…. “I Am Not Backing Down” – Vijah Says
The wave of political tussles in Bayelsa state has taken a new turn over the past few weeks, following the Liberation Movement gubernatorial candidate’s deliberate action of challenging Diri Duoye, the incumbent governor of Bayelsa state’s victory, in court.
Vijah Eldred Opuama, who contested under the Liberation Movement, has taken the Bayelsa state government under the People’s Democratic Party to the state’s tribunal in furtherance to his claim that the last governorship election in the state was laced with anomalous obnoxiousness.
However, in what seems like a gradually unanticipated victory, Vijah Opuama has become the talk of the town and this has resultantly generated charades and actions from political stakeholders in the state, imploring him to back out of furthering the case in court.
In series of phone conversations leaked to the media house of NAIJA LIVE TV, the governorship aspirant was heard, vehemently refusing the offer of renowned political stakeholders in the state, beseeching him to let go of the case at the tribunal in exchange for a huge sum of money.
In the first leaked tape that lasted 6 minutes and 9 seconds, a man, presumably a political figure called Puwei Hector Meetin was heard saying that:
“The reason why I called is to let you know that people will be praising you, and at the end, they will still laugh at you. The reason I am calling is to tell you to consider what this side and that side are giving you and make your conclusion.”
In his response, Vijah Eldred, the gubernatorial candidate under the Liberation Movement retorted and said:
“Starting Small in Politics is relative. When I took the shot at governorship, people asked me to start from somewhere, governorship is somewhere even at this point, and you should know what I stand for. See, somebody with a questionable character cannot be our leader. And that is why you and I need to be in Power. Well, PDP are offering me money and my friends have already told them that I will fight till the end and that wealth cannot entice me. Imagine PDP calling me to offer me 5 million. I’ll tell you brother; I will fight this thing to the end. And it doesn’t matter if I don’t come back; so long someone with a good character comes in.
Replying him, Puwei Meetin advised him to add to the amount he is being offered to either 15 or 20 million and bring down the case aimed at nullifying the last election, which Vijah vehemently disapproved.
This conversational tussle was what lasted all through the second and third leaked audios: Puwei rigorously trying to convince Vijah and Vijah’s strong resistance not to back down from pushing the case further.
However, the stalemate of their conversation was achieved in the fourth leaked tape, when Puwei Meetin called in angrily to accuse Vijah of pretentiously recording their earlier conversation and sending it out. This did Puwei saw as mendacity on the part of Vijah. While replying him, Vijah flared and accused Puwei of starting it first. He accused Puwei of spreading malicious, degrading and unethical contents on the social media about him.
[LISTEN TO MR HECTOR’S AUDIO HERE]
INTERESTINGLY, another tape that housed the conversation of Vijah Opuama and a man who identified himself simply as Olomu, the Chairman Labor Party was leaked to the NAIJA LIVE TV media house in Bayelsa. In the phone conversation that lasted 16 minutes and 41 seconds, the Labor Party chairman was heard beseeching Vijah Eldred Opuama, the governorship candidate under Liberation Movement, to desist from furthering the case and allow the issue to be resolved in a round table.
In his words:
“The reason why I am calling is because we’re are young men from Bayelsa state, trying to see how to make ends meet, and sometimes, the devil comes in whenever success wants to get achieved.
Why I’m calling is, I’ve seen your summons on Facebook on how you went to the Tribunal, and if two people are fighting, it is better they resolve it amicably before it gets big.
One thing I want you to know is that if you do not make it today through the governorship office, you can make it tomorrow. And the most important thing is that we have the love of Bayelsa first, before any other thing.”
Now you’re in court, and even when this matter gets to the Supreme Court, there’s nothing you will gain from it. Now PDP now has brought an arm of fellowship. So, let us come together, let us come and make Bayelsa great. Let us not fight. Why don’t we drop our swords and come to the negotiation table?”
On Vijay’s part, while responding to the Labor Party’s chairman, he thanked him very much and averred that:
I have prepared for this election for more than 10 years, and like you said, I’m putting Bayelsa first, and that I why I am not stepping down. Sir, there’s no amount of money anybody can offer me to make step down. And with the little resources that I have, I am ready to go all the way, even if there’s anything greater than the Supreme Court. If Duoye Diri later wins, fine, I will shake his hands and congratulate him, but I won’t stop half-way because I know why I am doing this. Just look at what is currently happening in the state. How can you come in and spend Billion plus to buy cars for people who already have cars? To me that is insensitivity to the poor people in Bayelsa state.
There are lots of things to fix in the state.”
As seen from the conversations above, Vijah Opuama is showing a strong and resilient determination in challenging the last conducted election in court.
How far can he push this further? Will he give in to compromise and succumb to backing out? NAIJA LIVE TV promises to keep you up to date as the events unfold.
[LISTEN FULL LEAKED TAPE HERE]
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