Bayelsa 2016: First Lady, TAN Meet Over Dickson’s Presidential Endorsement , Suspends PDP Chairman over N70 Million fraud

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan is set to meet with principal officers of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) to review the recent endorsement of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The meeting, reportedly at the instance of President Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Domestic Matters, Dr. Weripamowei Dudafa is on the heels of a botched attempt by TAN’s leg men to embarrass Dickson at the event.
Sources close to the meeting slated for Abuja hinted that ex-Bayelsa State governor and All Progressives’ Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Timipre Sylva; Felix Oboro and Frank Akpoebi were billed to attend.
Oboro and Akpoebi were commissioners in the state.
The Abuja meeting, it was gathered, may have informed the postponement of Sylva’s campaign rally earlier fixed for Wednesday.
“Sylva decided to keep his rally on hold in order to see what the meeting will bring. You know he is madam’s candidate for the Senate. They want to meet and re-strategize before campaigning in Ogbia,” said the source.
He continued, “They complained of the re-deployment of Commissioner of Police Valentine Ntomchukwu. They are uncomfortable with Governor Dickson’s hold on the PDP structure in the state.”
“The anti-Dickson camp desperately want him out of office. The plot is to, first, block his candidates in the upcoming elections. This, in their thinking, will send a clear message that his time is up,” claimed the source.
Another source close to the proposed meeting said the event would hold on Wednesday and Thursday, and that Sylva would extract a commitment of support from the First Lady.
“With the APC candidate Sylva as senator, the calculation is that Dickson’s days as governor would be numbered,” declared the source.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Samuel Inokoba (rtd) was yesterday suspended by the members of the State Working Committee (SWC) over alleged charges of misconduct and diversion of N40million out of N70 million largesse provided for the Party by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Diezani Allison-Madueke.
The decision to suspend the State PDP Chairman,Sam Inokoba,was taken on Tuesday after an exhaustive deliberation by members of the State Executive Committee(SEC).The Deputy Chairman,King Serena Dokubo-Spiff was however absent from the meeting due to personal commitments in Port Harcout,Rivers State.
It will be recalled that prior to the visit of Mr. President to Bayelsa state for the recent Presidential rally, the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Mmadueke allegedly donated N70 million to the state PDP for the visit, but the Chairman allegedly diverted N40 million to his pocket and released only N30 million to the party.
The Publicity Secretary of the Party,Barr.Osom Mackbere,who confirmed the development to news men, refused to go into details, explaining that the decision of the State Executive Committee (SEC) has been forwarded to the National Leadership of the Party and awaiting ratification.
Barr.Osom Mackbere announced that in accordance with the Party constitution,it is expected that the Deputy Chairman of the Party,King Serena Dokubo-Spiff will take charge of the running of the Party within the next 30 days.
A source at the meeting, however stated that the suspended State Chairman, Col.Sam Inokoba(rtd) was invited to appear before the enlarged Executive Committee but refused and reportedly travelled to Abuja.
In his reaction, the embattled Chairman of the party, Col. Sam Inokoba (Rtd), denied pocketing the money, and said the fund was distributed according to the directive of the donor.
He warned desperate politicians and their sponsors to use their energy, resources and power for the development of the people and the stage at large, calling on Bayelsans to dismiss such rumor.
The Chairman further described the reported suspension as illegal and a sponsored action, saying the suspension is a lie that can not hold and it is a violation of the section 10 sub section 7 of the party.
According to him, “No executive committee at any level, state, local government and ward, except the National executive committee shall entertain any question of discipline, sack or sanction as may relate or concern a member of the National executive committee”.