The imbroglio in the Bayelsa political tussle may have taken a new surprising twist as the various political camp set stage to begin open campaign for the gubernatorial election. This is as information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the President’s choice to mount the seat of governor [Henry Seriake Dickson] may have been receiving the “cold” shoulder treatment from the Presidency of late.
According to the information received from sources within the Dickson political camp, the political steam generated during the preparation for the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] primaries through the perceived support of the presidency may have waned. One of the sources pointed to a change in the Dickson camp’s operations shortly following the conclusion of the PDP primaries in Yenogua, Bayelsa State. “Our funding, as promised, has not been forthcoming” stated the source who went on to add that the campaign operation is ‘seriously’ starved of funds – and recent attitudes from the President’s men show the presidency has lost interest in the Bayelsa State gubernatorial elections, or may have already achieved it’s sole aim in Bayelsa – the removal of Timipre Sylva from the field of competition.
Interestingly, the activities of the President’s men in relation to the Bayelsa election appear to auger with the suspicions of the members of the Dickson camp. The ease of access to the President by Henry Dickson which Dickson enjoyed previously is reported to have been sabotaged by the men surrounding the President. Some of the vocal members of the Dickson camp tell our correspondent that it appears the Presidency may have given instructions to his men to deny Dickson access to him – that the President’s men must be acting under instructions. But in an unofficial discussion, the President’s men denied the allegation. One of the President’s men [ who spoke off-record], in denying the allegation, acknowledged that Henry Dickson have ,of late, been unable to meet with the President. He credited Dickson’s inability to reach the President to conflicting schedules.
The unfolding development comes as no surprise to mutual friends of the President and Hon Henry Dickson. In talking to 247ureports.com, they indicated authoritatively that the President’s interest in the Bayelsa gubernatorial election has little to do with hoisting Hon Henry Dickson to power. They stated that it had to do with the removal of Gov Timipre Sylva from the race. “Jonathan sees Seriake Dickson as the same as Sylva“, stated a close ally of the President when was the Bayelsa State Governor. “Jonathan will not fund Seriake’s campaign” added the source.
It is recalled that Hon Dickson had served under the then Governor Goodluck Jonathan at the capacity of a Commissioner – and they had worked closely enabling for Goodluck Jonathan to catch a grip of the personality traits of Henry Dickson.
Some of the informed political pundits in Yenogua discounts the allegation against the presidency as misplaced. They point to the peculiar political terrain of Bayelsa State as the principal reason for the President’s shift in attention. In their analysis, the selected/elected PDP candidate in Bayelsa gubernatorial race will win the race – and that the President has done what he needs to do to deliver Henry Dickson. One of the pundits noted “Dickson should not be going around looking for money from Jonathan, he has the ticket“.
The implications of a shift in the political mechanization in Jonathan’s PDP Bayelsa may pose grave for Dickson and his candidate-ship. In Bayelsa politics, historically, majority of the populace vote for candidates that are perceived to have the President’s blessing/support.
