Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Commissioner for Youth Development in Bayelsa State, Hon. Ibarakumo Otobo, has resigned from the government of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Otobo, a former Special Adviser on Youth and coordinator of the Bayelsa Volunteers before his appointment as Commissioner, cited personal reasons for his decision to leave the Dickson government and dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Otobo who spoke at the APC secretariat, in Yenagoa, where he was received by party leaders including the only APC member in the House of Assembly, Hon. Israel Sunny- Goli, the party Chairman, Hon. Jotham Amos, former deputy Speaker, Hon. Fini Angaye and other party chieftains, stated that he contributed to the victory of the PDP in the 2015 election and he is bringing all his supporters and winning team to aid the APC take over the state from the PDP.
“I have resigned my appointment today as a Commissioner in Dickson government. I have a right as a patriotic citizen of this country to choose the political party I want to belong to. I am leaving the Dickson government for good and the PDP with all my supporters. I am not afraid of anybody. I am for APC, goodbye to PDP. I don’t associate with failure and I am coming to the APC with the spirit of winning”
Sunny- Goli who represented the leader of the party in the state, former governor Timipre Sylva said the defection of Otobo to the APC signal the gale of defection that would soon hit the PDP.
According to him Bayelsans did not bargained for what they are being subjected to in the Dickson government with the continued sack of workers with the implementation of the public service reforms and the collapse of the local economy.
“This is signal that victory is coming to the APC in Bayelsa state in 2019 and 2020. I want to congratulate Hon Ibarakumo Otobo and his teeming supporters for taking this wise decision. This Dickson government prides itself as a restoration government but we don’t know what they are restoring. They are restoring poverty in Bayelsa state. Every day we hear of sack of workers and this is not our people bargained for”
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso- Markson when contacted said he is not aware of the resignation of Otobo.