Title: Tension in Bayelsa Community as Youths Prepare to Elect New Leaders
In an atmosphere of tension and violence, Bayelsa community, particularly the Sagbama area, was the scene of tumultuous events yesterday. Gunmen invaded and disrupted a press conference organised by the political party All Progressives Congress (APC) in the local council. The situation quickly escalated, with attacks on journalists and party officials, causing injuries and panic among participants present.
The victims included Mr. Tife Owolabi, Chairman of the Federated Correspondents Chapel of the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, as well as Jacobson Park of People’s FM 93.1, who were seriously injured in the attack. The attackers vandalized the venue, smashing chairs and assaulting those present with metal bars, leaving Mr. Owolabi bleeding profusely from his forehead and left hand.
Faced with this situation, participants fled the venue, leading to a temporary suspension of the press conference until the arrival of security forces, including Operation Doo Akpo, the Nigeria Civil Security Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, to secure the venue. Despite these incidents, the press conference eventually resumed, with the Sagbama APC Chairman, Jonah Abeke, announcing the indefinite suspension of seven party members for their alleged involvement in anti-party activities, in line with the ongoing suspensions within the party.
The members suspended are Peres Peretu, Matthew Karimo, Major Oputa, Tangi Samuel, King Bolouyi Sufadoh, Goodluck Ebomu, and Youdio-gwei Benjamin. The individuals were accused of openly supporting Governor Douye Diri and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 national and regional elections in Bayelsa, making no secret of their distrust of the APC.
Jonah Abeke said: “That is why, as the executives of the Sagbama APC, we are suspending them indefinitely from the party, thereby forwarding their suspension to our party’s Executive Committee for ratification.” He also condemned the attack on the journalists, who were invited to cover the event.
The violence and tensions are a testament to the delicate situation in the region and underscore the importance of transparency and respect for democratic norms in the electoral process. It is essential that the authorities ensure the safety and integrity of journalists, politicians and citizens, to allow for healthy and constructive political debate.
This series of events also raises the issue of unity and cohesion within political parties, highlighting the internal tensions and differences of opinion that can exist within the same party. It is crucial that members of political parties commit to respecting the principles and values of their party, while fostering dialogue and mutual respect to avoid such violent drifts in the future.
In conclusion, the current situation in Bayelsa underscores the need for increased vigilance and commitment to peace and democracy to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. It is essential that all stakeholders, including local authorities, citizens, political parties and the media, work together to promote a safe political environment conducive to constructive democratic debate.