BAYELSA GUBER: ANTI-SYLVA FORCES MOVE FOR REDEPLOYMENT OF CP, SSS DIRECTOR, JTF COMMANDER

The battle for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the 2012 governorship election took a new turn yesterday with the adjournment of the case on the tenure of the five governors including Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva to November 21.

The new development which means Sylva would contest the PDP primaries slated for November 19 as a sitting governor has forced anti-Sylva elements to move for the redeployment of heads of security agencies in the state.

According to sources, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Hafiz Ringim has come under tremendous pressures from anti-Sylva elements to redeploy the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aliyu Musa over complaints that governorship aspirants would not have a level playing field if he remained the police boss. A source privy to the plan said barring any last minute change in mind, the force headquarters would announce the re-deployment of Musa from Bayelsa State.

The same elements who have the backing of a top security chief in the Presidency are working on the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Defence Headquarters to redeploy the SSS director in the state and the Joint Military Task Force commander based on arguments of romance with the state government, which might make it impossible for aspirants to have a level playing field.

Meanwhile, more members of the PDP who left the party for the Labour Party (LP) are returning back to the party to support the ambition of Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson. The latest returnee was the former deputy-governor, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi who contested the 2011 Bayelsa West Senatorial District elections on the platform of the LP.

Also, some elders of the party and some people who called themselves friends of PDP are moving to raise needed funds for Dickson to procure intent form for the governorship ticket and prosecute his ambition. The elders are worried that the ambition could crumble if the needed funds were not raised to match that of the incumbent.

The state Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Chief Nathan Egba had dismissed the gang-up against Sylva declaring that it would fail. According to him, Sylva, because he had worked for Bayelsans, did not rely on the support or withdrawal of support from any group.'He is therefore not interested in the withdrawal or not of support from any group. It is, however, unfortunate that supposedly responsible people will knowingly dish out lies to the public for the sole aim of gaining political advantage,' he said