by Lekan Olanrewaju

The Bayelsa state government and a group known as the Bayelsa Democratic Front have had a bit of a stand-off over a proposed Peace Advocacy walk.

The government described the walk as designed to promote and spread a message of peace among stakeholders and youth in the Niger Delta community. The Bayelsa Democratic Front, which supports former governor Timipre Sylva, has however spoken out against the event, saying it was only being promoted with negative intentions toward Sylva.

The Presidential-General of the group, Mr. Promise Okpoebi, described it as a “one million man march” against Timipre Sylva, and “psychological warfare” against the Supreme Court, stating that present governor Seriake Dickson only planned it because would be delivering judgement soon on the dispute between Sylva and the Peoples Democratic People over the party’s rightful candidate for the concluded February 11 governorship election in the state.

In a statement made available to The Punch, Okpoebi said, “We see this rally planned by the Bayelsa State government on the eve of the April 20 Supreme Court ruling on the Bayelsa governorship crisis as a psychological warfare waged against the Nigerian judiciary to send out a clear message to the apex court as it prepares to pronounce the final outcome of the governorship contest.”

Governor Dickson’s Senior Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has however dismissed the allegations, describing the statements of the BDF as part of a smear campaign against Governor Dickson, to win support for former governor Timipre Sylva.