OSA OKHOMINA examines the tussle between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the forthcoming polls in the state.
Unlike the 2016 elections, the forthcoming presidential, National Assembly and State Assembly elections in Bayelsa State, may turn out to be hotly contested between the dominant political parties in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Already, the verbal and violent struggles between party loyalists indicate this much. The tussle appears to be in defiance to the peace initiatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command and the Traditional institutions led by the Chairman of the State Traditional Ruler Council and the Ammanayabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diette-Spiff. The violent struggle has allegedly claimed over six persons in Brass, Yenagoa and Sagbama local Government council area of the state so far.
Out of the six, five members of the APC were allegedly killed during campaign rallies and gatherings in which some allegedly hired members of the PDP invaded. A member of the State House of Assembly and the candidate of the APC for the Federal House of Representative in Nembe/Brass, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli had his home destroyed by the agents of the PDP.
Failed Peace Accord among Political Parties
Various efforts among critical stakeholders to ensure that the chieftains of the various political parties are committed to peace have failed.
When the authorities of the Bayelsa State Police Command summoned the chieftains of PDP, APC and other existing political parties in the state to a meeting over the peaceful conduct of campaigns and elections in the state, it ended in a stalemate.
The meeting, which was held at the State headquarters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, witnessed various candidates of the APC complaining bitterly about the violent antics of the PDP led administration in the state.
Another gathering that failed is the peace meeting initiated by the traditional authorities of Twon Brass in Brass Local Government Area of the State. After they met with all candidates and supporters of the various political parties in the area over peaceful conduct and stop to violent clashes and reconciled politicians aggrieved from the 2015 and 2016 general and governorship elections in the state, the peace initiative fell like a pack of cards.
Ex-Governor Sylva, APC Grouse
The former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, while leading supporters of the APC in Bayelsa on a protest march against alleged killing of its members by thugs hired by PDP, threatened to resolve to self protection before, during and after the elections.
And the threat is not lost on the ruling party members and the personel of the Nigerian Police force in the state.
The angry APC leaders and members , who took off from the party secretariat and headed to the Police headquarters were chanting war songs like “how many people Dickson go kill and we are ready for him and his thugs”
Addressing thousands of party followers who had marched from the party secretariat to the Police headquarters chanting solidarity songs, Chief Timipre Sylva said that the killing of an APC member at a rally in Sagbama was one too many.
He recalled that the party campaigns have been riddled with several attacks by members of rival political parties, while their perpetrators have not been brought to book. “We have been watching the scenario where members of our party are being attacked while we are canvassing for votes, two of them were killed recently in Nembe and we reported the incidents but the Police is not doing enough.
“We are here to send a strong message to the Police high Command and Inspector-General of Police that the persecution and killing of our members in Bayelsa is not acceptable.
On Saturday, one of our members who was attacked during a rally in Sagbama died, and we are here today to register our displeasure and demand that just as the Police is providing security for those in PDP, they should protect us also. We demand that the Police should be fair in their duties to avoid a situation where those denied security would be compelled to seek self help,” Sylva said.
Also speaking, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri urged the Police to be thorough in its investigations of the cases reported by the party as faithful of the party were awaiting justice. He said that APC in Bayelsa was conducting its campaign across the party in a peaceful manner but have come under attack by rivals resulting to death of many.
He said that as a law abiding organization, the party leaders have been urging members to exercise restraint and report issues of violence to law enforcement agencies.
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Responding, Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa Mr Aminu Saleh dismissed the allegations that the Police in the State was biased.
He said, “The Nigerian Police is a Federal Institution and the Command under my watch in Bayelsa is poised to be fair to all in the discharge of our duty, I am aware of the allegations and counter allegations even before my deployment”.
“We shall look into the cases even the ones reported before my arrival, the problem we have is that while a case is being investigated it is not strategic to keep in public domain, but it does not mean that we are not working. On the killing of Saturday, we are already working on it and arrests have been made and I hereby assure you that once we conclude our investigations, we shall brief the general public about it”.
“It is our duty to provide security cover to all political parties and the presence of our men deployed to Sagbama prevented the breakdown of law and order,” Saleh said.
Bayelsa Community Absolves PDP, Council Boss Of Complicity
The Traditional Ruler and Indigenes of the Tungbabiri community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state has however absolved the PDP led government in the State of alleged complicity in the Sunday’s killing of a 32 year old man at a campaign rally organised by members of the APC.
According to the Community, though the person killed was an APC member and those identified as his killers were led by a forthnight Militant leader, the PDP and the Council Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Michael Magbisa condemned his action and have called for his arrest by security agents.
The traditional ruler of the community, elders and other residents said the development had nothing to do with party affiliation.
When LEADERSHIP Sunday visited the area, there was tension while over 15 armed policemen were seen in strategic places to maintain the peace. The chairman of the council, Michael Magbisa, who toured the scene of the incident, calmed frayed nerves and appealed to the aggrieved youths, whose kinsman was murdered in the violence, to remain calm.
The acting Paramount Ruler of the community, High Chief Godbless Tomgbofa, said that the unfortunate incident had nothing to do with either APC or PDP. He described it as a cult-related violence saying the thugs claimed that the APC leadership failed to settled them before holding the rally.
He absolved Magbisa of any blame adding that the caretaker chairman had done his best to maintain the peace in all the communities in the council.
He said, “What happened here is not an APC and PDP matter. It was caused by thugs, who were mainly cultists. They were led by a youth who had nursed the evil intention of killing people.
“We have always maintained peace in this community. APC and PDP have been undertaking their activities and engaging in their rallies without molestation. But these cultists came in here and unleashed violence. As a traditional ruler, we will get to the root of this matter and stop further occurrence. We are calling on security agencies to arrest all the people involved in this violence. I also want to place it on record that the caretaker chairman of this local government area, Michael Magbisa has nothing to do with this violence”.
One of the injured victims, Samuel Ndikoro, said the deceased,32, was his brother lamenting that over 16 thugs disrupted the rally.”Thugs numbering 16 invaded the arena and scattered our canopies, broke our chairs and chased all the women away. They were cutting people with machete.”
“They cut my head and cut my younger brother who was also attacked. We rushed my younger brother to the hospital. But he died. He was married with two children”.
Also, the Ward 13 Secretary of PDP, who identified himself as Joseph said the entire PDP hierarchy in the council condemned the development.
He said, “We condemn what the thugs did here. No political leader in the local government area sent them to disrupt APC event. The chairman of the council did not send them.”
“Youths and PDP leaders did not send them. The chairman has tried his best to maintain security. So, nobody should blackmail the community. The chairman is our son. The boy that died is our brother”, he said.
Speaking at his residence in the community, Magbisa, who condemned the violence unleashed on the people of the community but insisted that it had no political leaning.
Magbisa said he had summoned all security stakeholders for an emergency meeting to address the incident and forestall further occurrence.
“Who is in PDP or APC that sent them? It is not a party affair. People should not bring party into it. Anybody linking this to PDP is trying to kill this matter. We will get to the root of this matter and bring all culprits to book. Security agencies are investigating the matter and all the people involved will soon be identified. The law will take its cause. Those who are trying to bring me into it are my political detractors and the enemies of the state,” he said.
