2023: Dickson’s Men Jump Ship After Failing PDP Primaries
6 min read
John ODHE, Yenagoa
Politicians believed to be of the camp of the former governor of Bayelsa state, Senator Seriake Dickson otherwise known as the restoration team are said to be crying foul, alleging marginalization by the Governor Douye Diri led prosperity camp following the outcome of the just concluded primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP} which loyalists of the former governor consider as unfavourable.
Political observers in the state who are keenly following political events especially within the fold of the PDP say governor Diri has been diplomatically building his political structure as the leader of the party as against insinuations in some quarters that the incumbent governor is still under the political clutches of his predecessor, Dickson.
Since the conduct of the PDP primaries, members of the restoration team, especially those who failed to clinch the party tickets are kicking, expressing their dissatisfaction over what they describe as ill-treatment being meted to them by the prosperity camp.
Their bitterness is being expressed through litigations against their opponents within the PDP as well as defections to the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state.
For instance, the incumbent senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Senator Moses Cleopas is already in court, challenging the candidacy of the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Friday Kombowei Benson, who won the senatorial ticket.
Also, one key player in the restoration government of Seriake Dickson, Mr, Jonathan Obuebite, who served as commissioner for information and later as education commissioner, is now in court challenging the candidacy of his co-contestant, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, who won the PDP ticket for the Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
In the same vein, we gathered that all the Bayelsa State Assembly aspirants who lost at the primaries under the platform of the PDP are in court challenging their opponents within the party and they are considered by political analysts as the aggrieved restoration men.
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Also, the likes of the incumbent chairman of Brass local government area, Mr. Victor Isaiah, the immediate past Commissioner for information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson and others have since defected to the SDP to express their grievances.
Also expressing anger over the alleged manhandling of the restoration men is one Solomon Otobo who claims to belong to a socio-political group under the aegis of the Progressive Movement within the party.
In a statement he signed and posted on social media, Otobo said “I listened to the radio broadcast of the SA on political matters to the Governor, Chief Collins Cocodia a few days ago. I commend him for the attempt made to address the issues that have dominated the Bayelsa media space in the past few weeks.
“It is quite unfortunate that the SA political would brazenly go on air and blame political actors in the state for the rift amongst leaders of PDP knowing that SDD himself is responsible for the confusion and division in the party when he from the word go quietly embarked on the creation of his political empire.
“Is it not the same SA political and other aides of SDD that are the champions of the restoration/prosperity dichotomy and have successfully alienated all those that practically staked everything to install the prosperity government?
“Is the surreptitious formation of a parallel political structure to fight against and totally decimate that of the restoration team which they felt threatened by for whatever reason, not a machination of the SA political and his conspirators? Is the propaganda against SDD’s boss not scripted and sponsored by the SA political and his allies under the watch of SDD?
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“And was it the former governor that agreed with the government against Cleopas, Naomi, Jonathan Obuebite, Alex Dumbo, Amatolu and others whom they conveniently branded restoration members?
“All these actions are not hidden and people are very much aware of them but are quiet not because we don’t know what to do but yet awaits the discipline of a teething child that chooses to test his ability to bite with its mother’s nipples. It is what it is.
“If this is all the SA political can come up with after three years of the SDD’s administration, after causing confusion and division in the party leaving many so aggrieved that decamping became preferred, then it is unfortunate.
“Talks are not on-going to reconcile the aggrieved persons in the party as stated in the broadcast, rather they are content that all the restoration champions desirous of any political office have been edged out as this allays the fears of their return for a second term being challenged.
“Casually dismissing the issues on ground as though they are peripheral disagreements is a slap on the faces of those concerned. Come to think of it, was it not Gov Douye Diri sole decision to return all first timers in the House of Assembly? So what now happened to Hon. Naomi, What was the offence of Naomi against the likes of Enekio, and the rest that were returned?
What was the offence of Senator Cleopas? Was it former Governor Dickson’s decision too?
“What about Tolu Amatu , which SDD deliberately deceived and attempted to cause disaffection between Dickson and Tolu, his trusted son. PDP faithful have not forgotten how Peter Akpe was asked to supervise the House of Representatives primary in Sagbama with intimidation of the delegates. Was Akpe taking the command of Dickson?
“Bayelsans and the good people that sacrificed their lives to install this prosperity government are watching the dance steps even when there is no music yet.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor Diri on Political Matters, Chief Collins Cocodia has debunked the assertions in some quarters that there is a rift between governor Diri and Dickson, calling on politicians in the state to join hands with the miracle governor to develop the state.
He made the clarification and gave the piece of advice during a live audience-participatory program on Rhythm FM 94.7, on Thursday in Yenagoa.
The political adviser reminded the public that the immediate past administration led by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, gave birth to the incumbent administration of Senator Douye Diri, and that the mantra of “Prosperity” was also a brain child of the “Restoration” mantra, and so heating the polity was unnecessary and uncalled for.
Cocodia recalled that both the Miracle Governor, his deputy, himself and some other appointees currently serving, were also crusaders of the immediate past administration, adding the Governor still enjoys that cordial relationship that has been existing between them.
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“People are trying to create confusion where there shouldn’t be. It’s still the same family, the Governor and his predecessor are on good terms, they talk regularly, and sometimes take decisions together.
“I served as governor’s representative, Commissioner for Youth Development, Sports Development, and pioneered the Labour, Employment and Productivity ministry, all under the restoration government. But I am here in the prosperity government. Does that remove me from restoration? Certainly not.
“Even the governor served under the restoration government and then later became a National Assembly member under the Restoration government. The deputy governor also served as Works Commissioner under the restoration government. So, let’s be fair to the two political leaders that we have, and stop trying to create confusion amongst them,” pointed out.
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On the recent defection of some stakeholders from the PDP, to the Social Democratic Party, the S.A Cocodia frowned at the defectors for their actions, despite benefitting from the same system, adding that there was no cause for alarm, as efforts were already on-going to reconcile those who defected and all aggrieved members, who are dissatisfied with the last party primaries, through a reconciliation committee set up by the governor.