Former Bayelsa governor Dickson says Peter Obi and his supporters should respect the NDC platform, insists the party existed and thrived before their arrival.
Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has dismissed claims that supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are doing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a favor by backing the party’s presidential ticket.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, Dickson stated that the NDC was already a growing political force attracting influential politicians across Nigeria long before Obi and other opposition figures aligned with the party.
According to the senator, the party leadership willingly offered its presidential ticket to Obi and his running mate without demanding any payment, describing the move as a demonstration of confidence in their candidacy rather than an act of political desperation.
Dickson rejected narratives suggesting that the NDC depends on Obi for relevance, arguing that such claims undermine the sacrifices and efforts of party leaders and members who built the platform from the ground up.
“There is no one doing NDC a favor,” Dickson said during the interview. “Rather, the NDC and my colleagues are doing people a favor by granting our platform to them.”
The former governor also cautioned Obi’s supporters, popularly known as Obedients, against criticizing the party or its leadership while professing support for the former Anambra State governor.
“You cannot be supporting Peter Obi, if you are genuinely supporting him, and at the same time disparaging me, the leader, or the platform itself. That is nonsensical,” he stated.
Dickson further challenged those who believe building a political party is an easy task, urging them to establish and sustain their own political structures before dismissing the efforts of existing platforms.
He maintained that the NDC had already attracted several prominent political figures, including former governors and key stakeholders from different parts of the country, before Obi and other opposition politicians joined the party.
The senator called on supporters and political commentators to accord the party greater respect, warning against narratives that portray the NDC as being dependent on any individual for its survival or political relevance.
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