Daniel Iworiso-Markson was the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation during the administration of Senator Henry Seriake Dickson in Bayelsa State. In this interview with SOJI AJIBOLA, he speaks on the government of Governor Duoye Diri, his re-election bid, relationship with his predecessor.
You were in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but at the buildup to the general election, you defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state. How was your experience as the party’s House of Representatives candidate?
I would say my experience in the February 25 National Assembly election, where I contested to represent Ogbia Federal Constituency in the House of Representative under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was a mixture of good and not so good. Let me start with the not so good. First, it was an eye opener of some sort for me. It brought me closer to my people, especially those at the grassroots and it opened my eyes to the grim reality that a number of our people residing in our communities and villages are suffering terribly due to the absence of basic amenities. A number of our communities lack access roads, portable drinking water, no hospitals or clinics, no teachers, no doctors, most public schools in the rural areas are in decrepit conditions not conducive for learning. The list of their suffering is endless. While campaigning I came face to face with this sad reality and my heart bled. The sheer neglect of our people at the grassroots is alarming. All of us as leaders must rise to the occasion to collectively address this clear failure.
Now, to the good side of contesting this election, on a personal level, I contested the election because I wanted to prove a point that I had grassroots support because some of my political opponents were using it as a smear campaign against me. They made huge capital of my Lagos upbringing to insinuate that I was not in touch with my people. To them, my eight years in government and the fact that I held a highly political and sensitive office, which made me very accessible to all manner of persons, amounted to nothing. Suffice to say that the result of the election proved them wrong. I didn’t win the election but today, in the Ogbia Federal Constituency, everybody can attest to my electoral worth. Even under an unpopular party like the SDP in my state, I polled more than 3,000 votes without having to suppress or intimidate voters, spend billions to buy votes like the big parties. The votes I got were genuine votes from people who believed in me and truly desirous of effecting change, alas, their hopes were dashed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). On the other leg of your question regarding my perception of Nigeria politics. Truth be told, our politics is fraught with the worst kind of corruption you can ever imagine. Little wonder we keep churning out nitwits as leaders over the years. That’s why our progress as a nation has been stunted. Until we learn and start to do the right things in this country, development will continue to elude us.
A lot of people are still curious about why you left PDP. Now, you are back in the party. What necessitated your defection then?
I left the PDP for the simple reason to contest the election after I lost out at the party primaries. Like I said earlier I wanted to prove a point, to test my popularity and electoral worth. My return to the party is to support the governor for a second term. After much deliberation, my political family took a decision to return to the PDP to support the governor for a second term because we can’t afford to sit on the fence at a time like this. I must also thank my former boss former Governor Dickson, now a ranking senator, who also played a crucial role and facilitated my return.
You are probably aware of the claim within the political circle that you made a U-turn, so to speak, because of the vacant position of the Chief of Staff in the present state administration.
That’s very funny. If I may ask, who are those peddling such rumour? I didn’t return to the PDP because I wanted to be Chief of Staff. The governor has not discussed anything of such with me. I meet with the governor every now and then, not once has our discussion strayed in that direction. I am also not lobbying for the position of Chief of Staff, though some persons have raised it with me. But, I have been in government long enough to know that the nomination or appointment of anyone for the position of Chief of Staff is the exclusive preserve of the governor.
What is your rating of the present administration in Bayelsa state?
I have often made the point that governance is not a tea party. So, when I see how most people, especially on social media are quick to cast aspersions on the Douye Diri-led prosperity government, I believe they are doing so out of ignorance or pure mischief. I visit the state on a regularly basis and I see a number of projects being executed by the present government. There are several completed road projects in the state and so many others that are on-going. Kudos must be given to this present government for continuing with the projects of his predecessor, former Governor Dickson. The three senatorial roads have all reached advanced stages. He is connecting a number of our riverine communities by road thereby bringing development closer to the people at the grassroots. As we speak, work is on-going on the Nembe Brass road. The governor deserves special commendation for embarking on such a big road project, which will open up the state to the eastern senatorial flank, where we have the multibillion Naira Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and the Brass Fertilizer Plant. You can’t begin to imagine what the completion of this all-important road will bring to the state’s economy. The present government is working. People should desist from playing cheap politics and rally round to support the governor. Yes, there are always rooms for improvement but that in no way detract from his performance. That’s why we all need to support him for a second term so he can do more. One term is surely not good enough.
With the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the ruling party at the centre, what are the chances of PDP retaining the state in the November 11 governorship poll?
This is not the first time the PDP in Bayelsa has won election even with the APC as the ruling party at the centre. It happened in 2015 even with the open display of federal might. So, this time around, the PDP will leave no stone unturned in the quest to rally Bayelsans to support the re-election of the governor. We will leave nothing to chance. Just like in 2015, the PDP will massively mobilise the people through our community-to-community and door-to-door campaign to win this election. Again, like 2015, the people’s power will triumph over federal might.
You are generally regarded as a formidable member of the Senator Dickson-led Restoration government that governed the state for eight years. It is the belief that you are in the position to give an insight into the reported cold war between your former boss and Governor Diri.
There is nothing of such. It’s the handiwork of some persons who go about peddling baseless rumours and doing all they can to sow seeds of discord between the governor and his predecessor for their own selfish gain. I am close enough to know that the relationship between the governor and former Governor Dickson is cordial. Please, disregard people who are promoting a non-existent squabble.
But, there are claims that loyalists of Dickson are being sidelined by the present state administration?
I will refrain from speaking any further about this matter. It might interest you to know that almost 99 percent of those working in the present government are loyalists of Dickson, including the current governor, who is the Chief loyalist. Tell me, who are those being sidelined? There are just a handful of us, who are presently not holding any appointment in this government but we are still connected to the government one way or the other. So in a sense, you cannot say we are sidelined. We are deeply involved with the government and we are desirous to see the governor re-elected for a second term.
There are fears that the reported civil disturbance in some parts of state, especially Nembe axis could work against the re-election bid of Governor Diri.
I am no longer the spokesperson for government but, I can assure you the issue you raised has since been adequately dealt with by the government. As regards the chances of the governor in Nembe, the peace-loving people in Nembe, who have seen the remarkable strides of the governor in their community, know too well where to cast their votes.
There was hoopla over some economic policies initiated by the APC-led federal administration, especially the fuel subsidy removal.
I think it is too early in the day for anyone to assess the Bola Tinubu-led APC government. I mean, what is really there to assess? The administration is barely two months in office with ministers yet to be appointed. The government’s removal of subsidy is not an achievement as they want most Nigerians to believe. It was something that was inevitable, as no provision was made for subsidy in the 2023 budget. In actual fact, subsidy ended with the Buhari administration. The Tinubu government had no choice, given the circumstance because there was no way it could continue with the subsidy regime. Hence, it explains why provision was not made for palliatives in the first place. The Tinubu government should sit down with the organised labour and the Trdae Union Congress (TUC) to discuss the best possible options to assuage the sufferings of millions of Nigerians who are dying daily from untold hardship. The people deserve more from their government. Not pittance!
What kind of measures would you advise the state government to put in place to ease the burden of fuel subsidy removal on the people?
I want to believe the government of Bayelsa State is working round the clock and is considering a number of measures to help cushion the effect of subsidy removal on Bayelsans. Pending when government rolls out its plans, we all have to be our brother’s keeper. Government alone cannot solve everybody’s problem. Now is not the time to be stingy. Let’s look out for one another. That’s why we are Bayelsans. The church must get involved. Let’s open our store houses for the needy. Let’s support one another to compliment government effort.
INEC will soon lift the ban on campaign for the forthcoming governorship election in the state. How prepared is your party for the poll?
Yes, I know for a fact that preparations are in top gear. Hopefully, before long the party will officially unveil the campaign council, as well as roll out its timetable to flag off a robust campaign that will see the PDP retain its hold on power in the state, by God’s grace.
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