By John Odhe, YENAGOA
Leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) were reportedly rejected at Abuetor community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State during a sensitisation campaign for the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.
An audio recording circulating on social media indicated that the NDC team was led by its Sagbama caucus chairman, Mr. Salo Adikumo, accompanied by another leader, Dr Oyovwin Osusu, and the Constituency 3 House of Assembly candidate, Embeleakpo Alale, a former chairman of the local government.
The event was said to have ended abruptly after a community representative questioned the NDC’s promise of a better future if its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Senator Seriake Dickson, its candidate for Bayelsa West, and Embeleakpo Alale were elected into office come 2027.
The gathering turned rowdy after the man, who identified himself as James Ogheneovo, stated that politicians only remembered the community during elections as it was business as usual for them until the present administration led by Senator Douye Diri came to their aid.
He said both Dickson as governor of the state for eight years and Alale as Sagbama council chairman for three years, despite the latter’s maternal links to Abuetor, neglected the community while they were in office.
The man, who spoke Pidgin English, queried the development the NDC would bring to the people if given another opportunity when the community had no access road until recently.
The people of the community recently rolled out the drums in appreciation of governor Diri for bringing to pass their many years of clamouring for a road.
During the ceremony, the President General of the community, Comrade Bartholomew Uti and the representative of the paramount ruler, Mr. Bartholomew Emeiveh commended the governor for giving them a link road and promised their unalloyed support for the prosperity government.
When the campaign team of the NDC came to the community, the people told them that if not for the link road constructed by the Diri’s administration, their campaign vehicles would not have had access to the community, especially in this flood season.
Ogheneovo said: “For these politicians, it is business as usual. They only remember us during elections when they treat us like monkeys that they give bananas.
“For instance, my brother, Alale here, represented us as chairman of our local government. We are from the same family in this Abuetor community but till he left office, he did not know we existed. People were telling us that we have a family member, a brother as chairman. But he ignored us.
“Also, Dickson was governor for two terms, eight years, and we did not have a road to this place. Now he is our senator. We have suffered all these years and he did not remember us.
“Now that it is election time, I have to tell them my mind. I will air my views. We suffered until the current governor, Douye Diri, came into office. It was through him we got this road. I’m not an APC member but I must speak the truth.”
