As the Bayelsa state Governorship election draws nearer, a group under the aegis of Network for Bayelsa People’s Forum (NBPF),has expressed concern over the possibility of the People Democratic Party ( PDP), to return the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, as the party flag bearer in the state.
The Chairman of the group, Mr Ibipa Oweiza, in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, lamented that Governor Dickson has squandered the goodwill of the party in the state, as majority of the electorate
in the state are already yearning for change.
The group is of the view that if PDP insist on fielding the incumbent governor as the party candidate in the next governorship election in the state, they should as well consider loosing the state to any opposition political party that will also be vying for the Creek Heaven seat of power.
According to them, going by the trend in the country as witnessed in the just concluded general election, any attempt to impose the incumbent governor on the people of the state, will lead to mass decamping and serious anti-party activities as most PDP members will work against the interest of the ruling parting in the state.
The leadership of the group said they are particularly worried about the governor’s penchant to instigate controversy which has already divided the party.
His words, “ Two months ago, Governor Dickson caused the suspension of
Col. Sam Inokoba, the state chairman of the People Democratic Party, against wise counsel. This action has already polarised the party in
the state.
“Recently the governor instigated a sectional leadership of the party in the state to institute investigation and probe of very senior party members including a serving Senator, Emmanuel Paulker and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matter for anti-party activities with the deliberate intention of fanning embers of discord.
“ Governor Dickson is doing battle from all flanks within the PDP family, the party may lose the next governorship election if Dickson retains the party ticket. For the party to do well in the forthcoming governorship election, the party should as a matter of urgency begin to shop for a popular and acceptable candidate as Dickson has made himself and the party very unpopular in the state. The party is already in disarray and something must be done to salvage it”.
Mr Oweiza recalled the recent action of Governor Dickson, over his disruption  of court proceeding at a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital.
The preferred candidate of Governor Dickson in the just concluded National Assembly election to represent Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Mr Foster Ogola, has been having a running legal battle with Rt Honourable Heineken Lokpobiri, over who is the authentic candidate of the People Democratic Party ( PDP) to represent Bayelsa West.
He lamented that Governor Dickson had thrown caution to the wind when he visited the court premises on the 30th of March, following the fixing of hearing judgment by the presiding Judge, which according to him was without proper notification to both parties, even as the matter has been moved away from his court.
The group wondered why a governor should physically desecrate the temple of justice, noting that as a lawyer and former lawmaker he should lead by example, even as they are also worried about the intolerance and over-bearing disposition of Governor Dickson against critic of his administration.
