A former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Jackson Suokiri was among thousands of the party’s supporters who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last Monday in Odi, Kolokuma Okpokuma Local Government Area of the state.

Suokiri, a one-time state secretary of the PDP and commissioner, had defected to the APC prior to the 2015 general elections.

He was among thousands of party faithful who welcomed Governor Henry Seriake Dickson to Odi Community when the gvernor visited the community on Monday, to celebrate the new year.

In his remarks at a brief reception held in his honour, Dickson urged the political class to connect with their people, especially at the grassroots, at all times, and not only when they need the votes of the people during elections.

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The governor urged the political class to have closer contact with the electorate by regularly visiting, connecting and interacting with them, and stressed that it is by so doing that politicians would gain the trust and confidence of the people.

“The 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 pain. 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 the PDP the strongest party, the only party that can win election in our state.   

“For 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 election!”