Alaibe: Will Gov. Dickson Hand Over Power To Him?

The political air space is gradually charging in Bayelsa state. Posters of governorship hopeful have started emerging. Already, posters of an ex-militant leader and one time caretaker chairman of Southern Ijaw local Government Area, Hon. Joshua Maciver have flooded Yenagoa, the state capital.

The repentant warlord wants to succeed Governor Seriake Dickson, his estranged friend and political leader. Hon. Maciver has already recovered blessings and endorsements from its Kinsmen for that effect. Along the Isaac Boro Expressway is situated a building, well decorated with posters, bearing the inscription “Joshua Macaiva for governor”.

Similarly, posters of a former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi are also common sights in the Yenagoa municipality. These are pointers to the fact that the epic race to Creek Haven has actually kicked-off.

One of the persons believed to have a strong interest in the office is Chief Ndotimi Alaibe. In the political history of Bayelsa state, since the Nigerian nation returned to civil rule in 1999, the former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has not relented in his burning desire to govern the homogeneous Ijaw state.

Right from the days of the second tenure of the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha,  the ‘Principal’, as he is fondly called by his acquaintances, has always attempted to possess the status of the number one citizen of the state.

In 2003 when Alamieyeseigha sought a re-election, Alaibe fought him to a standstill. The atmosphere was tensed as though a political earthquake was imminent. His popularity and followership were unprecedented. Then, he had the financial war chest as an NDDC boss.

However, Alaibe had to surprisingly chicken out of the race just before the primary election, under the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. At the end of the day, his withdrawal from the governorship contest gave the then incumbent a smooth sail into the seat of power for a second term.

It was learnt that Alaibe’s political godfather, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the president then, prevailed on him to step down for Alamieyeseigha. Indeed, his political followers were highly disappointed.

After Alamieyeseigha’s ordeal which led to his eventual ouster by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in 2005, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the then deputy governor had to step in as governor to complete the tenure of his boss.

At the expiration of that tenure, Jonathan decided to take his personal shot at the Creek Haven in 2007. Again, Alaibe, who was still the MD of NDDC resurfaced and launched a more formidable and dreaded come back against Jonathan.

This time, Jonathan’s incumbency couldn’t do much as Alaibe was able to win the party structures to his side ahead of the primary election.

Just as his teeming supporters were enthusiastic of an imminent victory for their master, another frustrating news filtered into their ears that their master had quit the race.

Immediately after he announced his withdrawal from the race, Alaibe was reinstated as CEO of NDDC.

Political analysts described the 2007 episode as the best opportunity for the Opokuma born politician to have become the governor of Bayelsa state if he had remained resilient to at least partake in the primary election.

If Alaibe had participated in the primary, he would have emerged either first or at least second. A second position would have been enough for him to launch himself into the Government House.

As providence would have it, Jonathan who took the first position at the PDP primary election was picked as running mate to the then presidential candidate of the party, Musa Yar’ Adua and they eventually won the election.

That was how the runner-up to Jonathan at the governorship primary election, Chief Timipre Sylva became the party’s standard bearer and finally became governor on a platter of gold.

Again, another opportunity came calling for Alaibe in 2011 to prove his political worth.

Understanding that the coast was not very clear for him to clinch the PDP ticket for yet another gubernatorial contest, he took the bull by the horns and defected to the Labour Party LP to challenge the incumbent governor.

Indeed, the already dying hope and confidence of his supporters were rekindled on hearing that their master had taken a bold step as a reliable and dogged political fighter.

Having successfully picked the LP ticket and was seemingly ready for the real battle, Alaibe, again, stunned his followers. He withdrew from the governorship contest.

That was not the last time they were going to be shocked by their master. Alabe replicated same in the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Preparatory to the 2015 gubernatorial polls, the former NDDC boss and former Special Adviser to the president on Amnesty Programme further defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Hopes were high as many people thought he was the only person with the needed political carriage to wrestle power from the incumbent governor who was seeking a re-election.

But on the eve of the APC governorship primary election, Alaibe, as usual, announced his withdrawal from the contest to the chagrin of everyone, thereby sparking another round of criticism with the electorate raising questions of the politician’s reliability.

As the Bayelsa state governorship election draws near, questions are being raised as to whether Alaibe can make it this time.

Already, the man has returned to the ruling PDP in the state. His return was greeted with fan fare. Alaibe and other defectors from the APC were received by Gov. Dickson and the leadership of the PDP at the Peace Park, Yenagoa.

Observers see Alaibe’s return from the opposition party as an indication that he most probably will present himself once again for the office.

But the questions Bayelsans are asking are: Will he fight to the end this time around? Does he still have the massive support he used to enjoy? Will he not go his former ways where he had always tendered his withdrawal notice at the eleventh hour?

Meanwhile, some Bayelsans have taken the Alaibe political discourse to the social media. Tommy Johnbul posted this on his Facebook account, in response to a poser on social media concerning Alaibe’s chances: “How many times has he (Alaibe) contested , how many times has he won, how many times has he withdrawn?

Answer these questions and you get the answer”

Another Facebook user, Prince Ebikake has this to say: “It doesn’t matter how many times he withdrew because of the life of his people, he valued humanity not that his opponents were stronger or richer than him; he remains the man and he will be our governor. The time is now, arise for the PRINCIPAL”.

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