An ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete, has cautioned the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan, to stop interfering in the internal politics of Bayelsa StateEtete accused the First Lady of being “jealous” of the “exceptional performance” of Governor Seriake Dickson, and promised to lead the fight to stop her from further frustrating Dickson.The former minister spoke on Sunday in Yenagoa at an event marking his 70th birthday.
He expressed concern that instead of Mrs. Jonathan clearing the path for her husband’s re-election, she had preoccupied herself with anti-Dickson’s campaign.
He wondered who appointed the First Lady a ‘lord’ over Bayelsa State, to determine who would become the governor and who wouldn’t.
Etete said, “I am using this opportunity to warn the First Lady not to make the mistake of trying to dislodge Dickson to impose person of questionable character.
“It is a known fact that Dickson has performed beyond the expectation of most Bayelsans, and that out of nothing but sheer jealousy, the First Lady and her cheerleaders want him out to pave the way for their selfish interests.”
On the occasion, which had Dickson and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, among other leaders, Etete said his 15-year absence from Bayelsa had not prevented his understanding of political events in the state.
He condemned Mrs Jonathan for her failure to appreciate the governor’s efforts to assist her husband, President Jonathan, to succeed as president.
“We have Governor Dickson, working his heart out to galvanise support for President Jonathan’s second term in office. On the other hand, the First Lady is aligning with all the opposition elements in the state to create crisis for the young governor.
“Her aim is to return to power the same thieves and criminals who failed the state in the past, and turn back the hands of the clock for this great state. We won’t allow such to happen,” he said.
In his remarks at the event, Clark endorsed Dickson for a second term.
“By God’s grace, I’ll celebrate my 90th birthday here in Bayelsa in 2017, during Dickson’s second term in office,” the octogenarian said.
Dickson thanked the Ijaw leaders for their support.
