Bayelsa: How Dickson’s Deductions Derailed The PDP Train

By Emmanuel Aziken

The declaration of David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress, APC as winner of the Bayelsa State governorship election on Monday morning may have been received with shock by many.

Though the election was characterized by several reports of violence with as many as 40 declared dead just hours to the polls, the result was being received with exhilaration in the camp of the many internal opponents of the outgoing governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

Dickson had in the approach to the election caused serious disenchantment in the ranks of the PDP with his insistence that his successor must only come from within the ranks of the Restoration Caucus which essentially consisted of his loyalists.

However, there were many other PDP chieftains who were outside the caucus. Among them were President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Paulker Emmanuel, Mr. Timi Alaibe, Senator Bariagha Amange, King Turner and several others who did not agree with Dickson’s plans.

Several of the PDP elders were rooting for Alaibe and if not, that Dickson should give a fair chance to everyone interested in contesting.

Jonathan, President Olusegun Obasanjo and a former military head of state from the North were among others who reportedly pleaded with Dickson for Alaibe.

Governor Nyesom Wike was also said to have pleaded with Dickson to give Alaibe a chance, but the outgoing governor rebuffed their entreaties even boasting during a meeting of his close loyalists and appointees that no one would foist a successor on him.

It was perhaps to show their beef that Jonathan and Wike, the closest neighbor to Bayelsa did not attend any of the PDP campaign rallies.

Even more, in determining his successor, Dickson bypassed Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, the area which by far has the highest number of votes while the APC went for Southern Ijaw.

It was as such not a difficult choice for the people of Southern Ijaw which had 21 of the aspirants for the PDP ticket.

Having discovered the fiasco, the governor made a last minute move to foist the Speaker on Southern Ijaw Local Government Area causing a crisis in the House of Assembly.

The former Speaker, Tonye Isenah was forced out in favour of Monday Obolo from Southern Ijaw to give Southern Ijaw a sense of belonging in the government.

However, many from the local government area said that they preferred a governor in the form of David Lyon instead of a Speaker.

Even in the choice of the running mate, many also saw Dickson as selfish as he foisted a serving senator in the person of Senator Oborawharievwo Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo from his Bayelsa West Senatorial District.

The interest in bringing a serving senator to be a running mate was largely interpreted as an opportunity to create a vacancy in the Senate seat after the probable PDP victory that would allow Dickson to fill the position.

Remarkably, Dickson did not rebuff the speculation.

While it is true that the Bayelsa election was marred by wide scale malpractise, the fact is that the opposition to the rigging was largely mute because Governor Dickson decided to fight the battle alone.

Those who would have helped to check the rigging stayed back and allowed Dickson to fight alone and not surprisingly he was overwhelmed by the massive federal forces that were launched against him and his legacy.

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG