TENSION MOUNTS AGAIN IN BAYELSA

Governor Timipre Sylva-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State that conducted the State Congress of the party last week Thursday and elected new officials has dared the rest of the factions by inaugurating the newly elected 30-member state executive committee of the party.

But the embattled displaced chairman, Chief Fred Agbedi and his executive members have reacted to the inauguration describing it as an 'illegality', saying that inauguration could only be done after the National Convention of the PDP.

The inauguration, which took place at the PDP secretariat, Yenizue-Gene, Yenagoa in the early hours of Tuesday was given adequate security by men of the Joint Military Task Force, Police, State Security Service and members of the Bayelsa Volunteers.

The stern looking security men, numbering over 140 took strategic positions to ensure security while the inauguration lasted. Present at the event were Governor Timipre Sylva, his deputy Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi, speaker of the Bayelsa State of Assembly, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu, Majority Leader, Mr. Nadu Karibo, Mr. Robert Kenosha., Mrs. Rubby Benjamin and other members of the House. Also present were serving commissioners and special advisers under Governor Sylva including Dr. Azibapu Eruani (Health), Chief Diekivie Ikiogha (Energy), Mr. Maxwell Oko (Youth), Mr. Steven Diver (SA, Inter- Party Relations), among others.

Speaking while inaugurating the new state executive committee members, Governor Sylva said "as far as I am concerned, we are ready to make a change because by the constitution of our party we have a responsibility to perform."

Sylva said the new executive members were the only recognized state officials of the party, stressing that even the PDP would remain the only political party in Bayelsa State . Sylva charged them to hold firmly the PDP umbrella, describing the party as "an election winning machine" in the state which had the responsibility of ensuring the development across the state.

The governor disclosed that the new officials were carefully selected to serve in their various capacities and reminded them that their first task was to lead other members to the South-South Zonal Congress of the party in Port Harcourt , the Rivers State capital.

He said: "By the powers conferred on me as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State , I hereby pronounce that the Bayelsa State PDP executive committee members have been inaugurated. You can take full charge of the party.

In his post inauguration speech, on behalf of the new executive members, the chairman Chief Rufus Abadi pledged to be loyal to Sylva, Ebebi and Seibarugu. Abadi assured that they would not disappoint the party in the task of bringing about the desired change which the party badly needed.

Abadi noted that this was the first time in the history of the party in the state that genuine State Congress had been organized, pointing out that in the past it was held in secrecy and results posted to Abuja for ratification.

But the erstwhile state chairman of the party, Chief Fred Agbedi condemned the inauguration of the new executive committee members by Governor Sylva. While emphasizing that inauguration could only be done after the party's national convention, Agbedi said the inauguration by Governor Sylva was "illegal", adding that as far as he was concerned, "people were wallowing in ignorance".