Bayelsa guber: Why Dickson’s PDP candidate failed

By Our Staff Writer

For those who didn’t follow the build-up to the Bayelsa elections. Dickson disrespected GEJ and the Bayelsa elders. They had settled on Alaibe as a consensus candidate to replace Dickson.

Dickson who Jonathan brought out of obscure House of Reps and made Governor disrespected GEJ and PEJ and bribed Secondus to have his way in the primary and impose his cousin Diri on the party.

Not only that he disparaged Bayelsa East- Jonathan’s people (Ogbia, Nembe and Brass) as non core Ijaw and traitors. Whole thing has been building from senatorial elections which was why APC won GEJ’s Senatorial district in the 2019 polls with his support.

All GEJ’s allies and boys moved to APC and David Lyon is a godson of Patience. Jonathan did not campaign for the APC candidate like his wife and mother out of self respect but his kinsmen ensured Dickson was taught a lesson without saying a word.

Jonathan’s polling unit, ward and senatorial district all delivered for Lyon. Wike and Jonathan and their allies all worked for Lyon. Irony of it is Dickson refused o reconcile and make any concessions saying he could win on his own. He was thoroughly defeated.

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In 2012 GEJ used Dickson to remove Sylva. In 2019, GEJ and PEJ worked with Sylva to remove Dickson.

The PDP national leadership is an embarrassment. Why would you let the interests of an underperforming governor who wanted to impose a stooge supersede that of the former president and party elders in a state who has shelved their interests to back the strongest candidate in the party Alaibe.

Jonathan could have insisted on any of his loyalists like Igali being the candidate but he settled on Alaibe who was formidable and had the support of all. Obasanjo even joined Jonathan to beg Dickson and Secondus to let Alaibe get the ticket. But Dickson wanted his cousin.

Bayelsa people hated Dickson particularly Bayelsa East(Jonathan’s people) who Dickson called non core Ijaw. Core Ijaws are apparently according to Dickson the Sagbama/Ekeremor/Southern Ijaws of Bayelsa and the Bomadi/Burutu/Patani of Delta and as such only them should be in charge of the only Izon state.