By Odimegwu Onwumere<\/p>\n
Expectations are heightening among inhabitants and political watchers of
\nBayelsa state politics as the state gubernatorial election slated for
\nNovember 16 draws nearer. The query is centred on whether the Peoples
\nDemocratic Party (PDP) should continue to rule the state or there should
\nbe a change of party. In another insight, many are not inclined to
\nsupporting any political party to produce the next governor of Bayelsa
\nstate, but an individual whom they believe will embody them very well.
\nIf the postulations of people should be anything to go by, then Chief
\nDavid Lyon, the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), may
\nbe the next governor of the oil rich state.<\/p>\n
Since Wednesday September 4, that Lyon emerged winner of the APC
\ngovernorship primary election in Bayelsa state, it has been _Hosanna in
\nthe Highest_ by the residents of the state that cut across party lines.
\nWhat may look like expo of what should be expected in the election was
\nwhat happened on the said September 4, when Lyon, in the APC primary
\npolled 42,138 votes to defeat his somewhat closet rival, Diseye Nsirim,
\nwho scored 1,533 votes in the direct primary election, which was
\nespoused by the party. The love Bayelsans have for Lyon was shown, when
\nthey didn\u2019t vote for an immediate past minister and former senator who
\nwas in the race.<\/p>\n
This love from Bayelsans for Lyon is immeasurable given his affable
\nnature and philanthropic gestures. Bayelsans say they can give anything
\nto support Lyon, a man whose interest for the development of Bayelsa,
\ncompelled him to institute all his business investments in the state.
\nAlso, the man behind him in the state in the person of Chief Timipre
\nSylva, Minister of Petroleum State, regarded as the leader of the APC in
\nBayelsa State, is not only loved by Bayelsans but also across the states
\nin the Niger Delta county, for his grassroots brand of politics.<\/p>\n
It is believed that when Sylva was Governor of Bayelsa, he did not only
\nplace people-oriented projects across the state but also empowered
\npeople beyond family or village lines. Another fact that may likely work
\nfor Lyon is that Bayelsans are wondering why Hon. Douye Diri, a serving
\nsenator, should be flagging the PDP flag in the coming election. Many
\nbelieve that the PDP in the state had already politicized the party by
\nthis move.<\/p>\n
Another crush that the PDP may face in the election that will pave way
\nfor Lyon is the fact that Chief Timi Alaibe, who was loved by the people
\nfailed in the PDP primary. If he had won, it would have posed a
\ndifficult time for Lyon in the coming elections. However, Alaibe came
\nsecond in the primaries to the chagrin of majority of Bayelsans who
\nbelieve that Diri is a stooge to the present Governor Seriake Dickson
\nand was handpicked in the PDP primaries by the governor. It won\u2019t be
\nfoolhardy to point out that since the residents noticed to
\ngodfather-like politics Dickson is supposedly playing with Diri, the
\npeople have pitched tent with Lyon, irrespective of party affiliation.<\/p>\n
A commentator in a forum had this view about the PDP and APC candidates,
\nsaying, “After looking at who PDP presented and that of APC, it\u2019s
\nquite clear that David Lyon will come out victorious barring any
\nunforeseen circumstances. Once again, PDP shot its self in the foot by
\npresenting a weak candidate who is apparently perceived as a Dickson
\nboy.”<\/p>\n
It could be this notion that formed the views of Lyon against Dickson a
\nfortnight through his Media Aide, Chief Gift Ebiki, saying that the
\ngovernor is yet to understand that the entire PDP National Working
\nCommittee and the PDP Governor\u2019s have abandoned Dickson in his
\nwilderness. Juxtaposing to the claim, Lyon said, \u201cThis became clear
\nthat no National Executive officer of the PDP came for the flag-off of
\nhis candidate, Douye Diri; the only person that came was Chief Emma
\nOgidi whose maternal home is Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa
\nstate; that is always at the beck and call of Governor Dickson.\u201d<\/p>\n
From calculation, it sounds obvious that the people will not want anyone
\nthat is associated to Dickson to govern them again because of what they
\nchristen his monumental woes. Although, no government in the world is
\nperfect but if public opinion (which is part of governance) is anything
\nto go by, then Dickson-led government seems to have failed the
\nexpectations of the people of Bayelsa in the areas of efficient road
\nnetwork, drinkable water, skyrocketing school fees at the state-own
\nuniversity, palaver with civil servents’ salary, and others. The people
\nalso blame ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the choice of
\nDickson when he was president, something they added that has brought
\nthem untoward hardship and mishap in governance except Dickson\u2019s
\nattacks to opposing views.<\/p>\n
Outlooks are that Sylva and the APC in Bayelsa made the right choice in
\nLyon, and if they had chosen Heiniken Lokpobiri, whom they believe can’t
\neven win in election in his family, Dickson would have by now been
\ncelebrating the November 16 guber election before the date. It was
\nhowever clear that before Lyon faced the APC primary, he had a team that
\nwas 100 per cent ready to face the primary. Today, speculations are that
\nhe has doubled the spirit of the team and Bayelsans are volunteering to
\njoin the team in making sure that no lapses are created for Dickson to
\nhave a field day on November 16.\u00a0 There are strong overtures and
\nconvictions that Lyon is better to everyone in the race at the moment.<\/p>\n
Conversely, when the businessman and oil guru, Chief David Lyon was
\ncleared and confirmed qualified by the APC screening panel on Tuesday,
\nAugust 27 2019, he had never shied away from telling the world his
\nreadiness to take Bayelsa to the next level when he becomes governor.
\nWithout a doubt, the people of Bayelsa have faith in him and are agog
\nthat his hurried entrance into the governorship race has started to
\nchange the political landscape in the state for positive. They also
\nbelieve that Lyon, who said before the APC primary in the state that he
\nwas optimistic of winning the APC ticket in a free and fair contest and
\nhe won, will win the general election come November 16.<\/p>\n
_ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE__ is a Port Harcourt-based Poet\/Writer. He can be
\ncontacted via WhatsApp: 08032552855, or E-mail: apoet_25@yahoo.com_<\/p>\n
By Odimegwu Onwumere Expectations are heightening among inhabitants and political watchers of Bayelsa state politics as the state gubernatorial election slated for November 16 draws nearer. The query is centred…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n