…CONTROVERSY TRAILS PDP WARD CONGRESS, DICKSON EXTENDS HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP
Controversy trailed the ward congresses for electing the 315 delegates from the 105 wards for the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa state, which was held yesterday amid very tight security by security agencies.
However one of the aspirants, House of Representatives member, Mr Henry Seriake Dickson reviewing the process which he adjudged peaceful extended a hand of fellowship to other aspirants to help build a new Bayelsa.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP had on Sunday announced the disqualification of incumbent Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, Mr Ndutimi Alaibe, Mr Ben Murray Bruce and Dr Godknows Boladei Igali.
Sylva reacting to his disqualification has stated that he and his supporters were reviewing the NWC decision, adding that as a loyal member of PDP, he would still participate in the activities of the party.
The roads leading to the party secretariat was cordoned off with a Police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed at the gate and stern looking armed Police men manning security at strategic locations around the secretariat
The PDP state chapter legal officer, Mr Micheal Emimokumor accused the Mamud Wakil led committee meant to supervise the congress on contravening article 1.7.1 of the party's constitution.
He noted that Wakil and his committee members in a meeting with the state executive committee members at the party secretariat disclosed that they have some letters to distribute to the Commissioner of Police, Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before they would visit Governor Timipre Sylva who is the leader of the party in the state in line with the tradition of the PDP.
Eminokumor said to the chagrin of the executive members, when they called Wakil committee members again, they were said to be on their way to Abuja after the conduct of the congresses.
However Mr Ene Ketebu had dismissed their allegations noting that the supervising officers were at the party secretariat before they went to the Police headquarters, and the office of the State Security Service to intimate them of the conduct of the exercise. He said all members of the party were happy with the process of the electing the ward delegates.
Dickson who confirmed that the party officials were handling the ward congresses in a peaceful manner commended all the PDP members in the state for their peaceful conduct.
He also gave kudos to all the aspirants participating in the forthcoming governorship primary election and those who were disqualified by the party for maintaining peace.
According he wants to extend a hand of fellowship to help him when he emerges as the flag bearer to build a new Bayelsa.
Dickson also advised those perpetrating violence in the streets of Yenagoa to desist forthwith as there would be no room for violence in the new Bayelsa.
His words: 'The ward congress exercise is going on well. Reports reaching me state that the exercise is peaceful. I want to thank all party members for their peaceful conduct. I want to extend a hand of fellowship to my fellow aspirants and those who offered themselves for service but could not be cleared because of one issue or the other. I want to state that in the new Bayelsa we are going to build there is room for everybody, nobody would be excluded. I have met with my contact committee to initiate talks with all the stakeholders in our efforts to build a new Bayelsa.
I want to seize this opportunity to call on all warring cult groups to ceasefire because in the new Bayelsa we are building there would be no room for mindless bloodletting and violence. I don't play politics of violence but politics of law and order. Our youths should not allow anybody use them as cannon fodder. Change has come and Bayelsans must brace up.'
Dickson who expressed optimism that he would emerge the party flag bearer said he was prepared for governance of the state in line with the vision founded on due process and transparency.