Tension in Bayelsa over alleged arrest of Dickson’s loyalists

The alleged ambition of a Senator representing Bayelsa State at the Sen­ate is creating tension in the state.

The senator said to be at the centre of the storm is allegedly interested in chal­lenging Dickson in 2016 governorship election. This is coming on the heels of a similar report linking anoth­er aide to the president who is also believed to be inter­ested in the 2016 governor­ship race to some unwholse­some activities.

While the senator was said to be leveraging on his closeness to Aso Rock, the presidential aide on his part reportedly claimed that the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan had promised to deliver the seat to him. As part of his des­perate measures, the senator has been intimidating core loyalists of Dickson by using his connections at the Abuja headquarters of the Nigeria Police.

Already, a source said, four loyalists of the gov­ernor from Epie Kingdom have been arrested for ques­tioning by policemen from the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The source gave the names of the four persons arrested as Comrade Obadi­ah John, Mr. Oborku Oforji, Raymond Manifest and Aus­tin Eliot Sambo.

The senator was said to be uncomfortable that despite factionalising the pro-Dick­son group in Epie kingdom, key individuals with politi­cal influence had failed to join his camp.

The source said: “The senator is moving against people loyal to the governor using his influence at the federal level to get the police to hound these guys. What is interesting to know is that these boys are from Epie clan and he has succeeded in dividing their ranks to create two factions. He is hounding the leadership of critical groups in the clan. So, all these are part of his desperation to be governor as he continues to drop the name of the President. He is moving against the loyalists of the governor.”

The source said that the move was also aimed at coercing the arrested loyalists to abandon the governor and join the his camp.

“This is politics of in­timidation and it has started causing crisis in the king­dom. Though he is a senator, he is very far away from his people. His people don’t like him and that is why he is in­timidating them. The people he has induced their arrest are powerful in that kingdom. For instance, Com­rade Obadiah John is the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman. He is also the General Chairman, National CDC Forum, Epie Kingdom and the Protem Chairman, Epie Youth. He is reputed to be in control of 17 youth groups in Epie Kingdom. So, he is very influential.

SOURCE; http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=84725