LAGOS APRIL 20TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Bayelsa State government and the state police command may have acted in a way to frustrate the effort of a group under the auspices of The New Dawn Development to stage a Pro-Jonathan rally in the state in attempt to persuade the President contest in 2015.
This because Governor Seriake Dickson administration in Bayelsa State expected to support the move rather issued a disclaimer regarding a proposed rally to nudge President Goodluck Jonathan to declare for a second term.
A statement from Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to Dickson, declared that the rally was not in the ‘collective interest’ of Bayelsa people.
Behind the effort, Iworiso-Markson said, was a group called ‘The New Dawn Development,’ and the rally, which was planned for Yenagoa, would call on President Jonathan to declare his intention to run in next year’s presidential election.
While the statement claimed Seriake Dickson has never wavered in his support and solidarity for President Jonathan, it however indicted itself when it called on all party faithful and the ever supportive Bayelsa public to disassociate themselves from the proposed rally because it does not have the approval and support of the Government
“It must be noted that, under the prevailing political circumstances, any group or sectional rallies, without the participation of the Governor and other major stakeholders of the PDP in the State, will end up sending a rather dangerous signal to the rest of the Country, as it may even portray the home base of the President as a house divided against its self.
In view of the foregoing, the Government wishes to call on all party faithful and the ever supportive Bayelsa public to disassociate themselves from the proposed rally, as it does not have the approval and support of the Government and may send a negative message to the rest of the country, ahead of the 2015 presidential election,” the statement observed.
Few hours after issuing the statement, the Chief Press Secretary however began a series of frantic efforts to withdraw the statement, appealing to media organs to step down the statement. What must have been responsible to the last minute change of decision by the Bayelsa State government is best known to them..
In another development, Bayelsa State police command came out with a press statement banning a pro- President Goodluck Jonathan rally, saying the proposed rally could have breached public peace and security.
However, a statement by the state police command said it directed the group to reschedule its rally to avert a breakdown of law and order.
The statement was signed on behalf of the state commissioner of police by Alex Akhigbe, Police Public Relations Officer for Bayelsa State command.
“Bayelsa state Police command has directed the members of the group known as New Dawn Initiative Development to reschedule their rally billed take place at Opolo Secondary School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State today 19/04/2014 at 1pm,” the statement said.
“This was premised on available intelligence to the command that a splinter group
had perfected plans to attack and disrupt the rally which could lead to breach of peace,” the command stated.
It stressed that the dire situation was worsened by “the fact that the Police did observe the actual gathering of the mob at the venue.”
“The Police Command hereby uses this medium to advise the good people of Bayelsa state and in particular political groups to always make efforts to settle their internal differences before requesting for Police permits for rallies,” the police added.