Last Updated on
The upcoming governorship election in the oil-rich state of Bayelsa continues to produce more dramatic resignation by those who were thought to be strong loyalists of Governor Seriake Dickson.
The latest strong PDP member to pull out of the Dickson’s government is the state’s Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Mr Markson Fefegha, a long-time ally of the governor.
He resigned his appointment from the Bayelsa State Executive Council Thursday, October 17, 2019 while the Special Adviser on Conflict Resolution in Oil and Gas Producing communities’ Mr Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe, Special Adviser Governor’s Office, Mr Alamene Williams and Senior Special Assistant Community Development attached to the office of the Deputy- Governor, Mr Ombu Napoleon have all resigned.
Their resignation came a few days after the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) concluded its governorship primary election which produced Senator Douye Diri.
Diri is the anointed candidate of the incumbent governor.
Fefegha has been in the cabinet since the assumption of Dickson in 2012 and managed three different ministries before his resignation.
He said his resignation takes effect from Friday, October 18.
His letter of resignation read: “As one of the “first eleven” in your Restoration Administration, I cannot thank you enough for the various positions you graciously assigned me to collaborate and work towards the goals of the Restoration Agenda in Bayelsa State. It has been incredibly rewarding to have traversed almost all the gamut of the State Executive Council.
“But we do not live in a perfect world and sometimes circumstances intervene.
“After a period of deep reflection, I have decided to quit due to political uncertainty and other reasons personal to me.
“I hope to dedicate my life and energy to other assignments that will be more acceptable to God and humanity in the near future”
Fefegha was the Director-General of the campaign organisation of Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, the incumbent deputy governor.
Another aggrieved member, Orunimighe who was the founding chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) before defecting to the PDP ahead the 2019 presidential elections in his resignation letter said “resignation is predicated on conflict of interest arising from intricacies that have characterised the 2019 governorship election in the state.”
Orunimighe and Williams are both from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, the home of the APC governorship candidate, Chief David Lyon.
They are likely to announce their defection to APC very soon.
Bayelsa is the home state of the immediate former president of Nigeria Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
The state has never been ruled by any opposition since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. It has been a PDP state.
APC which might ride on the support of the federal government has a huge task ahead of it.
Leave a Reply