RIFT BETWEEN PATIENCE JONATHAN AND BAYELSA GOVERNOR WORSENS
According to Punch report, the Bayelsa state senators and members of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly had allegedly joined forces with the wife of the President to replace Dickson with her own candidate.
They have formed a strong alliance to counter the moves of Dickson and his loyalists to deny him re-election in the governorship election which takes place in 2016.
It was gathered recently that the senators allegedly held separate meetings with President Jonathan and Patience to perfect strategies to outsmart Dickson, to get the Peoples Democratic Party tickets for 2015 general elections.
The absence of Gov Dickson at the first lady’s event in Bayelsa last week was a pointer to the rift between the duo.
Patience had gone to distribute empowerment items and cash to Bayelsans under the auspices of the Millennium Development Goals and all the three senators representing the state were in attendance but Dickson was absent.
A source, who craved anonymity, said: “All these are just passing strong messages to the governor that all is not well. Also, both the First Lady and President Jonathan failed to attend the Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day, even though they were in town then. The battle has just begun.”
However, Dickson had on Sunday maintained that the PDP was one peaceful nd focuse family under the leadership of Jonathan and himself, adding that there was no division in the state.
He also reiterated his unflinching support for Jonathan’s re-election, calling on the political class and the entire people of the state to support the President.
Recall that the President’s wife recently resigned her appointment as Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service. Though she was said to have left voluntarily, sources had said it was because of the sour relationship between her and the governor.
