation member of the party, he had returned to rejoin the family he rightfully belonged to.
