By Samuel Oyadongha

AFter months of public outcry against the excesses of the Bayelsa State special security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbe, information filtered into town in early September that the outfit had been proscribed. It was the beginning of the end of the political hegemony that had been forged over the past four years by the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Timipire Sylva. Below is a timeline of the events that eventually culminated in the transfer of the power axis in Bayelsa State.

October 9, 2011: NO fewer than 100 councillors from Bayelsa State travelling to Abuja, the nation federal capital territory to rally support for Governor Sylva were reportedly arrested by security operatives.

The councilors travelling in convoy were allegedly tagged ex militants on a mission to breach the peace of the Federal Capital Territory and intercepted by operatives of the army, police and the State Security Service (SSS) close to Gwagwalada.  They were detained until the next day morning and sent back to Yenagoa under military escort.

October 16: The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aliyu Musa was removed and replaced with Mr. Hilary Opara, a former Commissioner of Police in charge of NPA, Lagos.

November 6, 2011: Indications that Sylva’s second term bid may have hit the rock emerged when the state chapter of ALGON organised a prayer session seeking God’s divine intervention for peace in the state.

November 9, 2011: A petition by seven members of the National Assembly from Bayelsa State petitioning the PDP to allow Sylva participate in the primaries is made public.

Signing of petition

Rep. Serikae Dickson is the only legislator from Bayelsa State that did not sign the petition.
November 12, 2011: In spite of the uncertainty surrounding his clearance for the November 19 primaries, Sylva on this day formally declared his re-election bid for the 2012 gubernatorial polls in Bayelsa State on the platform of the PDP. He displayed the provisional clearance received by at the first screening exercise in Port-Harcourt.

November 13, 2011: PDP formally announced the exclusion of Sylva from the primary contest.
November 14, 2011: Confusion trailed the ward congress of the PDP in Bayelsa State to elect delegates for the November 19 primaries. The Sylva camp complains the exercise did not take place. Dickson lauds the exercise as smooth and peaceful.

November 15, 2011: Some aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants in Bayelsa State called for a new ward congress in the state insisting that the Monday exercise was a sham.

They are also calling for the immediate suspension and disqualification of Hon, Seriake Dickson, one of the leading contenders for the party ticket from contesting the primaries over alleged false claim and misrepresentation of truth that the congress was peaceful.

Ex Gov Sylva and PDP candidate, Dickson

The aggrieved aspirants, Messrs Christopher Enai, Boloubo Orufa and Austin Febo at a press conference in Yenagoa called for the outright cancellation of the ward congress.

November 16, 2011: The unfolding drama in the party took a new twist when four out of the eight chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state dissociated themselves from the Monday ward congress and denied claims that they endorsed the results of the disputed congress.

The party chairmen at the local government level including Edison Sorgwe, Yenagoa council area; Milton Ebi, Brass council area; Ben Foreman, Southern Ijaw council area and Anthony Zuokemefa, Nembe council area while briefing newsmen in Yenagoa said they were never at any time part of the endorsement of results of a congress that was not held and that the claim of their alleged endorsement of the results was false.

November 18, 2011: Security was intensified in the capital city as more armed soldiers and policemen were deployed on the streets ahead of the PDP governorship primaries.

No fewer than ten truck loads of soldiers and policemen were deployed in Yenagoa to compliment the strength of the men on ground in the state.

Armed soldiers and policemen were stationed every 200 metres on the major streets conducting stop and search on every vehicle irrespective of ownership, causing serious gridlock and discomfort to residents.

November 18, 2011: Governor Timipre Sylva expressed deep concern over the massive deployment of police and security personnel in Yenagoa.

The governor said that as the chief security officer of the state, he considered the troop deployment as uncalled for and capable of endangering the people’s fundamental human rights.

November 19, 2011: Was the climax of the intense struggle for the party ticket as the primaries held amid tight security.
A total of 411 delegates were accredited to participate at the primaries in which the modified open secret balloting was adopted.

Governor Timipre Sylva and his deputy, Werinipre Seibarugu and members of the National Assembly and state assembly were conspicuously absent from the exercise. At the end of the exercise, Seriake Dickson emerged victorious having polled 365 votes.

November 20, 2011: As a faction of the party accused the President of complicity in the conduct of the exercise to favour Dickson.

November 20, 2011: Sylva challenged the Acting chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje to come out with his sins.

The governor’s reaction was against media reports attributed to Baraje that the Governor had been told the “sins” that necessitated his exclusion.

November 28, 2011: About seventy Bayelsans traveling to Abuja to show solidarity with Governor Sylva at the hearing of the case on tenure for five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors at the Supreme Court were intercepted and detained at Lokoja in Kogi State by security operatives.

The governor’s supporters were reportedly intercepted at about 5. 00 pm on their way to Abuja shortly after Lokoja and taken to the Police “A” Division where they were detained till the next day.

They comprised mainly PDP Ward Chairmen travelling in six buses and a car.
November 28, 2011: Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth and Conflict Resolution, Mr. Bekes Etifa, a close confidant of Sylva resigns his appointment.

The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Orientation, Gesije had earlier resigned fueling speculations that more of his aides may follow suit and join the opposing camp.

December 1, 2011: PDP sets up reconciliatory committee headed by form Bayelsa Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to resolve crisis in the state chapter

December 2, 2011: Alamieyeseigha cautions PDP members to exercise restraint saying there are two entities they cannot fight: Government and God.

December 4, 2011: Sylva dares PDP again vowing to go ahead with his campaign for the 2012 gubernatorial election in the state on the platform of the party despite the emergence of Dickson as the PDP candidate.

December 6, 2011: Sylva rescinds plan to officially inaugurate his campaign office slated for today but complex was opened for the supporters of the governor for regular meetings, exchange of ideas and encouragement.

December 17, 2011: PDP unveils Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) as Dickson’s running mate. In Yenagoa, Dickson said the choice of Jonah was the outcome of wide consultations and fervent prayers.

January 8, 2012: Sylva denies dumping the PDP for the African Renaissance Party (ARP) to actualise his 2012 governorship ambition.

January 12, 2012: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releases list of accredited candidates for the gubernatorial election. No name is listed for PDP as INEC says the candidacy is under legal dispute. Sylva salutes INEC for toeing the path of the rule of law..

January 18: A Federal High Court in Abuja under Justice Gladys Olotu grants an ex parte order for INEC to recognize Dickson as PDP gubernatorial candidate.

January 19: Sylva dismisses the court order as “strange, despicable, and untenable.”
Dickson commends INEC for toeing the path of the rule of law.
January 22 Explosion rocks Tombia Bridge in Bayelsa.

January 23 Barely twenty hours after the bombing of the Tombia bridge armed gunmen attack the country of home ex militant leader, Gen Africa killing one security operative.

January 26 Bayelsa engulfed with speculations on the postponement of the February 11 elections after the death of the candidate of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party, Oduduogwu Ogbotobe.

January 27: The Supreme Court rules that Governor Timipre Sylva and four other Governors have overstayed in office. Opponents of the former Governor throng the streets in celebration.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Nestor Binabo is sworn as the state’s Acting Governor by the Chief Judge.
January 28 Binabo sacks Sylva’s appointed Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Chief Gideon Ekeuwei, Chief Press Secretary, Doifie Ola and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Samuel Ogbuku.

The Acting Governor appoints Prof Millionaire Abowei as the new SSG, Ebi Avi as new CPS and Austin Adigio as Chief of Staff, Government House.

February 1 Binabo, continues dismantling Sylva’s structure, sacks Special Adviser on Security Matters, Richard Perekeme Kpodoh.

February 3: President Goodluck Jonathan broke his silence on the disqualification Sylva from the November 19 PDP governorship primaries, describing his five years reign as monumental disgrace. Seriake Dickson was presented the PDP flag as its candidate for the February 11 poll.

February 4: Sylva replies the President saying he (Sylva) performed far more than Jonathan’s tenure given the challenges he faced.