Pandemonium in Bayelsa state as thugs loyal to an aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly threw explosives into the homes of two party chieftains in Yenagoa and Brass Local Government during the weekend.
It was gathered that the purpose of the attack is to create fears ahead of the party’s primaries.
Party chieftains, whose homes were attacked, are Obuku Oforji (representing Yenagoa I) and the Executive Chairman of Brass, Victor Isaiah. Both houses were reportedly attacked on Saturday evening.
There has been quarrel in PDP between the Restoration Caucus and others, especially after the ward and national congresses, to elect delegates for the primary. Some aspirants protested outcome of the delegates elections.
It was learnt that the explosions were reported to the commissioner of Police and the state Director of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Yenagoa.
Isaiah described the attack as unfortunate, saying the matter was promptly reported to the police and the DSS. He added that the DSS director and Police commissioner visited his home for confirmation.
He said his younger brother, who witnessed the incident, said he saw and overheard three boys on the premises making suspicious calls to determine if people were in the house. A few minutes after the call, the explosion went off.
Investigations have begun into the attack to identify the culprits. It was learnt security operatives would probe supporters who openly protested the party congresses.
A PDP governorship candidate, Ndutimi Alaibe, has said he had no fundamental issues with Governor Dickson ahead of tomorrow’s primaries.
Alaibe insisted there was nothing wrong with his relationship with the governor.
He said: “There is nothing wrong with my relationship with Seriake Dickson. We do not have any fundamental issues. It is political time and people will be suspecting different things. He is the governor of our state and we will give him that respect. He is also a leader that we all adore. So, we will continue to give him that respect.”
Alaibe said his team had put issues from the delegates congresses behind to focus on the primaries. He vowed to go full blast at the primaries and hope to win the party’s ticket.
The aspirant, however, promised to support whoever won in a transparent contest, saying he was not a desperate politician.
He described himself as an apostle of non-violence, saying he would never depend on people to make him governor through bloodshed.
“We will face the primaries and we will go full blast. By the grace of God, we will win. The delegates elections are past, and I don’t want to comment on them. We have passed that stage.
“I have been a contender for many years and I told you why I do that because I love this state. I am not a desperate politician against what some people think. I have stepped down for people at various times when people wanted to run amok with violence. I don’t have anything to gain for the blood of any Bayelsan to become a governor otherwise I won’t sleep well and that blood will be on me. And I have been a victim of such circumstances where I was attacked. So, I preach non-violence and I insist on non-violence with everybody working with me.
“Do not carry guns to make me governor; I am not interested in that. I am interested in ensuring that we conduct a free, fair, transparent process that will enable a leader emerge. If a leader emerges from that, I don’t have any choice but to support such a leader.”