Emmanuel Ikechukwu
Like every other election in Nigeria, the game plan is use everything within your reach to grab power including frightening your opponents with threats of death and violence.
The politicians are at it again, this time around the battle front is Bayelsa Governorship Election.
Fear is gradually enveloping Bayelsa State, as residents get set for the December 5 governorship election
The spate of kidnappings and violent attacks across the state have doubled, putting residents of Yenagoa, the state capital, and its environs on the edge.
Expectedly, the motive behind the increased wave of kidnapping and attacks has always been the drive for wholesome power among the political gladiators.
The Bayelsa State government and some non-governmental organisations are pointing fingers at the opposition for the climate of fear that is upon the state, while the opposition has placed the blame at the doorsteps of the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s government.
Reports have it that shortly after the 31st state security meeting in July, Dickson disclosed that the state government had uncovered plans by some political elements to destabilise the state. He disclosed that the state government was aware of plans to secretly recruit and camp unrepentant cultists to carry out acts of brigandage and violence in the coming weeks so as to discredit the state government
He had said at the time: “I will like to use this opportunity to caution those who feel they can instigate crisis in our state under the guise of politics. Let me also caution particularly, our young people who are misguided clearly into thinking that they can engage in one form of brigandage or criminality in the name of politics.
“We have stamped out cultism in this state before, but we are seeing some kind of resurgence, since the political activities commenced. I am aware that there are some movements of undesirable elements with a view to camping in some areas of our state to unleash terror on our people. These are cultists who appear to have some political affiliation.
“We are closely monitoring, and I will like to warn those misguided young people and whoever that is behind them to desist forthwith, because we will not tolerate. The security officers and their men and the good people of our state, working in unison will stamp out all criminal and nefarious activities.”
Investigations revealed that 10 high profile kidnappings have taken place after Dickson’s disclosure, while five mobile policemen have been killed by kidnappers.
The latest act of violence, which caught the security operatives unawares, has pitched the government against the opposition with both parties launching blistering criticism against each other.
A group, Ijaw Young Professionals (IYP) which has sympathy for the Dickson government has blamed the former governor, Timipre Sylva and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the attack. It said the violence and killing was to create a sense of insecurity in the state ahead of the December 5 election.
In a statement, coordinator of the group, Barrister Seighfa Tonye-Brown, alleged that the latest incident was among the plans being hatched by the opposition party to unleash, between now and the election, tension and insecurity in the state in order to force the hand of President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency and possibly take over the state. The strategy, he said, would also lead to change in the security high command in Bayelsa State as a ploy to claim that the change was necessary because of high level of violence and insecurity in the state.
