₦airaland Forum

This whole charade is getting really boring. The economy is dying and a myriad of other problems should be addressed not just this same redundant #DasukiGate news. President Buhari and this APC government have no idea about solving Nigeria's plethora of ills.
Nonsense!

dustmalik:
When you have better source to backup your claims, come back and post it. As long as SIGNAL is your source, you might as well use ANTENNA as your source. Nonsense.

I'm sure you believe the $2.1bn arms deal scam like they showed you proof because... double standards...

TheFreeOne:
I saw him rambling earlier on AIT and I feel so sorry for him cos defeat seems written over him while grappling at straws.
He tried so hard to paint bayelsa governor a violent man but failed convincingly.

Probably he's been made to realize no rigging will be allowed on Saturday.

True! He was really talking like one who wasn't prepared to give a proper press conference. In my opinion, it's really a shame that the APC chose someone like him to be their candidate tbh.

playboy99:
we no dey get proof 4 naija ni everytin allegation.pls show us d proof if not #Leavetrash4lawma

but you believe the $2.1bn arms deal scam like they showed you proof because... double standards...

We've always known this all along & we also know he can't be probed or questioned or arrested because he's under the protection of the APC. This' the changed yall were promised.

If this is true, then it's safe to say that the EFCC have really crossed the line this time on this one... Sad!

MichealJames:
Sources from the National Hospital confirms the death of the PDP National spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh this afternoon in EFCC custody. He was said to have died after vomiting blood immediately he had breakfast at EFCC custody this morning after which he was rushed to the National hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Oho! They've have done it. Clap for yourselves EFCC...

A “cheap copycat and a total failure" is what i would call yesterday's Press Briefing held by the APC Bayelsa state's gubernatorial candidate simply because he ended up saying nothing substantive.

In a statement by the Director of Publicity the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, the party said the conference was a complete sham as Sylva appeared delusional and lacked confidence and coherence.

It further observed that Sylva seemed “obviously rattled ahead of defeat” .

Timipre Sylva struggled throughout to put his points across which i suppose is due to lack of confidence and understanding of the issues being asked and thus an embarrassment not only to himself but also to his party, the APC and its leadership.

He totally embarrassed himself before the entire world with his poor performance at the press conference as he was hardly coherent and in most cases, he appeared like someone beaten and thoroughly rattled.

I'm made to believe the APC candidate was so frustrated that at a point he poured invectives on a reporter who dared to ask him to respond to the allegation that while as governor he organized the stoning of President Muhammadu Buhari who then as presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was on campaign tour of Bayelsa State.

It only provided platform to further spin more lies upon lies. You all saw him being unable to talk straight on anything even when the questions were arranged for him ahead by his party men”.

You'd also be amazed to find out that Sylva at the press conference accused Governor Dickson of extra-judicial killing, saying that the public in the state was well aware that it was a huge irony because the former governor had a record of such killings and can never extricate himself and his past from the minds of victims of his “dreadful past”.

Well i suppose Bayelsans know quite well the record of sponsored state killings through Sylva’s dreaded killer squad known as Operation Famutangbe. Also under Sylva, Bayelsa was a killing field. Businesses were shut down and many fled the state out of fear for their lives. Now see who is accusing Governor Dickson of fanning the embers of violence and killing? Who will take Sylva seriously by his performance at the press conference?

kevinscore:
Iam solidly behind the idea of prosecuting pdp members by buhari govt. pdp was there but couldn't prosecute a single culprit which is 2 bad for our govt.As long as you are guilty the law should take it's course.

I'm pretty sure you ok with all the selective arrests/questioning of only PDP members that's going on. smh!

usman195000:
I am usually taken aback whenever officers of the present APC administration release statements and interviews to sermonise Nigerians on how PDP administration has destroyed Nigeria for 16years and how they are working on fixing the mess created by PDP.
It is non-contestable that between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2015, "PDP"(in quote) occupied the seat of power in Abuja and control majority states in the federation. However, we have to get our fact right with respect to "who destroyed Nigeria between 99 and 2015". I believe we should do a holistic analysis on this subject

All that never ending talk of 'the past administration being blamed' for what the country's going through right now blah blah blah is really getting old to some of us. The new admin were voted into power so they could right whatever wrong the past admin created, as they have always claimed since they came into power, & stop with the complaints already. They better realize that time's not on their side. The earlier they get to work, the better for them.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed earlier today said the Presidency has no hand in their so called 'Anti Graft War', that the security agencies are doing what they are doing of their free will. That, my people, is a lie that i doubt if i'll be able to comprehend anytime soon.

Tunami:
thats the hypocrisy we are talking about, having sacred cows in fighting corruption, i believe if dasuki, kanu and el-zakzaky defects to apc today their sins will be forgiven.

Your sins will be automatically forgiven as you join the APC, you become a saint. that is what we are meant to believe. The corrupt ones are never investigated or brought in for questioning as long as you are under the cover of the APC. What a Shame!

Twenty candidates are vying to occupy the Creek Haven, Bayelsa State Government House as contained on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list.

However, the events of the last one month has shown that the governorship election holding this Saturday is a two horse race between the incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Timipre Sylva, a former governor of the state and candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The rest of the candidates are mere contenders for the big pie on the pages of newspapers, if they ever get mentioned in the newspapers or in the electronic or social media.

Only one candidate would triumph at the end of the poll which has a total of 663,639 registered voters, about 52,000 higher than those who registered to vote in the last general election following the continuous voter registration exercise recently conducted by INEC.


JONATHAN'S POLITICAL FUTURE

Tomorrow’s poll is going to be keenly contested as it will also decide the political future and relevance of former President Goodluck Jonathan, not only in his homestead Bayelsa but also in the political equation of the country. It is an election many analysts are convinced that the power of incumbency may not count, due to the overwhelming power of the central government.

Jonathan’s political survival, according to observers of unfolding event in the state, will be dependent on the success of the PDP gubernatorial candidate.

To an average PDP supporter in the state, it is unthinkable the thought of defeat of PDP in the governorship poll. Anything contrary will definitely question the status and personality of former President Jonathan, politically.

Since the tail end of 2005 when he became the governor of Bayelsa by a twist of fate, Jonathan has since then held sway as a major power broker in the state.

Considering his disposition to things of life, Jonathan may not attach much importance to the outcome of the poll and continue with his life but the political precedent it will create is definitely going to cause chain reaction.

Some political analysts think the incumbent governor of Bayelsa State is the favourite to clinch the poll in spite of the strong showings of the APC candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva. The Toru-Orua born Dickson, a former Policeman/Lawyer turned Politician could best be described as a grassroots man having served as one-time Legal Adviser of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), a position that has helped shaped his thinking and placed him in plum position to champion Ijaw consciousness. Today, the state can boast of its own emblem and insignia like Lagos and Osun among others.

His recent community to community 'meet the people' campaign, which took him to all the nooks and crannies of the state, has further endeared him to the rural people who constitute the bulk of the voting population. Dickson, during the campaign tour, sometimes passed the night in these communities. The rural folks saw in him a man they could trust for simply identifying with them during his nearly one month tour as well as having a project to show in most communities visited. But his detractors believe that for almost four years, he has never visited these communities, only to visit the down trodden because he now needs their votes.

Immediately Dickson was sworn in as Governor in 2012 he swung into action with construction work everywhere and by his initial development strides he became a folk hero among the populace and one of his aides nicknamed him the “Countryman Governor”.

He claimed to have changed the face of development in the state with infrastructure development in education and roads. But critics of his administration have decried his stringent fiscal policy which according to them has engendered poverty in the land. The argument of his traducers not withstanding, Dickson has repeatedly said his projects will speak for him.


TIMIPRE SILVA

Sylva, a former governor and candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC is banking on his popularity among the youths and what he described as his achievements when he held sway from 2007- 2012. The APC candidate has never failed to cite his triple E policy of engagement, empowerment and enforcement which according to him helped restore peace in the state during the days of militancy in the Niger Delta.

He also continued with some of the projects inherited like the Tower Hotel which he took from the first floor to the 18th floor where it has remained till date.

INTERNAL ROADS

He also completed the Isaac Boro Park, which he inherited. He started and completed the Koki Diette Memorial Hospital at Opolo and constructed several internal roads most of which are impassable today due to structural defects and lack of maintenance.

But the sore point of administration was the excesses of the state owned security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbe (OFT) accused of abuse of human rights and alleged extra judicial killings.


YENOGOA: Yenagoa LGA, which is the state capital has the highest number of registered voters for the poll. Here the PDP and APC can boast of quality and dependable strategists. The victorious party in the council area will most likely be that whose foot soldiers are able to march out more registered voters. The council area has a large mix of non-indigenes who operate private businesses. The non-indigenes may not be moved by the sentiments of patronage that is counting for Sylva.

Interestingly, Yenagoa is made up of several communities where the chiefs and political leaders to a large extent determine the voting pattern of the area in every election.

The Senator representing the Central Senatorial District, Emmanuel Paulker of the PDP is from the council area. Though Paulker was known to be at loggerhead with the incumbent governor, a development that led to most of his supporters to defect to the APC, it was however gathered that the former President, who is a cousin to the Senator had secretly brokered peace between them (Paulker and Dickson) to ward off the looming threat from the APC.

The PDP also boasts of young grassroots’ elements such as the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barrister Esueme Dan-Kikile, who incidentally has remained a committed party member since 1999. He was a one time Youth Leader and the state Publicity Secretary of the Party. He is widely loved by his Atissai Kinsmen especially the youths due his generosity and unassuming lifestyle. There is also Sobre Appah, from the Atisaai stock, fondly called the ‘Godfather or Adedibu of Yenagoa’ due to his vast experience as a grassroots mobiliser. Barrister Osom Makbere, the PDP Publicity Secretary from the Epie axis of Yenagoa is another influential voice in his area who many of the youths love and look up to as their role model. The PDP also has Hon. Bob McMannuel of the State House of Assembly and several other political aides of the state governor who have been mandated to deliver their respective units.

The APC on the other hand has former Speaker and Acting Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu to swing the votes in the Ekpetiama axis of Yenagoa in favour of the APC.

There is also, Chief Diekive Ikiogha, a former Chief of Staff, Government House who played a major role in the emergence of Dickson as Governor of the State before they fell apart. Ikiogha has the resources to swing the votes in his Kpansia area in favour of the APC. There also Chief Godsknow Powell who can help divide the Agudama-Epie votes in the direction of the APC.



KOLOKUMA-OPOKUMA LGA – 39,748 Registered Voters: Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA is the smallest council area in the central senatorial district and the state. In spite of its small size and population, the area boasts of some political bigwigs such as former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Mr. Timi Alaibe of the APC.

His appearance at the APC mega rally last Tuesday and the underground politicking of many other APC faithfuls in the area may swing the vote in the direction of the party. There is also Indutimi Komonibo, a former Commissioner for Science and Technology and manpower development who resigned his appointment to pitch tent with the APC.

But the PDP on its part is confident that the projects executed by the Governor like the new Boro town, burial of the remains of late Major Isaac Adaka Boro at the Heroes Park in Yenagoa after it was exhumed from the Ikoyi cemetery in Lagos, 34years after his death, the Youth Development Centre and the Sports Academy at Asoama and the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp among others would swing the votes in its favour in the area regarded as the cradle of Ijaw and Niger Delta struggle.

The party also has dependable politicians like the member representing Yenagoa-Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Douye Diri, the council chairman, Gbaranbiri Iselema and Hon Tonye Isenah of the State House of Assembly to count on.


BAYELSA WEST – 171,016 Registered Voters: The West senatorial district of the State which is made up Ekeremor and Sagbama council areas is the senatorial district of the incumbent Governor, Dickson and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

EKEREMOR LGA – 83,774 Registered Voters: Ekeremor LGA which has 83,774 registered voters is another area that is prone to election violence. It is not surprising given that the area has an array of political juggernauts with Senator Lokpobiri among the most prominent.

Lokpobiri, a dogged fighter was the pioneer Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly who is expected to lead other APC chieftains to outwit the likes of PDP stalwarts including the Director-General of the Restoration Campaign Organisation of Governor Dickson, Hon. Fred Agbedi who is the current member representing Sagbama-Ekeremor federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Agbedi will also be assisted by the likes of Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, a Prince of Aleibiri kingdom and former Deputy Governor of the State and former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Boyelayefa Debekeme.

INFLUENCE IN THE COUNCIL

Dr. Rachael Dickson, the Wife of the Governor, is also from the council area. They are expected to act as check on Lokpobiri’s influence in the council area and split the votes.

SAGBAMA LGA – 87,242 votes: This is the home council of the state Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson and it has 87,242 votes for grabs making it the third highest populated Local Government Area in the state. It was the council area where the rival APC flagged off its governorship campaign, an event that attracted a huge crowd of supporters.

Political observers have argued that the struggle to secure appreciable votes is dependent on the hard work of the APC stalwarts in the council.

Dickson will be assisted by most of his retinue of aides from the council area including the three members of the State House of Assembly and the Deputy Chief of Staff. Also in the Governor’s camp is the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial district, Senator Foster Ogola and Chief Ayakeme Whisky another formidable grassroots politician.

On the other hand, the APC has in its fold the former Speaker and Acting Governor, Nestor Binabo, the former Chairman of the council and member of the APC Board of Trustee, Perez Peretu, former Secretary to the State Government, Ambassador Felix Oboro, an experienced grassroots politician, former member representing Sagbama-Ekeremor federal constituency Dr. Stella Dorgu and others.

BAYELSA EAST Nembe/Brass/Ogbia: The three councils in the Bayelsa East Senatorial district with a voting population of 192,271 have formidable gladiators including the state’s Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) and the APC flag bearer, Chief Timipre Sylva. Former President Goodluck Jonathan is also from the senatorial district.

John Jonah will be assisted by the likes of former Senator Barigha Nimi-Amange, a master strategist and grassroots politician from Nembe, James Jephthah (Nembe), Senator. Ben Murray Bruce (Brass), the Acting Chairman of the PDP Serena Dokubo- Spiff, the Director of Media and Publicity of Dickson’s campaign team, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite and Sylva’s former campaign field marshal, Chief George Fente. There is also Senator Inatimi Rufus-Spiff and Bemo Spiff.

The APC candidate, Timipre Sylva also has a formidable team including the only APC member in the State Assembly, Hon. Sunny Igoli and the Deputy Director General of his campaign team, Lionel Jonathan-Omo. The party is however banking on the fact that since its candidate Sylva is from Okpoama on the Brass island the people would rally together to vote for him as a son of the area.

#BayelsaElection #BayelsaDecides

The choice of former Governor Timipre Sylva as the APC’s gubernatorial candidate for the off-season election in Bayelsa State this weekend has injected a dramatic dimension of nostalgic fantasy versus political realism into the contest.


While Sylva had been a charter member of the PDP when he served as governor, he ran foul of some of the party’s top leaders in the state and was stopped from a second term. He was replaced with Hon. Seriake Dickson who was then a member of the House of Representatives. As a consequence of that, the return of Sylva is being touted by his supporters as payback for the party’s abandonment of his tenure, while the supporters of the incumbent PDP government portray the ex-governor’s re-emergence as proof that in Bayelsa State, the APC represents nostalgia for the bad old days rather than genuine change.

Governor Dickson’s campaign has been driven largely by references to the difference between the commitment to infrastructural expansion that he initiated when he took over from Sylva and the insecurity and political confusion that characterised much of Sylva’s reign. As the campaigns reach a climax it is increasingly clear that the battle to convince the electorate on who to choose has become a debate over the credibility of the two most prominent candidates’ records in office.

The fact that Governor Dickson’s experience has been affected by an unprecedented downturn in the economic fortunes of the state that is not his fault has given the APC campaigners an unfair advantage that they have been quick to grasp.

PUBLIC DISENCHANTMENT

They appeal to public disenchantment by targeting shortfalls in payment of statutory allowances and contract obligations without acknowledging the well-known fact that this is symptomatic of a nationwide economic downturn.

The Sylva campaign machinery has proven to be remarkably adept at utilising this appeal to unfair sentiments of public disenchantment, while the incumbent PDP’s machinery has remained committed to sustaining its adherence to the gradual development of the state. The PDP’s strategy is not as glamorous as the APC’s nostalgic campaign but it promises a more stable and realistic developmental schedule.

Although Sylva’s re-emergence on the political scene in Bayelsa State has been driven by circumstances that are peculiar to the state’s profile as an element of the national polity in the post-Goodluck Jonathan era, there are also other reasons for his resurgent popularity.

Among these, the penchant for pulling down the leaders of the state, especially if they are regarded as being less generous with distribution of financial resources than they should be, is an important factor. Sylva’s handlers have been very busy promoting this sentiment at the grassroots level as a part of their strategy of blaming the incumbent for ills inherited from the past. For example, the APC candidate’s handlers do not mention the fact that a substantial proportion of the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account (FAC) is regularly extracted at source to pay off a huge debt that was incurred by Sylva’s Administration.

At the same time, they are quick to point to some of the consequences of this reality such as delays in salary payments and shortfalls in pension payments as having been created by Dickson. They know very well that their allegations are false but they take advantage of the public’s conventional ignorance of the complex and complicated details of government operations to create nostalgia for a period that seems to have offered greater generosity.

The irony of this is that that nostalgic perception is being generated by an APC candidate based on his record as a PDP Governor.

The realities that have emerged in this exciting campaign period in Bayelsa State are likely to have repercussions that will influence the growth of the democratic impulse throughout the nation in the future. Already, the increase of community based interactions between the candidates and the community leaders, which has been initiated by the Dickson camp, has set a new pace for contestation. It is reasonably certain that subsequent general elections for both state and National Assembly seats will reflect this increasing concern with the public response at the grassroots.

What remains to be assessed is the extent to which the results of the forthcoming election will reflect the true state of affairs on the ground and whether the electorate will be moved by the style rather than the substance of the campaign rhetoric.

CAMPAIGN RHETORIC

A close perusal of the difference between the Sylva campaign style and the Dickson strategy reveals a fundamental separation between bluster and truth as the Sylva campaign steadfastly ignores the realities of the record of dysfunction that bedeviled the tenure of its champion while the Dickson/PDP machine is increasingly forced onto the defensive.

In this situation, even though the Dickson campaign can rightly claim to be representative of the most fundamental change in governance experienced in the state so far the APC tries to take advantage of an overwhelming penchant for opportunist camp-switching displayed by several political operatives in the state to give the impression that the Sylva resurgence is a popular movement. This syndrome, which is symptomatic of the failures of past leadership strategies in the state, is now being promoted as tactical proof of the credibility of Sylva’s claim to be the best representative of change in the state’s political arena.

Any suggestion that the Sylva challenge is less than a serious threat to the ascendancy of the PDP in Bayelsa State would be an unfortunate miscalculation and misreading of the true political situation in the entire Niger Delta. The APC regards the seizure of power in the major oil-bearing states to be a key priority of its strategy for the future consolidation of its victory in the last presidential election.

RETURN TO POWER

The fact that Bayelsa State is the home of former President Jonathan has also given added impetus to Sylva’s determination to return to power, while this reality is also one of the key motives that Governor Dickson puts forward as justification for reinforcing his mandate for a second term.

Whereas the Sylva team has revealed a high level of bitterness over what they portray as longstanding hostility between the former President and their candidate, the Dickson team portrays the retention of power in the state as being necessary to preserve and protect the gains and principles of progressive empowerment achieved by the Southern Minorities, especially the Ijaw who form the major ethnic bloc in the state, during Jonathan’s tenure. These perceptions drive the rhetoric and tactics unleashed by the contestants in the independent broadcast media in the state and through an unprecedentedly high volume of sophisticated billboards and posters around Yenagoa, the state capital.

As a consequence this contest is engaging the public imagination of Bayelsans more than any previous election, especially since the Dickson Administration has allowed a level playing field for all contenders in the race to an extent that was noticeably absent during the Sylva era.

Once in 2 days for me.

Bintus2much:
I recently had an argument with my GF about how often I change my Boxers. I told her I do it once in two days.

Although I could change it in a day if I have done something very hectic that caused me to sweat excessively. She maintained that I change my Boxers on a daily basis.

Fellow Male Nairalandrers, please I need your opinion on this issue. Thanks

The masses will definitely have the final say, as it should be.

chocolateme:
Ok.. But the masses will have the final say if election becomes free and fair on December 5th

Chairman of State Waterways Security in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Bello Bina yesterday advanced reasons for what he said was the increasing support coming the way of Governor Seriake Dickson for a second term.

According to him, the rising support was due to the verifiable achievements in the area of security, infrastructural development and promising future for the people of the state.

Bina said though the All Progressive Congress (APC), has put forward a flag bearer known for his deficient antecedents as one time governor of the state, the decision by the people of the state and the PDP to affirm their support for Dickson was based on his performance in the last four years.

Bina, a grassroots mobiliser and chieftain of the PDP stated this in an interview in Yenagoa.

He said in spite of the fact that Bayelsa is a PDP stronghold, the performance of Governor Seriake Dickson has convinced the people on the difference between the APC and the PDP.

“The choice between two products must be made and the people have chosen the better one. The people of Bayelsa State cannot make a bad choice by choosing Timipre Sylva,” he said.

Bina, who described himself as a personal friend of Chief Timipre Sylva and the Chairman of the Brass Local Government Area when Sylva was a political adviser to the deceased first civilian governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, said the APC flag bearer does not deserve the votes of the people of the state.

His words, “If Sylva has the low allocation that had been well managed by the Seriake Dickson’s administration and achieve the verifiable level of development, the state would have collapsed.

“The people should look at the personality of the duo of the incumbent Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson and Chief Timipre Sylva. They should consider the fact that a man without a home in his state cannot govern the people. Sylva has never won elections in Bayelsa State.

“If Sylva wins the December 5 election, I will go on exile.”

On crime and kidnapping, he said though the increasing cases of crime and criminality was instigated by some political elements in the state, the present administration has placed some politicians and ex-militant leaders under security surveillance.

“Dickson’s security policies is good and has achieved desired peace. The decision by Sylva to run for governorship race has instigated increased criminality. But the present administration is on top of the situation and has identified elements responsible,” he said.

Hey! You can read my post here, thanks! > https://www.nairaland.com/2758981/bayelsa-2015-election-timipriye-sylvas#40352571

CaptPlanet:
You're still missing the point.
According to you, GEJ is corrupt...that has been established. We have also established the fact that Mr Sylva is corrupt. So are we supposed to keep making the same mistakes?
GMB's campaign was centered around anti corruption and his incorruptible character....Him dining with Mr Sylva is now cool because you support APC?

I won't be dragged or stoop so low in trading vicious word over party affiliations but I will still maintain my stand. It'absolutely hypocritical that they will campaign with anti corruption only to go back on their word.

Take it or leave it.

Hey! You can read my post > https://www.nairaland.com/2758981/bayelsa-2015-election-timipriye-sylvas#40352571

mikolo80:
half bread is better than puff puff

Hey! You can read my post > https://www.nairaland.com/2758981/bayelsa-2015-election-timipriye-sylvas#40352571

HzRF:
I don't knw who thinks buahri will clear corruption
After using money gained from corruption to campaign
After using well knw thieves to help u bag d job

Pls what will he tell dem
U can't steal OK
This is changed

The only thing I see is corruption will be covered and won't be open to pple easily

Hey! You can read my post > https://www.nairaland.com/2758981/bayelsa-2015-election-timipriye-sylvas#40352571

The way it looks, the electoral waters of Bayelsa State will be a battle ground as Timipre Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress [APC] was recently nominated as the APC for the December 5th gubernatorial elections for Bayelsa, where he is expected to face his successor in office, Governor Seriake Dickson.

Sylva emerged after a his rival, Timi Alaibe pulled out of the contest allowing the former governor, adjudged to be a grass roots politician the opportunity to reclaim a mandate he was unjustly denied of when he sought a second term.

For Sylva, the road back to political prominence had been rough following his unceremonious exit from office.

Sylva shortly after his exit was hounded by security agencies, which made him aggrieved to the point of him to leaving the People's Democratic Party [PDP] for the APC.

With the likes of Preye Aganaba, and support from former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Timipriye Sylva stood his grounds to build and hold the APC in Bayelsa, despite the fact that President Jonathan hailed from Bayelsa.

Though the PDP may have dismissed Sylva's emergence as weak, the grim form of reality in Bayelsa State is that the PDP can only ignore, considering the fact that it is a stronger party in Bayelsa State than the APC, the reasons are quite numerous.

Sylva's party, the All Progressives Congress, the APC is now the ruling party at the centre‎.

Now, Nigeria's politics is still a rudimentary one and there is a strong but unwritten notion that support from the centre naturally helps the party at the state do better than they are expected to do.

This was almost the case we witnessed some days ago in the Kogi 2015 Gubernatorial Elections, until the demise of the Gubernatorial Candidate of the APC, Prince Abubakar Audu, were it even got to the point numbers were being inflated and different polling units were being destroyed, mostly in places that's to be considered as Governor Idris Wada's stronghold.

Though one doesn't expect President Buhari to continue in this tradition, one will be so naïve to expect Sylva's party to deny itself such advantage.

‎Another is the failure of the Timipre Sylva, during his time as Governor, in meeting the simple development needs of the people of Bayelsa State. Bayelsa under Sylva was described as "being in a gory state". The state of infrastructure was quite poor despite the sums the state received in allocations, unlike how the state presently is now during Governor Seriake Dickson tenure were the state has developed a whole lot, including industrially and commercially.

Yenagoa, the state's capital was been described as a glorified slum, while other towns in the state had seen little or no meaningful development before Dickson came in!

When challenged, the easiest excuse is that Bayelsa has a very poor terrain, thus the difficulty in constructing roads and other amenities, but Bayelsa's terrain isn't as tough as Switzerland or some parts of India, yet these nations have conquered such terrains to provide basic infrastructure such as roads for their people.

Dickson's legacies also speak volumes;

1. Efficiency: In the optimization of human, material and fiscal resources to achieve results.

2. Transparency in terms of conducting governmental businesses.

3. Accountability in terms of accuracy in keeping government official transactions and making such record available got public scrutiny.

4. Policy and programme implementation in accordance to the policy thrust of government.

5. Participation in Government that is involving people in the process of taking decision. Most public policies and now owned and driven by the people themselves.

6. Fiscal Discipline in term of budget implementation to meet government long, medium and short term targets and to build trust that money is spent in the right way.

7. Performance and merit-driven system where work ethics has been vivified

8. Budget Implementation: The degree to which Ministries and Parastatals comply with budget implementation guidelines to meet projected targets in a fiscal year.

9. Result-Oriented Programmes: This explains how the projects and programmes of government Ministries and Parastatals yield tangible results in terms of SMART: Sustainable, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic Timeliness.

10. In addition, Government ensures that all MDAs work in synergy and in tandam with strategic long-term objectives of government. Synergy facilitates policy implementation.

Under Dickson, numerous road infrastructural programs were envisioned and delivered, He invested in projects even when their funds had earlier been diverted.

On the other hand, however, it is alleged that Sylva’s candidature has its drawback; a close examination of them would include his alleged excesses as governor. Sylva is accused of unbridled arrogance and an undiplomatic style of governance, even so, he had good intentions for Bayelsa State.

Another drawback would be his corruption case with the EFCC, which was almost to reduce Sylva to a political "vegetable"; the EFCC went against Sylva with a vehemence that raised posers about its independence and desire to fight corruption.

However, as it stands now these charges have been dropped for reasons unknown to most.

Finally, when all is said and done, the fact still remains that the trump card for the Bayelsa polls, lies with the people.

The People of Bayelsa have the final say, as it should be...

If Aisha Alhassan of Taraba State could be upheld due to constitutional and electoral act, then same should go to Idris Wada. #KogiDecides

Let's wait and see if the people of Kogi will vote for a man who rose from the dead, that's if the news i'm hearing right now is true.

opia1984:
The thing is,the Ruling party (APC) would have to show some respect to Nigerians on this matter and do d needful

Yes, i agree!

MonicaTerna:
logically and constitutionally i think i agree with you because since the leading candidate died, the second runner up is suppose to be announced as the winner which is Wada, the incumbent governor of Kogi state. #KogiDecides

The APC keeping quiet about it initially can be likened to what happened when President Yar'Adua passed on. I strongly believe the APC wanted INEC to declare Prince Audu Abubakar winner 1st so his deputy would become Governor. It's all scheming!

pabiem:
hahahaha. Even Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World resurrected on the 3rd day and not in one day. Happy resurrection Audu. Rest in peace joor.

lol you're not serious!

Niwdog:
Rumours reaching me says prince audu abubakar has resurected

I just heard the same thing some minutes ago. Let's wait and see how it all plays out later in the day. #KogiDecides

pabiem:
that is true. God has his ways of doing things

lol, yeah if we want to look at it from that direction, one man's demise is another man's victory like they say. It's rather unfortunate that Prince Audu Abubakar has to pass on the way he did, but as long as it is an edge for the PDP, i'm 75% ok with the whole situation.

lool .. i honestly think the whole thing was staged, someone in the APC camp didn't want late Prince Audu Abubakar as the party's candidate. It gives the PDP an edge though anyway so it's good for us.

Enyenhe:
HMMMM....no comment till INEC voice out sth but for now I knw wen God is with Kogi no Tinubu can be against them.

i totally agree with you on the conspiracy thing but what it really is, that i don't know. One thing is for sure, there's complete disarray in the camp of the APC in Kogi State right now. Let's just wait and see what their next move will be.