ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
There is an uneasy calm in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State following the decision of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and 10 other officials in the Douye Diri administration to join the race for the state assembly and National Assembly elections.
It was gathered that among those serving under the present administration in the state that had accepted the calls from their constituents were the Secretary of the State Petroleum Task Force Committee, Waikumo Amakoromo.
Others are a commissioner at the Local Government Service Commission, Cleopas Carter, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Alfred Belemote Watson and the Special Adviser on Investment, Dr. Jonathan Obuebite.
Many politicians in the state claimed the decision by the government officials to join the race was a deliberate move to replace the incumbent lawmakers and create a loyal camp around Governor Douye Diri.
But others described the decision as a normal and healthy decisions that would allow for the best brains to emerge to represent their constituencies.
The entry into the race of the Bayelsa SSG, Kombowei Benson, is believed to be a plot to unseat the incumbent Senator representing Bayelsa Central, Senator Moses Cleopas who is allegedly not in the good books of the Governor.
But thousands of card-carrying members of the PDP, made up of youths, women and men in Gbarain/ Ekpetiama, Yenagoa Constituency 2 took to the streets to explain reasons behind their demand for the Secretary of the State Task Force on Petroleum Monitoring, Hon. Waikumo Amakoromo to join the race for the state Assembly election.
The representatives of the five wards in Constituency 2 of YELGA from ward 7-11, said the decision to call on Amakoromo to join the race was due to his contributions and status as a worthy party stalwart who could win elections for the PDP to support Diri’s administration.
Amakoromo, who received the group at his hometown in Koroama Ward 9 expressed appreciation for the confidence bestowed on him by the party stakeholders in his constituency.
He noted that as a card carrying member of PDP from inception, he was willing to continually support Diri’s prosperity mantra and protect the interest of the party in the constituency to provide more democratic dividends to the people.