Bayelsa Guber Poll: PDP Stakeholders Unhappy, Back Gov Dickson On Party’s Running-mate
BY UBON EKANEM – With the September 23 timeframe for candidates’ substitution drawing dangerously close, controversies over the choice of Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpo as running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Douye Diri, in the November 18 Bayelsa State governorship race seem to be deepening daily.
This is against scathing accusations that Governor Seriake Dickson had singlehandedly picked Ewrujakpo as part of clandestine plans to promote his Senatorial ambition and safe passage to the National Assembly after seeing off the eight-year tenure at Bayelsa State Government House , Yenagoa
Strong signals that all is not well inside the hitherto cohesive Restoration family again emerged over the weekend with latest agitation coming from some PDP’s stakeholders and former ward chairmen in the State, said to be on the same page with the Countryman Governor.
They have not minced words in condemning the verbal attacks on Ewrujakpo, who is the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly.
Reacting to outcries by a section of the party members that flayed Ewrujakpo’s selection as ‘clannish, selfish and a recipe for failure at the election’, the stakeholders said attacks against him were ‘unwarranted and disappointing’.
The former PDP ward chairmen, massing on the platform of ‘The Patriots’, said it is sad the people of Bayelsa seemed to have forgotten the workaholic and service-oriented attributes of the lawmaker when he served them as the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.
In a statement by their Co-convener, Mr Ogorika Kakandar, The Patriots said: “Bayelsa West Senatorial district is at an advantageous position in producing the next Deputy Governor of the state. This informed the PDP leadership’s nomination of Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpo.
“The Senator hails from Ofoni community in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa state, a proud son of Tarakiri clan, born on the 5th of September 1965. His insatiable quest for knowledge and versatility caused him to acquire various academic degrees as well as tremendously impact lives wherever he finds himself making him a valuable team player, admired by all.”
Further throwing their weight behind his choice for the running mate position, the Patriots said; “We express our confidence in Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpo as a dependable ally to every progressive Bayelsan, a symbol of inspiration and a servant-leader who gives hope to followers.
“We urge eligible voters and Bayelsans to rally round and offer their maximum support to Sen. Douye Diri and Sen. Lawrence Ewrujakpo as the candidate and running mate.”
The emergence of Senator Erwrujakpo in controversial circumstances had stirred up emotions and anger in the ruling party as Governor Dickson and some party chieftains insisted that Erwrujakpo, who hails from his Sagbama Local Government Area must be Diri’s running mate and no one else.
Amidst hot exchanges by the contending forces, the governor hurriedly convened a stakeholders’ meeting to review the decision in order to best the September 23 deadline for substitution of candidates.
However, insiders are expressing concerns that with the Stakeholders unable to get their acts together and agree on a suitable candidate as the running mate, the road towards November 18 D-day looks rougher than expected.
