Dickson..Alaibe orchestrating blackmail
Alaibe….I am too focused to be distracted
THE cold war between the outgoing governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriaki Dickson and the main contender for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket, Timi Alaibe, has come to the fore.
In a statement released by Dickson’s spokesman, the governor accused Timi Alaibe, former managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of “orchestrating sinister blackmail.”
The statement signed by Fidelis Soriwei accused Alaibe of “cynically manipulating” Dickson’s words during political meetings the governor held with some of his supporters.
Elendu Reports is in possession of an audio tape purported to be Gov. Dickson addressing his supporters. In the audio file, Dickson is heard boasting about his achievements in building an airport, two universities and a hospital. He declared that the new governor of the state would have nothing to do as he had done “everything.” He also had some uncomplimentary words for Ogbia people who are former President Goodluck Jonathan’s kinsmen.
In their response, the Alaibe Campaign Organisation in a statement signed by Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe claimed “that we as a campaign organisation take serious exception to the wrong use of tar-brush loaded words and gutter language to describe the person of our Principal with the intent to incite public against him..”
Alaibe’s Campaign stated that no member of the organisation was at the meetings where Gov. Dickson made the contentious statements. They insisted, “if any of us has access to the recorded discussion mentioned in the public statement, such access can only be traced to the originators of the statement.”
The campaign said they were focused on issues “that will lead to the development of Bayelsa State through a shared economic prosperity..”
Sources in Bayelsa state indicate that the governor had shown his preference for another candidate other than Timi Alaibe as his successor. There had been entreaties from “elder statesmen” from PDP in Bayelsa state and beyond to the governor, including two former presidents but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
We also gathered that the Bayelsa State Executive Council is in turmoil as there is a split between supporters of Alaibe and those in support of the governor’s preferred successor.
