Until May 11, 2007 when singer Chief Osita Osadebe left this ‘sinful world’ to join his ancestors, the hit track, Osondi Owendi was arguably the most sold out album in the highlife genre. According to the late highlife maestro, Osondi Owendi, which he released in 1984, translates to ‘One man’s meat is another man’s poison’.
There is just no better way to describe what happened in Bayelsa State on Thursday, February 13, 2020. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are jubilating, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are mourning.
Chief David Lyon had his dreams of occupying the Creek Haven shattered, no thanks to the Supreme Court who pulled the rug off the feet of his deputy, Degi-Eremienyo over forged certificate.
The Supreme Court therefore ordered that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 2019 governorship election, Duoye Diri be handed the governorship mantle since the ‘sin’ of Lyon’s deputy legally invalidated his candidature!
And so, what would have been Lyon’s historic inauguration as the 6th democratically elected governor of Bayelsa State exploded before his very eyes just a day to the inauguration billed to hold at the Sampson Siasia Stadium on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2020.
But all that is now history. History would only smile back on Lyon if, and only if the Supreme Court reverses itself following the application for review brought before the apex court by the Bayelsa APC.
It is obvious that joy is an understatement, to describe the mood in the Bayelsa PDP. They have all the reasons to be elated, considering that their ‘defeat’ to APC in the November 16, 2019 threw the party in disarray. Today, PDP is celebrating, thanks to the Supreme Court.
PDP in Bayelsa was nothing short of an orphaned family, with former President Goodluck Jonathan and some of his close disciples in the State rumoured to have fallen out with the out-gone Governor Seriake Dickson.
Political commentators had predicted a massive defection of PDP members, particularly lawmakers in the State Assembly, had there not been the dramatic turn of events.
But why wouldn’t they? The answer is simple: it has become the political culture in Nigeria and one sad fact about politics in this country is that loyalty is premised on what the politician would get for himself.
Afterall, a popular proverb by the Ashanti people of Ghana says that no matter how much the rain beats a leopard’s skin, it does not wash off its spots. Some facts on the ground would suffice.
Five days after the announcement of result of the Bayelsa governorship election that was held last November; which affirmed the victory of APC and defeat of PDP, there were reports that the entire PDP members in the state legislature are plotting to dump the party for the APC.
Although sixteen PDP legislators, including the Speaker, Honorable Monday Obolo-Bobou, and Deputy Speaker, Honorable Abraham Ngobere, publicly debunked the report and rededicated themselves to the PDP and Restoration Movement, their denial wasn’t enough to convince political observers.
It is believed that the Speaker and his colleagues made the denial in order to continue to enjoy the patronage of the outgoing governor, Seriake Dickson until February 14 when his reign officially comes to an end.
Analysts believe the odd of the PDP legislators to defect to the APC was very high; especially the Speaker, his Deputy as well as other principal officers.
The Speaker and other principal officers may want to be in the good book of the new administration in order to guarantee their positions in the state legislature, and belonging to the same political party with Governor-elect David Lyon will be the only condition for them. While other members of the State Assembly will not want to run into trouble with the incoming Governor; and as such, may defect to the party of the new helmsman.
How about Kano State in 2016 when the entire member of the State House of Assembly abandoned Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, their political leader, and defected to the camp of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who succeeded Kwankwaso as Governor of Kano State after both men had political disagreement.
The Imo State drama is fresh and still playing out on the stage. After the ousting of Chief Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP by the Supreme Court on January 14, 2020 there was massive protest on the streets of Owerri, Imo State capital led by all 27 members of the Imo State House of Assembly.
They carried placards with screaming obscenities, calling the Supreme Court judgment ‘miscarriage of justice’.
True to a popular African proverb which says, ‘pretend as if you are dead and you will see those who really love you’, the legislators began to shift their allegiances to the new king, Hope Uzodinma.
The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and Majority Leader, Hon. Okey Onyekanma and Hon. Lugard Osuji respectively, were the first to fire the salvo. The duo decamped to the APC shortly after tendering resignation on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.
As at the last count, save for the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Okey Onyekanma who later debunked his defection claims, the remaining 26 legislators have pitched their tent with the APC.
It certainly would have been the scenario in Bayelsa but for the ‘intervention’ of the Supreme Court. And the PDP in Bayelsa would have to thank them. Supreme Court has indeed saved the PDP in Bayelsa State.
