Although the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed first quarter of next year, 2023, for the general elections in Africa’s largest country, political activities have begun across the nation. Politicians eyeing the various elective positions are beginning to make their interests known either by of official declaration of by their body languages. For the Nigerian most exhorted seat of power, for instance, it is the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos state, Alh. Ahmed Bola Tinubu who fired the first salvo, declaring publicly his interest to contest the presidential election come 2023 thereby opening the floodgate of political activities across Nigeria.
Of course, Bayelsa state in South-South Nigeria is not left out in the game of early politicking ahead of the 2023 general polls. The usual ‘consultations,’ ‘endorsements’ and counter ‘endorsements’ of aspirants by politicians and their followers have already begun.
Though we do not have any qualms with political gatherings, but the riotous and bloody dimension such gatherings have assumed in Bayelsa state has become a source for worry amongst residents as well as members of the political class as the year 2022 is gradually sliding into a full blown political regime.
It could be recalled that political violence first erupted from the Bayelsa West Senatorial District late last year within the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over zoning arrangement in that district. Consequently, there was a clash between the supporters of the member representing Bayelsa West in the Nigerian Senate, Senator Seriake Dickson and supporters of the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Chief Fred Agbedi. On that fateful day, a former Speaker of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly, Mr. Boyelayefa Debekeme and a chieftain of the PDP, Mr. Famous Daunemigha were beating up for supporting the zoning in favour of chief Agbedi who is said to be gearing up for the senatorial battle against the former governor, Dickson.
Irked by the security threat resulting from the Bayelsa West imbroglio, the state governor, Senator Douye Diri sent a stern warning to all political appointees from that district to stop heating up the polity or risk their jobs. A week ago, the governor reiterated his earlier warning, asking all political appointees eyeing elective positions to humbly resign so they don’t derail his prosperity government.
As if the governor’s warnings fell on deaf ears, politicians in the state especially members of the PDP have continued to fight dirty over their ambitions even though elections are over a year ahead. Last Thursday, Bayelsa state witnessed yet another bloody clash between supporters of ambitious politicians aspiring for the Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. The fracas which took place opposite the Kpansia Market in Yenagoa, the state capital was reportedly between supporters of the member representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Oforji Oboku and the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Gentle Emela both of whom are said to aspiring for the same Reps seat. According to eye witnesses, the bloody clash resulted in the burning of a car own by an aide to the governor as well as machete cuts on the supporters and passersby, leaving the Kpansia market momentarily deserted before the intervention of the Police and other security operatives who later brought the situation under control.
We condemn in all sense of judgment the unwarranted destruction of property and inflicting of deadly injuries on individuals in the name of supporting the ambition of one politician or the other. We support in its entirety the proverbial saying by former president Goodluck Jonathan
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