Obasanjo, ex-NSA linked to Bayelsa election in audio leak scattering PDP

An audio record of Gov. Seriake Dickson’s position on the forth-coming guber election in Bayelsa has furthers escalated the crisis rocking the PDP, and the relationship between the governor and his godfather and ex-President Gooduck Jonathan.

The record revealed how the governor boasted that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-NSA Aliyu Gusau were pleading with him to allow Timi Alaibe, a  favourite of Jonathan, to pick the party primary ticket. But the governor said he rejected their pleas.

Dickson, however, denied saying that. He described the audio as manipulated by the Alaibe camp.

In a statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, the governor accused Alaibe of the alleged circulation of ‘a cynically manipulated version of addresses he delivered during political meetings and other fora with the intent to blackmail him for assumed political benefits.’

“The former NDDC boss was resorting to blackmail out of desperation to win the gubernatorial primaries of the PDP at all costs. It was absurd that Alaibe would go to the extent of manipulating audio recordings of his speeches for distribution to respected Nigerians with the intent to blackmail him,” Soriwei said.

“We wish to reiterate for the umpteenth time that the governor as a major stakeholder in the issue of the governorship primaries is entitled to his own political views and decisions. That does not preclude any politician with genuine interest from testing his popularity with the delegates.

“It is important to stress also that the governor’s decision not to reward disloyalty with the candidacy of the party is an informed decision of conviction.

He advised Alaibe to focus on the campaigns to actualize his aspiration rather than the spreading of a campaign of calumny against a man whose name is not on the ballot.

But, the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation , in a statement titled ‘We are too Focussed to be Distracted’ and signed by its administrative Secretary, Prof. Seiyefa Birisibe, stated that the allegation is a clear attempt to incite the public against Alaibe.

He said neither Alaibe nor any member of his Campaign Organisation was at the meetings referred to in the public statement issued on Wednesday.

“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.”

He added their focus is to conduct our campaign on issues that will lead to the development of Bayelsa State through a shred economic prosperity and not waste energy and time on commonplace matters.

‘Let it be known that we are not desperate but determined to win this race, by the grace of God.”

While Jonathan wanted Alaie to succeed Dickson, the governor, whom Jonathan helped to office, said he prefers a member of his government.

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