By Lekan Bilesanmi

The date of the coming Bayelsa state governorship election may have been announced – December 5,2015. The would-be candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may have been known – Seriake Dickson, the incumbent governor, who has already been endorsed for a second term by his party.

Timi Alaibe

What, however is not certain is who would represent the opposition party in the state, All Progressives Congress, APC, in the forth coming election.

At the moment, more than twelve aspirants have shown commitment by buying nomination forms. Among the twelve, Tony Apraela is the only female.

Popular aspirants

However, what would have been a smooth ride for one of the most popular aspirants in the pool for the primaries, Timi Alaibe, was altered when the former governor of the state, Chief Timi Silva, last week, suddenly announced his entry into the race.

He has since submitted his nomination form. While not fore-closing the chances of  other aspirants, one can safely say that the race is entirely between Dickson and the two Timis.

Former governor Sylva decamped to ACN, now APC from PDP when the place became too hot for his health, moreso that it was the same party’s controlled Federal Government agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that stripped him of his property allegedly acquired while superintending as governor. He defected to APC when the party was not known in the state. His four year reign in the state saw the state’s federal allocation on the rise, just as there were pockets of developments here and there. According to his critics, Sylva was more known on the pages of newspapers around Nigeria than in his state. Perhaps, that is why he was more of a celebrity governor. True, he may have been popular. He may also be the party leader in the state. Like other aspirants, he has the right to contest for any elective position.

If APC is serious about winning the governorship of Bayelsa State, it should ensure that Alaibe emerges the flag bearer. It also implies that if the party cannot persuade Sylva to step down, Bayelsa APC delegates who will vote at the primaries must ensure that the more popular of the two aspirants emerges the winner.

There is also another joke that since Alaibe, just like Muhammadu Buhari, has been in the race more than once, although at other times, power wielders in the PDP always advised him to step down for either Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha or Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, this may be his chance. Buhari tried four times before an incumbent lost for him to win.

It would be recalled that in 2003 when he made the first move, President Olusegun Obasanjo personally intervened and asked Alaibe to allow Alamieyeseigha a smooth chance for a second term.

Alaibe, though obviously hurt, played the traditional party man role and stepped down but not without a fight. In 2007, he stubbornly entered the race again, participated in the primaries, only to realise that the carpet had been pulled from under his feet.

Again, he was persuaded to step aside for Jonathan. When Jonathan was eventually handpicked as a vice presidential candidate, it was natural to assume that Alaibe would become the crown prince having been the most authentic contender for the throne; next to Jonathan.

During a midnight meeting in Abuja, Jonathan, according to those who should know, was given a chance to decide between Alaibe and Sylva as candidate for the governorship race.

The then vice presidential candidate decided that “the devil you do not know is better than the one you know.”

Sylva was picked. Alaibe was rejected. Many were shocked. Others sat confused. It was a questionable decision that people believe has continued to haunt Bayelsa State non-stop.

Historical might

When Jonathan, as president, got tired of his choice, he moved and eventually ensured that Sylva was not re-elected.

The upcoming Bayelsa election is crucial. More crucial however, is the courage and foresight of the delegates during the primaries to elect a politically buoyant contender with the needed pedigree and grassroots connection that would confront and probably uproot the historical might of the incumbent.

In his view, Bayelsa people have become wiser. He even hoped aloud that Sylva himself will read the handwriting on the wall and withdraw from the race so that APC, as one house with one destiny, can muscle up against the PDP in December.

If that be the case, then Alaibe will accomplish on December 5 what Buhari accomplished in March this year.

Therefore, if the people of Bayelsa indeed want continuity (in any form imaginable), they should look to Dickson or Sylva. But if they want change, Alaibe brings a breath of fresh air.