We’ll Win Bayelsa Guber Race Without Defectors – PDP Boasts
BY UBON EKANEM – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State Chapter, says it is not disturbed by the gale of defection rocking its fold, boasting that the party will effortlessly emerge victorious in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
It said going by its track record of impressive performance in governance since the inception of democracy in 1999, the party will coast home to victory with or without those defecting to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.
Reacting to reports of members exodus from the party, State Chairman of PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, said the defectors have unfortunately lost touch with the good people of Bayelsa and their well wishers at the grassroots.
A statement issued in Yenagoa on Sunday by Cleopas also described the deserters as individuals lacking in requisite character, principle and integrity.
He accused them of being motivated by greed and inordinate quest for political positions that the APC is dangling at them.
Flaunting PDP’s previous feat in the State, the chairman said the Party convincingly won the polls in 2015 despite the spate of defections by such unstable characters and this year will not be different.
Cleopas, who dismissed claims by former Deputy Governor, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi, that he left the party due to high handedness and fraudulent primaries conducted by the Party, said the difference between PDP leadership and defecting politicians was their lack of capacity to resist the temptation of suspicious political offers and even threats.
He disclosed that the State government did not only regularised Ebebi’s position as a former deputy governor, but also approved a monthly pension of N2.5 million, for him, adding that he has been collecting this amount since 2012 to date in addition to other forms of material and financial support.
Cleopas claimed Ebebi was among key PDP leaders who made a strong case for Senator Douye Diri, later discovered to be his cousin, as the best of the aspirants of the PDP to support in the primaries.
He said even more disturbing was Ebebi’s double standard after receiving and endorsing Diri and his team when they visited him in his Yenagoa residence, only to shamelessly make a u-turn two days later by accepting the post of Director General, Chief Timi Alaibe Alaibe Campaign Organisation.
Chairman Cleopas also noted that Ebebi did not only attend the PDP Campaign rally flag off at the Oxbow Lake, on October 7, 2019, but spoke glowingly in support of the Party and its flagbearer.
The PDP Chairman said it is rather shocking that Ebebi, whose nominee remains a serving commissioner, could launch scathing attacks on the government and the party in a desperate bid to justify his defection that anchors on greed and inordinate hustling for political positions.
