Bayelsa Guber: Eze commends Jonathan for shunning PDP

Says time to liberate Bayelsa from PDP's shackles has come no matter the odds

Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has been been commended for aligning with the people of Bayelsa State by shunning the People's Democratic Party's, PDP, gubernatorial campaign grand finale and subsequent activities of the party in the state.

Former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who gave the commendation in a statement made available to journalists in the South-South on Wednesday, said the former president's action was a statement signifying the feeling of the people of Bayelsa State.

According to the statement, Dr.Jonathan absence at the party's campaign roundoff was the message needed to tell the world that the 20-year rule of the PDP in Bayelsa is at its end, especially as the people of the state had become weary of the party's rule, which, according to Eze, had not given the people any dividend to show for all the resources that had entered the state's coffers.

"We gathered that the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator. Douye Diri, who was to be presented to the former President for endorsement and Official Presentation of Party Flag, was physically enraged with fury, displaying some signs of discomfort and disappointment at the absence of Dr. Jonathan who has been their pillar and source of hope over the years", Eze said.

He further said the development had further dealt a big blow on the PDP family, scuttling its chances of projecting a healthy competition with the APC and her governorship candidate, who reportedly enjoys general acceptability among Bayelsa electorate.

In the same vein, the APC chieftain hailed the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for shunning the former Senator Magnus Abe during the party's mega rally in Yenagoa, saying "knowing the damage Abe did against the party in Rivers State. It is sad that what Abe didn't want in Rivers State he wants in Bayelsa".

"While Abe was going about in the rally looking for cheap publicity and recognition, Pastor Tonye Cole, who would have been the APC flag-bearer during the 2019 general elections, was fully recognized and acknowledged by the National Chairman and the huge crowd that attended the rally", Eze said.

He, however, counselled Abe to stop cheapening himself by attending the party's activities until he does the needful.

While expressing doubts that the PDP will win up to three council areas in the state in a free and fair contest, Eze charged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies to swiftly investigate the alleged printing of fake INEC sensitive materials by the PDP in a bid to gain undue electoral advantage and scuttle the will of the electorate.

Commending Dr. Jonathan for distancing himself from the rally which he described as a congregation of losers, who will soon be shown the way out, Eze said Bayelsans must be allowed the opportunity to choose who governs them in an atmosphere depicting democracy and devoid of intimidation, violence and rancour as is the case in sane climes.

"The political atmosphere in Bayelsa is tensed and has been described by watchers as portending great danger for the PDP with mass defection of members and bigwigs to the APC since the ban on political activities was lifted.

"It recalled that former two term Deputy Governor and Ex-Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Peremobowei Ebebi led thousands of PDP members and party bigwigs, including some appointees of the Seriake Dickson-led Bayelsa State government to pitch their tent with the APC ahead of the November election.

"Former Chairman of Bayelsa Environmental Sanitation Agency, Chief Robert Enogha, recently left the government of Seriake Dickson to join the APC. Director, Ethics and Compliance, Due Process Bureau, Benjamin Ogbara; Dickson’s Special Adviser on Culture, Chief Natus Zebakame; Special Adviser on Agriculture, Godspower Ake; serving Commissioner 1 in the Bayelsa State Local Government Service Commission, Berry Negerese; Special Assistant on Student Affairs, Iniruo Ipogi and Special Adviser on ICT Development, Clever Ebede among others have all resigned their appointments, forming a strong alliance with the APC to liberate the state", Eze reeled the roll call out.

He quoted Chief Ebebi, who spoke on behalf of over a thousand decampees, as giving reasons why they decamped as “I have come to this hard decision after experiencing an enduring and excruciating period of a largely fraudulent internal democracy in the state chapter of the PDP, disregard and disrespect for due process as entrenched in the PDP constitution and electoral guidelines, high-handedness and desperation of the party’s leadership.

"I am thankful for the opportunity the Larry gave me to serve the state in various capacities especially as a two-time Speaker of the State House of Assembly and two-time Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, which offered me outstanding political career development and enabled me gained irreplaceable experience in politics”, Ebebi had said.

Continuing, Eze said "Mrs. Eunice Jonathan, mother of former President Jonathan, and her community had given their blessings to the APC governorship candidate, Chief David Lyon. Market women, farmers, and even ex-agitators have all consented to Lyon's candidacy. With these, Eze said one need not a soothsayer to predict a landslide victory for the All Progressives Congress and Lyon.

Describing Chief Lyon as an embodiment of what Bayelsa needs at the moment, Eze said only the right person with the right frame of mind, perception, mentality and most importantly, with the fear of God can lead Bayelsa to the right path of development.

While urging Bayelsans to unite and ensure that the State is formally severed from the PDP and a government that has mortgaged their future, Chief Eze tasked them to seize the moment and respond with the timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people.

"Chief David Lyon, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 16 election in Bayelsa State is on a mission to rescue the dwindling economy, fix the decayed infrastructure, create jobs and put food on the tables of Bayelsans ", Eze said.

On the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruling by Justice Inyang Ekwo disqualifying the deputy governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, over alleged false information given in his Form CF001 submitted to INEC for the November 16 gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa , Eze reasoned that there is no cause of alarm as the party has successfully appealed the high court judgement disqualifying the deputy governorship candidate of the party and also filled a stay of execution. In this regard, Eze maintained that Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo still remains the APC valid deputy governorship candidate till further notice. Even as some misguided PDP elements continue to celebrate, I wish to counsel all Bayelsans not to be perturbed as the days of PDP at the Bayelsa Government House are numbered.

Eze has concluded plans to storm Bayelsa State to join forces with the Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru, led National Gubernatorial Campaign Council including the Lion of Niger Delta and Leader of APC in South South, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in our collective efforts to send PDP packing from South South. " Sampson Oburu should do all that are necessary to ensure the security and comfort of the Media Mogul a he joins the winning Team at Bayelsa accordingly.

Eze who is full of confidence of victory come November 16th reiterated that to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a task that must be done if We are to take over the Government House, Yenagoa and banish hunger, poverty, insecurity and dictatorship”

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