PDP Chairman Ejected From Quarters For Ex-militants - It’s Not True - Govt

Donald Ojogo, South-South Bureau Chief - 31.10.2009

The lingering crisis of confidence between the governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva and the factional state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Rufus Abadi, took a new dimension penultimate week as the latter was ejected from Government House quarters he had stayed for close to two years.

He was reportedly ordered out of the quarters by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Sam Ogbuku.

Saturday Tribune learnt authoritatively that Abadi’s residence in the Government House had now been re-allocated to leaders of ex-militant groups that had operated in Bayelsa.

The Bayelsa State government has, however, denied the report, describing it as “nonsense, a cooked up story.”

The embattled chairman, who all the same, confirmed his relocation from the quarters, nonetheless, denied that it had anything to do with perceived crisis of confidence between him and the governor.

Abadi, who had a running battle with the State Security Services (SSS) in the state two months ago after he was allegedly assaulted, had relocated to Abuja in controversial circumstances amid reports that he was not disposed to the re-election of Governor Sylva.

The relationship between Sylva and Abadi became chummy in the wake of the controversies generated by the PDP congress in the state, just as Abadi was backed by the governor for the position of the state chairman of the party.

Honourable Fred Agbedi is also laying claim to the same position, having been endorsed by the stakeholders of the party at thier meeting in Abuja in February, 2008.

But trouble started for Abadi four months ago as he reportedly insisted on having all stakeholders on board.

But Abadi, who spoke through his Personal Assistant, Jones Abiri, said his relocation from the quarters was voluntary and had nothing to do with any preceived animosity with the governor.

“The chairman remains the chairman, he left the quarters on his own when he saw that some of the ex-militant leaders had to be accommodated in Government House; he has houses in places like Yenagoa, so I see no reason why his relocation has to be misinterpreted to mean that he was ejected from the Government House.

“No one ejected him and his relationship with the governor is very cordial, there is nothing to suggest that there is problem anywhere,” Abiri said.

When contacted on telephone, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sam Ogbuku, fumed at the report.

“It is all your cooked up story in the media, it is nonsense; if it is true, why not send your correspondent to the Government House to verify?”