There were strong indications yesterday that 500 specially trained Presidential guards and 500 crack team of the Department of State Security (DSS) are warming up to take control of the Bayelsa State presidential campaign rally venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday.

It was learnt that the Samson Siasia Sports Complex and its environs where the event is scheduled to hold in Yenagoa would be under the surveillance of the special security detail.

The event was initially scheduled to hold today but was shifted to Friday in unclear circumstances.

The villa was said to have reached the decision after the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, failed to yield to pressure from close friends not to show up in Bayelsa for the event.

The villa was said to have been rattled by threats by some youth groups to publicly disgrace the First Lady if she accompanied her husband to the rally.

Two groups, the Bayelsa Youth Vanguard (BYV) and the Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB), had issued stern warnings to Mrs. Jonathan on different occasions ordering her to stay away from the rally or face ugly consequences.

They accused her of meddling in the politics of the state, destabilising the state using the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and plotting to remove Governor Seriake Dickson.

A source from the villa said security agencies were not treating the threats with kid’s lives low.

The source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the villa was working on the theory that key elements of the opposition were backing and sponsoring the youth.

They were said to be wary of the global shame stoning or booing Mrs. Jonathan at the event would bring to the first family.

He said: “They are of the opinion that the real intention of persons behind the threats is to embarrass the President and give the world the impression that even at home Jonathan is not wanted.

“The threats have rally rattled them and they are not living anything to chance. Some close friends of the first family are prevailing on the President to stop the wife from coming to Bayelsa to avoid embarrassment.

“The first lady’s refusal to yield to the pressure not to show up in Bayelsa gave rise to the decision to deploy the Presidential guards. Right now 500 specially trained Presidential guards with additional 500 crack team of secret service agents from DSS are on standby.

“They know that any attempt at stoning or booing the First Lady will send a strong message to the rest of the world”.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/1000-presidential-guards-dss-men-bayelsa-pdp-rally/

Why waste such resources that could be channeled elsewhere just to make one person feel safe? she should be left to reap whatever she had sowed in the state.

useless people.they are scared of being attacked when they know they have gone wrong in all ways.

Mr President should walk freely in his domain nau.