Yenagoa — Although the road to the 2007 general elections is long to the ordinary Nigerian but not to the political gladiators in Bayelsa State some of whom are already strategising while others are locked in a battle of supremacy for the soul of the predominantly Ijaw speaking state.
For the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths, Government House Transport and Logistics, Chief Abel Ebifemowei, a cousin of Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the battle line seems to have been drawn for both members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the 2007 governorship race.
The Deputy Governor, a humble and obedient servant only carries the toga of a big office as the number two citizen of the oil and gas rich Bayelsa State given the fact that whenever the governor travels out of the state, he literarily leaves with the soul of the state.
A native of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa East senatorial district, Dr Jonathan is said to have interest in taking over from Chief Alamieyeseigha whom he has so far been loyal to, in 2007 even though he has not made his intention public for now, a path most of the would-be governorship aspirants have decided to tow for now.
On the other hand, his rival, Chief Ebifemowei whose word is law and the fear of this young man is the beginning of wisdom for any would-be politician in the state is also said to be interested in the 2007 election though as a runnining mate to one Capt Matthew Karimo and this has no doubt caused friction between both parties
Before now the general thinking among observers of events in the state was that having worked assidously for Chief Alamieyeseigha’s return to office, the ALAMCO machinery which incidentally is being controlled by the Special Adviser would be at the disposal of the Ogbia born number two citizen of the state in line with the adage that one good turn deserves another, but the events of the last one month have once again proved that politics is not mathematics where definite answers could be predicted.
The cold war between both party chieftains in the Alamieyeseigha cabinet took a dramatic twist penultimate week following the alleged attempt by the number two citizen to remove the incumbent chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area, Mr. Barnabas Edure.
The embattled council chairman was undoubtedly loyal to the Special Adviser, a native of Amassoma in the Southern Ijaw council area, in the Bayelsa Central Senatorial district , leader of a “cartel”, a sort of power bloc which most of the state lawmakers and council chairmen belonged to.
The “cartel” is reputed to have returned vitually all the council chairmen and about eighteen of the twenty-four members of the state House of Assembly in the last general elections but how intact it is today could not be ascertained given the rumours of division within.
However the rivalry between the Deputy Governor and the Special Adviser become a public knowledge when the embattled Sagbama council chairman, a member of the “cartel” and in-law to Governor Alamieyeseigha accused the number two citizen of orchestrating the plan to oust him from office alongside the chairmen of Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opukuma council areas.
Edure whose election is being challenged by the Justice Party (JP) at the tribunal had in a statement made available to newsmen in Yenagoa wondered how his own party chieftain especially those from the Bayelsa West senatorial district could gang up with the Deputy Governor to work for an opposing party.
According to the embittered council chairman who is also said to be at loggerheads with some party stalwarts from his constituency, “these people wanted him out so as to achieve their 2007 agenda" adding “these people threw decorum to the wind as they gave out my confidential file to the opponent.”
He said he was being made to suffer because of his relationship with Chief Ebifemowei whom they regarded as a stumbling block to their 2007 ambition.
But in a swift reaction, the Deputy Governor in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Mr. Gibson Gbalimori dismissed the allegation saying it was designed to tarnish the reputation of his boss.
He said: “As the 2007 governorship race tickles in the state, a lot of political intrigues are expected to be perfected to damage the credentials of political aspirants whose intimidating track records of achievement speaks volume of their acceptability to the electorate.
“As the Deputy Governor, such theatrical manoeuvre is a mere figment of the regular gimmicks to downsize his reputation and exemplary leadership style.”
He concluded by saying that since his boss did not contest for chairmanship position in Sagbama council there was no way he could have attempted to oust him (Edure) the anointed political son of the Special Adviser from office and urged Bayelsans to disregard the allegation.
Chief Abel Ebifemowei, the Amassoma-born politician who is often referred to as the defacto ‘‘deputy governor’’ of Bayelsa State because of the unparallel influence he wields in the Alamieyeseigha cabinet has never hidden his reservation for the Bayelsa number two citizen as he has repeatedly told newsmen that he will give his total support to Capt Matthew Karimo whom many political observers believe he is currently working for even before he (Karimo) indicates interest in the 2007 governorship race.
Not known to abandon his friends even at the peril of his political career, the Special Adviser only last week led other party supporters to the tribunal's sitting to bolster the morale of the embattled chairman.
Whichever way the crisis between both PDP chieftains is viewed, it is the ruling Peoples Democratic Party that will suffer a setback if the simmering feud continues unabated as it could breed bad blood not only between their camps but also could tear the party apart given the support the deputy governor enjoys from his Ogbia people known for their block voting in every election and Chief Abel Ebifemowei from the youths.
For a state that was practically held hostage by contending forces in the build up to the last PDP primaries coupled with the adverse effect on the much desired development of the young state, it is the view of political observers that the leadership of the party should wade into the matter with a view to reconciling both forces in the interest of the party.
A concerned member of the party who would not want his name in print told Vanguard that it is only the party that can save itself from destruction by allowing the peoples voice to prevail.
