Mercy Agera

Over the weekend, I visited my home state of Bayelsa and my community Toru-Orua the first time in a long while, precisely since the funeral of our late Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, my loyal brother and mentee. After returning to Abuja from the funeral, I became deeply engrossed in the registration and building of the NDC, a process that has occupied much of my time over the past months. I was pleased to be accompanied on this visit by our Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, CON, who spent the entire day and evening in Bayelsa with his entourage, including the Director-General of our National Campaign Council, Mallam Ibrahim Abdulkarim. I thank our National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas; members of the National Working Committee; our State Chairman and members of the State Executive Committee; local government and ward chairmen; and all party members and leaders across the state. I particularly appreciate the Chairman of the State Elders’ Caucus, Dr. Osusu, and the Bayelsa West Caucus Chairman, Elder Suru Oyarde, alongside other caucus members. I thank the state campaign coordinator, Prof. Opuala Charles and all the members of the campaign team. I also thank all our candidates, including our senatorial and National Assembly candidates and the 24 House of Assembly candidates, for mobilising in large numbers to receive us at the airport and accompany us to the party secretariat, where I was overwhelmed by the mammoth crowd. We subsequently commissioned our state secretariat. From there, we proceeded to my country home in Toru-Orua. I am grateful to the Chiefs and elders of Sagbama community for their warm reception and gifts. I equally thank the people of Bolu-Orua and Toru-Angiama, my paternal ancestral community, and all the communities along the route that came out in large numbers to welcome us. My special thanks go to the Paramount Ruler of Toru-Orua, the chiefs and elders, the youths, women and party faithful across Bayelsa and beyond. I thank our Rivers State Governorship Candidate, Dumo Lulu-Briggs; South-South state chairmen and other party leaders from neighbouring states; and everyone who contributed to the success of the visit. I also thank the security agencies, musicians and media organisations that covered the events. During my remarks, I introduced our presidential candidate to the people of Bayelsa and urged them to support and vote for him, as he is contesting on the platform of the NDC our party. I also called for a minute of silence in honour of the late Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, with whom I discussed the NDC after I decided on its formation. Just as I also mentioned it to the current Governor, advising him not to decamp to the APC. I called on our people to honour the legacies of our political forebears, especially Harold Dapabiriye, founder of the pre-independence Niger Delta Congress; and His Excellency, the late Chief Melford Okilo, elected the first preindependence House of Representatives on the platform the NDC; Isaac Adaka Boro; Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; and Pa Edwin Clark, among others. I also discussed the formation of the NDC with our leader and father, His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan. The NDC represents a long tradition of political leadership founded on the struggle for equity, justice and an inclusive Nigeria. Our forebears understood that advancing the interests of our people also required building bridges of trust understanding across the country. This is the tradition I have inherited and the responsibility I consider it my duty to sustain. I hope the younger generation will embrace this legacy of service, service with conviction for the betterment of all.