Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
Mark Opubiri, Secretary to the Bayelsa State wing of the Peoples Democratic Party may have considered himself lucky as he ran to safety.
Mark Opubiri, Secretary to the Bayelsa State wing of the Peoples Democratic Party may have considered himself lucky as he ran to safety.
He had managed to scale the fence of the party secretariat as irate councilors from Kolokuma/Opukuma Local Government Council rushed him intent on lynching him.
According to the story making the rounds, tempers had risen after it became clear the chief scribe may have been playing games.
When the councilors turned restive, Opukiri was really boxed in, our sources say.
He is said to have turned in the direction of the security wall, which appeared to be the only option open.
At the wall, it is rumoured that the frantic secretary was helped to scale the fence by the equally embattled chairman of the council Ineye Hagler.
Our sources disclose that Hagler lifted the man unto his shoulder, giving the required leverage at his greatest moment of need to escape the battering of his life.
From what we are able to piece together, aggrieved councilors had initiated an impeachment move. Among their grievances is what they allege is the chairman's penchant for running the council as a private estate.
They also allege that a jeep inherited by Hagler at the inception of his administration is nowhere to be found, suggest-ing Haglermay have made away with it.
With trouble brewing in the area, Opukiri, a retired military captain and secretary of the state chapter of the PDP had offered his services as a peacemaker and political broker.
in the wake of an impeachment threat that is rocking the Kolokuma/Opukuma Local Government Council.
Hagler had served as a councilor in Port Harcourt under the Wokekoro administration.
When his tenure ended, he re-surfaced at Bayelsa, becoming one of Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha's boys.
After elected councils were dissolved, Hagler found himself as caretaker committee chairman.
It was from that position Hagler ran the elections and was returned as an elected chairman.
Now, he and his councilors are at war, with how funds belonging to the council are being used turning to be the central theme for the boiling crisis in the area.
Despite the angry protests of the councilors, Hagler is still in-charge, backed by chieftains within the area and others along the corridors of power.
Opukiri's race to escape being assaulted came as a huge surprise to secretariat staff.
As a go-between for peace Opukiri may have been manipulating the process and secretly siding with the council chairman.
Betrayed by the mediator in whom they had so much confidence, the councilors say nothing would stop them in their bid to send the elected council chairman packing from office.
Will Hagler haggle with the councilors? Or would he continue to treat them with levity?
Only time will tell.