From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The forthcoming Bayelsa East Senatorial district election regardless of the outcome would have huge implications for the politics of Bayelsa East comprising three local government areas namely, Ogbia, Nembe and Brass.
Since the return to democracy in 1999, the Senatorial seat which began with Senator Melford Okilo from Ogbia has been rotated every four years among the three local government areas. Attempts to truncate the seamless rotation by Senators Clever Ikisikpo in 2015 and Ben Bruce in 2019 was stopped by their political party – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in defence of the rotational principle. Indeed, the electorate are so conversant with the unwritten rotation formula such that they reject candidates presented by political parties from a local government not qualified to take its turn.
However, the 2023 election is riddled with new realities as the incumbent Senator, Biobarakuma Degi- Eremieyo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Nembe has secured the nod of his party and his people to seek re-election against the agreed rotational principle in Bayelsa East.
Degi- Eremieyo’s quest for another term in the Red Chambers has been buoyed by a unanimous agreement among stakeholders in Bayelsa East, that four years is too short for a serving Senator to make the desired impact in the senatorial district.
In a meeting of Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Stakeholders from the three local governments while acknowledging that the “local government areas by understanding had a single term rotational system amongst themselves” noted that “the democratic realities dictate that the single tenure is no longer beneficial to the district”.
The leaders who argued that there is need to be proactive in ensuring that Bayelsa East amasses benefits accruable to the district decided to officially adopt the two-term tenure for the senatorial seat.
The communiqué read in part, “commencing from next election, every local government shall serve a maximum of two tenures beginning with Ogbia, Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State respectively.
“In the event of unsatisfactory performance and/or death of the Senator, the replacement can only come from the local government enjoying the current term.”
The implication of the above communiqué is that the new two tenure rotational formula is to begin with Ogbia thereby stopping Degi- Eremienyo. Findings indicated that the majority of those that attended the meeting were PDP chieftains prompting a counter meeting by United Bayelsa East Senatorial Forum which claimed its members are no-partisan intellectuals, professionals, captains of industries, opinion leaders and political class across party lines.
Though it claimed neutrality, a quick scrutiny of members indicated most are card carrying members of the APC. It is believed that the counter meeting was staged to throw its weight behind the two -term tenure but with tactic backing for Degi- Eremienyo to be the first beneficiary since he is a serving senator.
The forum stated that it wishes “to address the realities of the self-inflicted injury” ,calling for an adjustment. According to the group, the single term which has robbed the district of having a ranking senator should be dropped for a formula that supports a performing Senator to stand for re-election. The forum therefore passed a vote of confidence in Degi- Eremienyo and called on the people to return him to the Senate.
The communiqué read in part, “That we affirm that Ogbia remains the LGA to produce the next Senator to succeed Senator Degi- Eremienyo under this adjusted rotational arrangement as advanced.
“That in view of the above, we passionately appeal to all concerned particularly our Ogbia brothers and sisters for brotherly understanding and accept this proposal of change by allowing and supporting Senator Degi- Eremienyo to continue and consolidate on the good work he is doing.”
It is needless to say the extant reasonable argument for a two-term tenure is at the heart of the brewing tussle between Ogbia, being the local government expected to take its turn after the four years of Degi- Eremeinyo and Nembe, the local government of the incumbent which is insisting that the new arrangement should commence with Degi- Eremienyo who would be a ranking Senator if he is re-elected.
Thrown into the mix with Degi-Eremieyo is Chief Benson Agadaga from Ogbia who is the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Also at the centre of the political scramble is former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Douye Diri and former governor and Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva.
While Sylva and Diri have no qualms backing Degi-Eremienyo and Agadaga respectively based on party affiliations, the same cannot be said of Jonathan who is caught in between support for Degi- Eremienyo and Agadaga.
Degi- Eremienyo is a long-standing political associate of Jonathan which dates back to when he was deputy governor. He was a prominent member of Green Movement, the political group put together by friends of Jonathan to actualise his governorship ambition after late governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Degi- Eremienyo served under Jonathan as Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Bayelsa State and also a management member of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) when Jonathan was President. Even when he defected from the PDP to APC after the 2015 election, he still maintained a cordial political relationship with Jonathan.
Investigations revealed that before he picked the nomination and expression of interest forms for re-election, Degi-Eremienyo visited Jonathan where the latter arguing on the side of eight years for a federal lawmaker to make meaningful impact encouraged him in his ambition.
Jonathan on the other hand is a kinsman of Agadaga who also served under him in Bayelsa as a Commissioner for Information and Orientation after he retired as Permanent Secretary in the state civil service. Though Agadaga cannot be referred to as a political associate of Jonathan, the Ogbia people are a close politically knitted people and they are known for bloc voting. Jonathan’s influence in Ogbia and Bayelsa East is very huge but he has not been very visible in the affairs of PDP at the national and state level. If Jonathan campaigns for Agadaga, then it would give him the crucial political mileage needed to dislodge Degi- Eremienyo. If however he allows Agadaga and PDP to campaign without him, it would be a tough battle for Agadaga and PDP to win the senatorial district.
Agadaga would need to lean on the shoulders of Diri to make any headway in the elections. Diri’s solid performance in the last two years which includes the reconstruction of the Elebele Bridge in Ogbia and the flag-off of the Nembe- Brass road all in Bayelsa East should count in favour of PDP and its candidate.
Diri has carved a niche for himself as a man of peace and his political disposition even to the opposition is a strength, Agadaga can count on to secure votes. Investigations also revealed that Agadaga has a maternal relationship with Nembe which could ensure people of that area to rally around him. His teaching career which took him to Brass; his previous role as Commissioner for Information and lately being Chief of Staff to Diri has allowed him to build a network of friends that can sway votes for him.
Degi- Eremienyo on the other hand is in a familiar turf having been in the political terrain earlier than Agadaga. Before his election as Senator, he was well known across Bayelsa East district. The support Sylva is giving him is a huge boost for his re-election. His victory in 2019 being the senatorial district of Jonathan was well celebrated by the national leadership of the APC as it gave Sylva huge political respect.
Sylva who is not ready to lose the district which coincidentally is where he hails from too would wield his immense influence among the Nembe speaking people in Nembe and Brass and position as Minister of Petroleum which allows him to dispense patronage to garner votes for the APC.
Even before campaigns start officially, Degi- Eremienyo has made a headstart with groups and other stakeholders in Ogbia commending him for bringing projects to the three local government areas. Statistics of projects especially the Oil and Gas Research Institute and Museum at Otuabagi in Ogbia have added to the profile of Degi- Eremienyo as a high-performing Senator.
February 2023 is six months away and there is still ample time for the two candidates to make major inroads to reach critical stakeholders before the election.