19 October 2019
15 Commissioners, Special Advisers & Senior Special Advisers have resigned in Bayelsa yesterday and are set to defect to the All Progressives Congress following the Governor's opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan's Candidate, Timi Alaibe. I said here that the PDP is the only remaining heritage of former President Jonathan in Bayelsa & the PDP family needed to guard it very jealously before the APC takes advantage of the fallout emanating from the PDP governorship primaries.
There was nothing wrong for Governor Seriake Dickson to adopt the choice of the former President who was also the choice of the PDP in the state. I can remember with alacrity how he, Dickson was foisted on the people in 2011 when the then Governor, Timipre Sylva fellout with Jonathan. Despite PDP stalwarts prevailing and appealing to Jonathan, he refused & imposed Dickson. Today, the same man is rejecting his nomination. I have never believed in downplaying those who made or directed my steps. A negotiation will do.
Will this happen if Dickson was in his first term or if the people involved were Dickson's direct political births?
Dickson went too far on his part. The choice of a generally accepted Alaibe wouldn't have caused chaos. It would have been easy to market Timi Alaibe to Bayelsans. His achievements as Managing Director of the NDDC, closeness to the people and the goodwill he enjoys would seal the deal. Insisting & planting your own godson is not a guarantee they would remain loyal 100%.
We have seen Godfathers fallout with godsons countless times; Chris Uba/Chris Ngige in 2003 barely 6 weeks into a 4 year tenure, Adams Oshiomhole/Godwin Obaseki 2018, Ujor Kalu/Theodore Orji 2009, Godswill Akpabio/Udom Emmanuel 2018, George Akume/Samuel Ortom 2018, Peter Obi/Willie Obaino 2017, Chimaroke Nnamani/Sullivan Chime 2010, Bola Tinubu/Akinwunmi Ambode 2018, and the most popular being Musa Kwankwaso/Umar Ganduje 2018…the list is endless. Infact, the best Godfather/godson relationships I have seen so far are in Cross River, Kwarra, & Bornu States.
Do your part as Chief Executive and let the people's will prevail else you are bound to have a cracked end.
Upah is a social commentator
