Bayelsa youths on Sunday urged Gov. Seriake Dickson not to be deterred about the defection of Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Ibarakumo Otobo, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They appealed to Dickson to keep his pact with the youths in which the governor pledged to hand over power to youths under his political tutelage.

Otobo resigned his appointment on Wednesday in Dickson’s cabinet and dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Otobo joined Dickson’s cabinet in April 2018 and before his appointment; he was the Chairman of Bayelsa Volunteers, a special security outfit formed by Bayelsa government to complement the security agencies.

The youths under the auspices of the Bayelsa Youths Movement (BYM) reinstated their support for Dickson’s administration.

The Secretary-General of the group, Mr. Elisha Inodu, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, said the governor should view the actions of Otobo as a betrayal of trust.

Inodu noted that the former commissioner was disloyal and ungrateful despite benefitting from the visionary leadership provided by the governor.

He said Otobo was picked by the governor out of thousands of youths who embraced the values of the restoration government and given the opportunity to serve his state.

But he criticised Otobo for his irrational behaviour and for turning his back on his political leaders because of his selfish political ambitions.

Inodu said Dickson’s love for youth development drove him to appoint Otobo, 33, the youngest commissioner in the history of the state adding that the governor also gave positions of trust to youths in his government.

He noted that the governor should not see the action of Otobo as the general tendency of the Bayelsa youth “as he (Otobo) acted out of his unbridled greed, selfishness, ingratitude and disloyalty”.

He said that majority of the youth populace believed in the ideals and values represented by Dickson’s government and were solidly behind the efforts of the governor to wrest Bayelsa from the grips of underdevelopment.

“The Bayelsa Youths Movement has observed the recent decision of former Commissioner for Youths Development, Ibarakumo Otobo, to defect to the All Progressives Congress,

“As a body, the BYM upholds the right of every citizen to personal decisions as Otobo has made in this case of his defection to the APC.

“However, we are constrained to call on our Governor to remain focused in his decision to open the political space to the youth populace in Bayelsa.

“He shouldn’t be discouraged by the action of the former commissioner who he gave priority attention out of thousands who supported his Restoration Government and the ideals it represents.

“Governor Dickson made him the youngest commissioner in the history of Bayelsa at the age of 33 because of his love for the youths.

“He also gave similar opportunities to many youths who are currently serving as commissioners and special advisers and other political positions.

“It is indeed a fact beyond contestation that the youth populace in Bayelsa has not had it as good.

“The BYM, therefore, pleads with the Governor not to see this action as the general position of the youth in our dear state.

“Otobo took a personal decision to satisfy his greed, inordinate ambition, ingratitude, selfishness and other vices which have no place in our group.

“The governor should consider this act as a call to more laudable action to promote youth development as we are behind him at all times. It is important to add that we find Otobo’s action abhorrent, disappointing and embarrassing,” the group stated.

Inodu said that it was even a good development that Otobo defected early enough without contaminating other youths in the state.