N5m Monthly Payment To (Former Bayelsa Governors) And Five Takeaways From Dickson’s Leaked Tape
By Emmanuel Aziken (Green White Green – www.gwg.ng)
The secret recording of Governor Serikae Dickson’s mobilization of Bayelsa State local government earlier in the week may have exposed the deep cleavage in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In the address, the governor is heard repeatedly asserting his determination to ensure that only a member of his inner caucus from the Restoration Caucus around him emerges as the PDP candidate at the September primaries.
His aversion to Mr. Timi Alaibe who returned to the PDP about six months ago is repeatedly assailed as wanting to reap where he did not sow.
The address which was secretly recorded by one of the participants at the meeting revealed certain things about the Dickson persona among which are:
DICKSON IS NOT SUPERNATURAL
The governor said “I have different systems of monitoring people, even conversations.” However, someone recorded his address and spilled it to the world showing that he is no monitoring spirit!
DICKSON PAYS N5 MILLION MONTHLY TO TIMIPIRE SYLVA, AND FORMER GOVERNORS.
The governor revealed that he pays N5 million as monthly pension to each former governor of the state and that would have included Timipire Sylva. He specifically mentioned the estate of the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. However, former President Goodluck Jonathan gets double of the amount at N10 million.
VOTING ALAIBE WILL LEAD TO POLITICAL SUICIDE OF HIS FOLLOWERS
The governor in his address singled out Alaibe as one that must be stopped from getting the PDP ticket saying that it would lead to the political evisceration of the Restoration Team.
“Don’t push me to a level where I have to call you out. But for you to leave all members of the restoration team and go and align with someone that came to the party six months ago, somebody that has been fighting you.”
“If I have protected you and supported you and you are in a position to protect yourself,” he warned them as he said that voting for Alaibe could lead to their political suicide. He said that the local governments would be dissolved within days of emerging as governor.
DICKSON HAS YET TO MAKE KNOWN WHO HE IS SUCCEEDING
The governor revealed that contrary to claims that he is yet to make known who he would be supporting for the ticket. Who that person is has not been made known but the person will be from his core associates.
“On my side, very soon you will soon the direction. I am not indecisive, a general studies the battle. I didn’t want to come out and say this is my candidate, they would have shot down the person.
“Very soon in a closed door session you will hear from me, anyhow you take get the message, na message. The bottom line is that we need a governor from the Restoration Team.”
DICKSON IS TAKING THE SUCCESSION AS A BATTLE
The outgoing governor is taking the quest to succeed him as a battle which will be fought using every instrument from within the rule book. Significantly, according to him, the battle has started and the newly elected local government chairmen are his field commanders and he is the general who will not reveal his battle secrets.
“The battle has started. You are my field commanders, you are the restoration field commanders and I expect you to come with your troops on the day of convention.”
DICKSON KNOWS THAT SOME OF HIS FOLLOWERS WILL BETRAY HIM
The governor was conscious of the fact that some of those following him may betray his aspiration to stop Alaibe. He enjoined them to collect the money that may be offered but for those who will go ahead to support Alaibe, he has instructed that their names should be collected for action against them during the congress coming up in April