Governor Serikae Dickson is doing everything to keep trouble at bay.
However, the effort of the former law enforcer and lawmaker in
maintaining party discipline is brewing trouble of its own.
By Samuel Oyadongha
It was not a surprise that in spite of the crushing defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party in the recent presidential election that the embattled party held its own in Bayelsa State where it once again asserted its dominance in the politics of the state by clinching the three senatorial seats, the five House of Representatives seats as well as maintaining its control of the state House of Assembly.
However, it was telling that the party’s strength in state House of Assembly was diminished after the All Progressives Congress, APC and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA each took a seat in the 24 member state House of Assembly.
The seat obtained by APC was in the constituency of the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Timipire Sylva while APGA obtained a seat in the senatorial constituency of Senator Emmanuel Paulker.
That the two parties were able to get a foothold into a state that was otherwise regarded as a fortified enclave of the PDP was of concern to some and especially, Governor Serikae Dickson.
That may have propelled the decision of the governor and the state chapter of the PDP to investigate and discipline some of its high ranking members alleged to have played anti-party activities in the run up to the recent elections.
Trouble indeed has not been far from the state chapter of the PDP since word leaked out of the division that emerged between the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and the governor. Both persons had been seen to be working at cross purposes and it was no news that the camp of the First Lady was bent on stopping the governor from achieving a second term in office in elections due not more than a year from now.
Perceived opponents
While some analysts see the move as a grand design by Governor
Seriake Dickson to get at his perceived opponents in the run up to the
state governorship election, others have argued that it is the best
thing to do to enforce party discipline and cohesion.
Though the list of names of the party members to face the disciplinary committee was not made public, it was speculated that Senator Emmanuel Paulker representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District and Waripamowei Dudafa, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on domestic matters openly supported candidates of the Labour Party LP and the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA during the state House of Assembly elections.
In spite of the cleavages within the PDP family in the state, the party has been able to maintain its dominance. It was therefore a surprise to many when Governor Dickson inaugurated a panel to assess the performance of the PDP during the state assembly elections as well as investigate anti-party allegations levelled against some members of the party.
Inaugurating the committee in Government House, Dickson said indiscipline within the party contributed to the failure of its leader Goodluck Jonathan in the recent presidential elections.
The committee has a two-week period to submit an interim report to the government and is also expected to determine and recommend steps to be taken against those who worked contrary to the party’s interests during the general elections.
Dickson said, “We won the election no doubt, but this party must continue to be a party of discipline, commitment. One of the problems we have in the PDP, as a matter of fact, the main reason we even lost at the federal level in addition to other things, is because of indiscipline and disloyalty to the party.
“Party interest supersedes individual interest and agenda. Regrettably, we have received reports that some leaders of our party in some cases did not only work against the interest of our candidates, but actually sponsored and actually worked to undermine the success of our party and our candidates at the just concluded elections” Dickson added.
Dickson, who warned that dire consequences await any member of the PDP, who engages in anti party activities, emphasized the importance of party discipline and loyalty towards achieving success in any political contest.
He said reports at his disposal indicated that, some members sabotaged the interest of the party rather than demonstrate commitment and galvanize support for the party’s flag bearers.
But the setting up of the investigative committee some have argued is nothing but a subtle move by the governor to weed out perceived opponents and as such some chieftains of the party have started aligning and strategizing on their next step.
Already, the outgoing lawmaker representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Alfred Egba, Chief Sonme Ogilogi and their followers have all decamped to the APC, with many others likely to follow in.
In defending the setting up of the committee Dickson had said “We will not sit idle and allow people promoting indiscipline and disloyalty to overrun our party.
Loyal members
The PDP has to reform itself; it has to renew itself and be a party of committed and loyal members. Without discipline and loyalty no political party can survive or stand or even win any political contest,” he said.
The governor added that Bayelsa State would continue to be a stronghold of the PDP as demonstrated in the last elections in the state and congratulated the State and National Assembly members elect for their victory at the polls.
The committee is chaired by the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd).
Other members of the committee include, the Acting state PDP chairman, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff as Vice Chairman and Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Edmund Alison Oguru, Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Fyneman Wilson, Principal Executive Secretary to the Governor, Deacon Markson Fefegha and Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo are to serve as members.
Other members of the committee include; Chairmen of all the 8 Local Government Councils in the State, Chairmen of Restoration Caucuses, with Mr. Godspower Keku, State Secretary of the PDP, as Secretary and member.
Whichever way the matter is viewed it is about the struggle for the state governorship election holding in November 2015.
Corporate lawyers
Already as a way of restoring the integrity of the party, one of the most respected corporate lawyers from Bayelsa State, King Serena Dokubo-Spiff of Brass was reportedly headhunted by associates of the governor to help stabilise the party which had suffered internal crisis on account of the division created between some associates of First Lady Patience Jonathan and supporters of the governor.
Even if President Jonathan’s loss of the presidential election would weaken the hands of his wife in the run up to the governorship election later this year, the strength of her following is bound to give concern to party stakeholders of her capacity to rock the boat for Dickson. It was in that light that the emergence of King Dokubo-Spiff as party chairman has gladdened the hearts of several concerned stakeholders that he could help to douse the possible tension that are bound to emerge.
By Samuel Oyadongha
It was not a surprise that in spite of the crushing defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party in the recent presidential election that the embattled party held its own in Bayelsa State where it once again asserted its dominance in the politics of the state by clinching the three senatorial seats, the five House of Representatives seats as well as maintaining its control of the state House of Assembly.
However, it was telling that the party’s strength in state House of Assembly was diminished after the All Progressives Congress, APC and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA each took a seat in the 24 member state House of Assembly.
The seat obtained by APC was in the constituency of the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Timipire Sylva while APGA obtained a seat in the senatorial constituency of Senator Emmanuel Paulker.
That the two parties were able to get a foothold into a state that was otherwise regarded as a fortified enclave of the PDP was of concern to some and especially, Governor Serikae Dickson.
That may have propelled the decision of the governor and the state chapter of the PDP to investigate and discipline some of its high ranking members alleged to have played anti-party activities in the run up to the recent elections.
Trouble indeed has not been far from the state chapter of the PDP since word leaked out of the division that emerged between the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and the governor. Both persons had been seen to be working at cross purposes and it was no news that the camp of the First Lady was bent on stopping the governor from achieving a second term in office in elections due not more than a year from now.
Perceived opponents
Gov Dickson
Though the list of names of the party members to face the disciplinary committee was not made public, it was speculated that Senator Emmanuel Paulker representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District and Waripamowei Dudafa, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on domestic matters openly supported candidates of the Labour Party LP and the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA during the state House of Assembly elections.
In spite of the cleavages within the PDP family in the state, the party has been able to maintain its dominance. It was therefore a surprise to many when Governor Dickson inaugurated a panel to assess the performance of the PDP during the state assembly elections as well as investigate anti-party allegations levelled against some members of the party.
Inaugurating the committee in Government House, Dickson said indiscipline within the party contributed to the failure of its leader Goodluck Jonathan in the recent presidential elections.
The committee has a two-week period to submit an interim report to the government and is also expected to determine and recommend steps to be taken against those who worked contrary to the party’s interests during the general elections.
Dickson said, “We won the election no doubt, but this party must continue to be a party of discipline, commitment. One of the problems we have in the PDP, as a matter of fact, the main reason we even lost at the federal level in addition to other things, is because of indiscipline and disloyalty to the party.
“Party interest supersedes individual interest and agenda. Regrettably, we have received reports that some leaders of our party in some cases did not only work against the interest of our candidates, but actually sponsored and actually worked to undermine the success of our party and our candidates at the just concluded elections” Dickson added.
Dickson, who warned that dire consequences await any member of the PDP, who engages in anti party activities, emphasized the importance of party discipline and loyalty towards achieving success in any political contest.
He said reports at his disposal indicated that, some members sabotaged the interest of the party rather than demonstrate commitment and galvanize support for the party’s flag bearers.
But the setting up of the investigative committee some have argued is nothing but a subtle move by the governor to weed out perceived opponents and as such some chieftains of the party have started aligning and strategizing on their next step.
Already, the outgoing lawmaker representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Alfred Egba, Chief Sonme Ogilogi and their followers have all decamped to the APC, with many others likely to follow in.
In defending the setting up of the committee Dickson had said “We will not sit idle and allow people promoting indiscipline and disloyalty to overrun our party.
Loyal members
The PDP has to reform itself; it has to renew itself and be a party of committed and loyal members. Without discipline and loyalty no political party can survive or stand or even win any political contest,” he said.
The governor added that Bayelsa State would continue to be a stronghold of the PDP as demonstrated in the last elections in the state and congratulated the State and National Assembly members elect for their victory at the polls.
The committee is chaired by the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd).
Other members of the committee include, the Acting state PDP chairman, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff as Vice Chairman and Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Edmund Alison Oguru, Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Fyneman Wilson, Principal Executive Secretary to the Governor, Deacon Markson Fefegha and Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo are to serve as members.
Other members of the committee include; Chairmen of all the 8 Local Government Councils in the State, Chairmen of Restoration Caucuses, with Mr. Godspower Keku, State Secretary of the PDP, as Secretary and member.
Whichever way the matter is viewed it is about the struggle for the state governorship election holding in November 2015.
Corporate lawyers
Already as a way of restoring the integrity of the party, one of the most respected corporate lawyers from Bayelsa State, King Serena Dokubo-Spiff of Brass was reportedly headhunted by associates of the governor to help stabilise the party which had suffered internal crisis on account of the division created between some associates of First Lady Patience Jonathan and supporters of the governor.
Even if President Jonathan’s loss of the presidential election would weaken the hands of his wife in the run up to the governorship election later this year, the strength of her following is bound to give concern to party stakeholders of her capacity to rock the boat for Dickson. It was in that light that the emergence of King Dokubo-Spiff as party chairman has gladdened the hearts of several concerned stakeholders that he could help to douse the possible tension that are bound to emerge.
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