The All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, led by its gubernatorial candidate Timipre Sylva, organised its members to clear refuse in the state on Tuesday, just as the Peoples Democratic Party led by incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson accused them of resorting to “deceitful style of campaign”.
The APC had organised youths and women in its fold to clear garbage in strategic areas of the state, accusing the PDP-led government of doing nothing to resolve the dirty state of Bayelsa.
The members, spotting shirts with the inscription ‘APC cleans Bayelsa’ could be seen with brooms (the party’s logo), rakes, shovels and other tools used in cleaning.
However, on learning of the APC’s intention, the PDP had quickly mobilised its members to organise a state-wide sanitisation programme.
It was then no surprise as the rival parties’ members worked side by side in clearing refuse in places such as Swali market, Kpansia market, Opolo market, and so on.
“The reason for doing this is simple: everybody living in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, now knows that the government is not able to manage the environmental sanitation situation in the state.
“As a result, epidemics and other diseases are likely to break out. There are instances where such rubbish is piled up in front of schools and market places. The private residence of the deputy governor is suffering similar fate.
“The idea is simple: to help the government clear up the places and to ensure that our people are able to live in epidemic and disease free environment,” Nathan Egba, the Director, Media and Publicity, Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation, said.
In his reaction, Jonathan Obuebite, the Director, Media and Publicity of Restoration Campaign Organisation (Dickson’s campaign team) said: the APC “has now confirmed to everyone the earlier assertion that it is indeed the so-called change party that is responsible for the heap of refuse around the state, particularly in Yenagoa the state capital.”
The governorship election in the state is billed for December 5, 2015.