The political storm is gathering and the gladiators are all out against
themselves. The ripples generated by last Saturday’s PDP ward congresses
appear not to be abating as strong indications have emerged that the
leadership of the ruling PDP is under intense pressure to cancel the
exercise across the nation.
Curiously, Bayelsa, the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan,
appears worst hit by the challenges that were thrown up by the
controversial congresses.
Unless urgent steps are taken, Bayelsa may witness another round of
crisis as Governor Seriake Dickson has resolved to stop all National
Assembly members as well as state lawmakers from seeking re-election in
2015 and this is already creating tension in the state.
Stakeholders of the PDP, allegedly supported by Governor Dickson, had
four weeks ago purportedly adopted a zoning formula across the state for
elective offices in 2015. Curiously, the zoning of the offices saw to
the shutting out of all current National Assembly members from the
state.
The federal lawmakers are Senators Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central),
Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) and Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East).
Those in the House of Representatives are Foingha Jephthah
(Nembe/Brass), Henry Ofongo (Southern Ijaw), Warman Ogoriba
(Yenegoa/Kolokuma-Opokuma), Dr Stella Dorgu (Sagbama/Ekeremor) and Nadu
Karibo (Ogbia).
Apart from Dorgu, all the affected lawmakers had conducted parallel
congresses to protest the handling of PDP ward congresses by the
governor. Their supporters have equally vowed to make the state
ungovernable if PDP national leadership and President Jonathan did not
intervene quickly enough.
This development is coming on the heels of moves by Governor Dickson to
stop all, except two, of the state House of Assembly members from making
a return to the assembly in 2015 on the party’s platform. The favoured
two are the majority leader, Hon Peter Akpe(Sagbama 2) and Hon Daniel
Igali (Southern Ijaw 3).
By implication, the speaker, Hon Benson Konbowei, an ally of the
governor who was the arrow head of the controversial zoning against the
return of Senator Paulker, has also been edged out in the unfolding
political drama.
The state government and PDP leadership in the state have debunked the report.
But a PDP chieftain, who craved anonymity, LEADERSHIP Friday learnt, who
had led a delegation of PDP stakeholders to meet with the president
over the brewing crisis in Bayelsa, said that the ruling party was not
just being threatened but the peace of the entire state was at risk.
The source, a former member of the National Assembly, said, “The brewing
crisis within the PDP in Bayelsa State is not just a party affair; if
care is not taken, it could lead to other political upheavals with the
capacity of threatening the peace of the state.
“I can tell you that the reason some of us came to see the president
today is to brief him adequately on the matter because the impression
being created by the governor – that all is well – is erroneous; it can
lead to something else.
“For those of us who have had the opportunity to serve in the National
Assembly before, we know the importance of ranking; it is unfortunate
that the governor has decided to ignite this needless crisis just
because he is afraid of the popularity of some persons. The fresh people
the governor is grooming for the National Assembly will at best need
about two or three years before they can fit into the scheme of things
and this is dangerous for the president himself. We cannot afford to
waste experience,’’ he said.
One of the senators whose seat is seen as a target in the controversial
zoning, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, confirmed the fact of a brewing
tension but appealed to all concerned to eschew violence.
“Yes, it is true that most stakeholders are very unhappy with the
purported zoning being orchestrated by the governor. It is normal for
people to be aggrieved, especially when an apparent case of injustice
has been meted out by those who have no reason to play God in people’s
lives.
“However, my appeal to all our supporters is to avoid what could
precipitate crisis and violence both in the PDP and the state in general
because we believe that Mr. President will not allow this to go
unchecked; we are sure he will intervene and timeously too,” Lokpobiri
said.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that state lawmakers, led by the speaker, Hon.
Kombowei Benson, have pulled out of an earlier agreement with the
Governor Seriake Dickson-led Restoration Caucus to demand that they be
given automatic return tickets in 2015.
The anger of the State Assembly members stem from the move by the
governor to install some of his aides and those termed Restoration Boys
as state lawmakers in 2015.
The battle has just started...