BAYELSA PDP CRISIS:MPS SIDE JONATHAN AGAINST GOV. SYLVA

SENATORS and members of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State have pitched themselves with Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan in the ensuring crisis between him and Governor Timpire Sylva over control of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The legislators are particularly incensed that the State caucus resolution to uphold all the party structures were breached at the weekend by aides and supporters of the governor who conducted a state congress in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP, Bayelsa West) who spoke on behalf of the state delegation to the National Assembly at the weekend nevertheless excused Governor Sylva from the crisis saying that the governor who hosted the caucus meeting that was also attended by Vice-President Jonathan could not have unilaterally revoked the decision of the caucus. The state party caucus consisting of the vice-president, governor, deputy governor, National Assembly members, state legislators and other notable party stakeholders had at the February 18 meeting at Government House Yenagoa resolved to sustain all existing party structures from the ward to the state level.

“What is happening is absolutely absurd in the sense that it is the highest form of irresponsibility being exhibited by anybody who wants to rescind whatever decision the caucus of the State has taken," Senator Lokpobiri said over the telephone, Friday.

“On the 18th there was a caucus that was attended by the vice-president hosted by the governor of Bayelsa State and a motion moved by the deputy governor of the State supported by Senator Amange and a commissioner and the governor himself. The exco has done well we said let us retain them, that was the decision and that is why there has been no ward congress, there has been no local government congress. Without ward congress and local government congress how did they get the delegates for the State congress. Where did they get the delegates? As far as we are concerned nobody recognizes that illegality they have done there.

On the effort of the National Assembly members to resolve the crisis, Lokpobiri said: “As far as we are concerned what they have done is absolutely wrong, is insubordination and the party has taken steps to suspend them." On insinuations that Governor Sylva may have masterminded the crisis using his aides, Lokpobiri said: “The governor was not around when these things happened, let us wait until the governor comes back" Governor Sylva was on official visit with President Umaru Yar‘Adua to China when the purported congress was conducted.

“I don’t think the governor is involved because the governor is not in town, but all his commissioners are involved, some of his SAs are involved and that is why some are saying the governor may have a hand, but I don’t think the governor will so have a hand because it would be so irresponsible for anybody to do that. What we are trying to do is to ensure that peace returns to the party and you know what we are trying to do is that we are throwing our weight fully behind the decision of the caucus meeting where we were part of."