Why Douye Diri wins against Alaibe

                                              By Our Correspondent

   The victory of Senator Douye Diri as the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State has been attributed to several factors which facilitated for it.

Senator Douye Diri, PDP Stadard Bearer                                  Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, PDP Governorship  Aspirant

         Some delegates who spoke to Global Overseer on condition of anonymity shortly after the declaration of the party’s primary result by the Returning Officer who is also the serving Taraba State Governor, Dr Darius Ishaku was blamed on how they were camped and deprived other aspirants to reach out to them thus compelling them to vote against  their conscience.

  They said and warned that subsequent PDP party’s primary this method used by the Restoration Caucus should not repeat itself because the party belongs to every party members and not one individual who will impose candidate on them.

  The said delegates recalled the days of NPN, NRC and SDP, delegates were given free hands to vote candidates of their choice and wondered why they have been camped and could not have access to other aspirants whom they may like to vote for.   

  They described the scenario as bleak and hopeless and called upon Bayelsans not to repeat the same mistake they have perpetrated in order to ensuring that the wealth of Bayelsa State is even distributed for the benefit of all indigenes of the state devoid of ethnic sentiments and discrimination.

  It would be recalled that at the eve of the PDP party’s primary, precisely on Monday, September 2, the state Chairman PDP, Cleopas Moses, raised alarm alleging that Chief Ndutimi Alaibe former Managing Director of NDDC and a Business mogul, Mr. Keniebi Okoko of sending fake bank alerts to delegates.

  A situation which compelled Mr. Keniebi Okoko threatened to sue the state party’s Chairman, Cleopas Moses, for accusing him of sending fake bank alerts to delegates.

  Moses, in a statement, alleged that Okoko was sending fake alerts to delegates to enable him win the PDP governorship primaries scheduled for September 3.

  But reacting to the statement on Monday demanded public apologies from Cleopas to be published in national dailies or he would be compelled to explore other legal options.

“First, as a pastor with a strong family name to defend, I have never and will never engage in this kind of act which the chairman who has thrown all decorum to the wind is publicly accusing me of.

“In my 13 years as a private businessman, I have never been accused of any fraudulent activity, unlike him that has always depended on the spoils of government to survive. I have built my reputation with my own sweat and any attempt by anybody, including Cleopas to smear that image will be resisted.

 “The wicked is always afraid of their shadows. The same act which he has continuously deployed and all the illegal processes to sway delegates to his preferred candidate (s) is now backfiring.

  The former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ndutimi Alaibe also, has denied sending fake N1million alert to delegates ahead of the Tueaday’s primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

  Alaibe, who is one of the frontline aspirants, described the allegation, which was made by the state party’s Chairman, Cleopas Moses as irresponsible and careless.

  The aspirant in a statement signed by the Administrative Secretary, Alaibe Campaign Organisation, Prof. Seiyeifa Brisibe, said it was difficult to believe that such criminal allegations came from the PDP chairman.

  Brisibe said: “As a campaign organisation, we find it difficult to believe that this extremely criminal allegation is coming from the chairman of PDP in Bayelsa State. We assume that there is a mistake somewhere. How would any reasonable person wake up to utter this kind of evil allegation against responsible fellow human beings?

  “While we allow our lawyers to study the legal implications of this obviously irresponsible and careless allegation, we need to state that there is no truth in it whatsoever. The burden is on those making the allegation to provide evidence when the time comes.

  “We believe this is dirty politics taken too far. Someone does not need to go to this extreme just to win an election.   This allegation is an equivalent of bloodshed for the sake of politics and must not be ignored by those whose responsibility it is to ensure that it doesn’t happen.

   “We had promised from the beginning to run a decent campaign for this race. And we have not deviated from that promise. We have been irresponsibly attacked and rubbished. But we choose to keep our sanity by focusing on the campaign and not allowing anybody to distract us. We believe that politics is a game of superior ideas and not a-do-or-die affair.

  “Our Principal has been called names. His reputation has dragged in the mud by those who are bent on scoring cheap political points. Issues bordering on terrorism have been raised against him. And today, he is being accused of engaging in acts that violate both local and international laws. His silence has been misconstrued as weakness and a victory for those on the offensive.

  “Let it be clear to whoever is behind this gutter politics that Timi Alaibe has an impeccable reputation both in private and public service. Accusing him of a criminal activity as though it were a child’s play is unacceptable and is not going to be ignored. He has a name to protect and will not allow anybody to soil that name. The law must take its course. This is a deliberate falsehood that must be challenged.”

 Apart from this, the unanimous endorsement of Senator Douye Diri by the restoration caucus of the eight local government areas of the state through the broadcasting media outfit in the state at the eve of the primaries has adversely affect the victory of Chief Alaibe at the poll.

  The Restoration Government indeed has dribbled several Aspirants who sought to occupy the seat which compelled them to spent millions of naira to get 3, 4, 7 and 62 votes.

  At the preliminary, Governor Dickson under the Restoration caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared three days fasting and praying to seek the face of God on the critical issue of next governorship candidate for the PDP in the state for the November 16, 2019 governorship election.

  The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr Feynman Wilson, said in a statement on Sunday that the Restoration Caucus of the PDP took the decision in a meeting under the leadership of the state governor, Seriake Dickson.

  Wilson said the meeting followed the successful conclusion of the three-day fast and prayer session which was organized by the state to seek the face of God on the serious issue of the selection of the next governorship candidate for the PDP in the state.

  The Restoration Caucus regarded as Governor Dickson’s political family, disclosed that three members of the team, the Chief of Staff, Government House,  Talford Ongolo, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Kemela Okara and the senator representing the Bayelsa Central District in the National Assembly, Senator Douye Diri, have all indicated interest in picking the governorship form.

  The governor’s political aide said that the indications by the three persons did not preclude other members of the Restoration Team who have interest in the governorship from approaching the party to pick the forms on their own.

  He explained that all members of the team who are interested in the governorship race would be required to present themselves to the party and the Restoration Caucus for necessary engagement after procuring the form.

  Wilson thanked the members of the PDP Restoration Team under the leadership of the governor for their steadfastness, discipline, dedication and commitment to the affairs of the party and indeed the administration over the years.

  He said, “After the three days of fast and prayers, organized by the state government to seek the face of God in the process of selecting the party’s candidate for the next governorship election, the Restoration Caucus met and decided that the process for the selection of candidates has started.

  “So far, three people have indicated interest in collecting the party’s form and presented themselves to the caucus.”

  Presently, out of the 21 PDP governorship aspirants majority of them are protesting in silent when Global Overseer visited them when the outcome of  the party’s primary was announced and some of them got almost nothing vote despite the millions of Naira wasted.

  Declaring the result of the party’s primary held at Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, the Taraba State Governor said the Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District and governorship aspirant of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Douye Diri has emerged as the substantive flagbearer of the party for the forthcoming governorship election scheduled to hold on 16th November, 2019.

  Senator Douye Diri he said polled 561 votes beating his closest contender Chief Ndutimi Alaibe who got  365 while Keniebi Okoko came third with a total vote of 142.

  According to the result released,  Gboribiogha John Jonah - 62 Votes, Konbowei Benson - 24 Votes, Okoya Reuben - 19 Votes,  Fred Agbedi - 18 Votes,  Joshua MacIver - 7 Votes, Ayawei Nimibofa - 7 Votes,  Osaisai Franklyn - 4 Votes, Kemela Okara - 4 Votes, Igali Godknows - 4 Votes, Otolor Robinson - 4 Votes,  Talford Ongolo - 3 Votes,  Alagoa David - 3 Votes, Benson Agadaga - 3 Votes,  Igiri Tobin - 2 Votes and Senator Emmanuel Paulker - 2 Votes.

 According to the Taraba governor, 1,237 accredited delegates voted during the primaries out of which 16 votes were declared invalid.