Sylva’s growing unpopularity
... Stakeholders desert him
Yesterday, a motley crowd gathered in Yenagoa.
The crowd of people which comprised primarily of religious worshippers had come to offer prayers for Nigeria's President, Umaru Yar'Adua who is presently recovering in a Saudi Arabian hospital after falling sick.
Absent were the major stakeholders who make Bayelsa politics tick. They had either turned their back on the occasion or were not invited to be part of the event according to what we have heard in Port Harcourt.
Their absence however sent a clear message that most Bayelsans are beginning to appreciate, the fact that all is not well essentially as a result of what can be described as the growing infighting between Governor Timi Sylva and most members of the political class.
The latest flash point of trouble that is the talk of town is the difference between the governor and his deputy which is now common knowledge. Ebebi is not happy that the incumbent governor is moving to undermine him in areas where he considers his sphere of influence.
Ebebi is not the only one with an axe to grind. There are several others.
The Amayanabo of Nembe, His Royal Majesty' Edmond Dakoru under whose wings Sylva emerged as governor in a keenly contested struggle for power has surprisingly fallen out of favour, according to the tales making the rounds on the streets of Yenagoa.
The State's representatives in the National Assembly have not been seen at any public function in Bayelsa organized by government for a long time and insiders say, it is a product of the running battle which exists between them and the serving governor.
Although there are attempts to patch what may look like differences between the Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the governor, those who claim to know what is going on insist it is a white-washing effort designed to create the impression that all is well.
These sources claim that Sylva has very little respect for the Vice President and former Governor from whom he took over.
As for Timi Alaibe, former Managing Director of the NDDC, there is apparently no meeting point between him and the governor.
The quarrel between the two men blew into the open when militants were surrendering weapons. It is not clear what his relationship with the Governor General of the Niger Delta, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha is.
Governor Timi Sylva must indeed be wondering what is going on. He is increasingly being isolated by political associates in the PDP even as he plots to take absolute control of the machinery of politics in his state.
Sylva going by facts pieced together by this publication appears to be under pressure from his supporters to exclude those who are not natural members of his political family as well as anyone who has dared to raise a voice against his style of administration.
This, political analysts in Bayelsa claim, might well be at the root of the brewing differences that have suddenly blown into the open.
We have heard that Senator David Birigidi had made moves to broker the peace and restore some cohesion within the PDP family, but opponents of the governor who are growing by the day argue that Sylva and his followers have proved to be the stumbling blocks.
As the gladiators get ready to do more battle, it is the ordinary people of Bayelsa who are at the receiving end.
Already there are plans, from what we have gathered, that Sylva's opponents are plotting to ensure that he does not stage a comeback.
There are others who think the best thing to do is to go through the State House of Assembly to impeach him.
Sylva's associates insist nothing is amiss. They say the governor is on top of the situation, saying that those who are flexing muscles are selfish persons who are in no way interested in the welfare of common Bayelsans whom the chief executive swore to serve.
What is clear is that tension is building and many pray for some kind of divine intervention in order to avert a total breakdown of law and order.
Some however caution it is time Sylva followed another route in order to avert what might turn out to be a head on collision with members of his own party.
In the meantime, the opposition parties are watching from the sidelines. Their expectations seem to be that at the appropriate time they would be in a position to win new converts who would stray from the PDP out of frustration.
Said a PDP member who did not want his name in print, “Bayelsa State is a PDP State and we hope that all who are gearing up for battle would realize that their differences could affect the fortunes of our party.
“Timi Sylva is like a father now and most of us are looking up to him to make concessions that will pave the way for stability, peace and unity within the party. Should anything go wrong within the PDP, we will not forgive all whose roles would be responsible for an electoral upset when the time comes.”
