As politicians across the country are jostling over who takes over from the incumbent governors of their various states in 2019, Bayelsa state politicians are in cool arena targeting different political master strokes to be deployed at the right time should 2020 approaches for campaign for the office of the executive Governor of the state. But other parliamentary elections into Federal House of Representatives, Senate and Bayelsa state House of Assembly will take place in 2019 alongside 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory-FCT Abuja.
Towncrier.ng Port Harcourt Showbiz Reporter ERIC OLUSESAN who visited on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th of April, 2018 sampled opinions of residents of Yenagoa and came up with lists of 10 popular Bayelsa state politicians one of who may pick and become Governor of Bayelsa state in 2020. The influence of late Ex governor DSP Alamieyesiegha is still being felt among Bayelsa state indigenes and residents while ex President Goodluck Jonathan may still have roles to play in choosing who governs Bayelsa state in 2020. READ ON.
HEINEKEN LOKPOBIRI
This tall handsome looking former Speaker of Bayelsa state House of Assembly Heineken Lokpobiri is currently Minister of State for Agriculture. He is quite popular among Bayelsa state citizens and residents as he is always keeping tabs on political development in his home state. This well articulated orator and good public speaker regularly visits Bayelsa state to acquaint himself with happenings in that state.
REAR ADMIRAL JOHN JONAH
Seasoned and well groomed incumbent Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state retired Rear Admiral John Jonah who hails from Nembe may not have shown great interest in taking over the mantle of leadership but since the creation of Bayelsa state only Chief Timipre Sylva came from Brass an island community in Bayelsa state. He has helped the incumbent Goveenor Henry Seriake Dickson to achieve much in security sector of their 6-years administration of Bayelsa state hence “Mr. Security” has become the nick name of Governor Seriake Dickson.
EBEL EBIFEMOWEI
Call him T.O as Ebel Ebifemowei is popularly called in Bayelsa state, He is common alias is OSUWO-1. He was prominent in the administration of late DSP Alamieyesiegha so much so that all his private cars bear Car Number plates of OSUWO-1 he comes from Amassoma. Being founding fathers of peoples Democratic Party-PDP Chief Abel Ebifemowei is currently working to bring to Bayelsa a newly registered political party known as YOUNG DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
TIMIPRE SYLVA
This former Governor of Bayelsa state only served first term in office under Peoples Democratic Party-PDP and re-contested election under All Progressive Congress-APC as governor of Bayelsa state against Henry Seriake Dickson who defeated him in the February 12th, 2012 and in 2016. He was a former Personal assistant to His Royal Majesty the Amanyanabo of Nembe King (Dr) Edmund Daukoru while he was Minister For Energy under president Olusegun Obasanjo. Nembe and Brass people have been agitating that it is their turn to produce next governor of Bayelsa state since others have had it from DSP Alamieyeseigha and Ogbia people of which President Goodluck Jonathan all had enjoyed it.
TIMI ALAIBE
This graduate of Rivers state university of Science and Technology Nkpolu- Orowurokwo Port Harcourt Chief Timi Alaibe has been a banker before he moved into Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC as Executive director Finance and Administration until he was appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDDC. He was among founders of Peoples Democratic Party-PDP in Bayelsa state and he had defected to All Progressive Congress-APC where he has shown great interest to contest for the governorship position in Bayelsa state having attempted such in the past. Today Chief Timi Alaibe is among prominent APC leaders in Bayelsa state having senatorial zonal formula standing against him. He owns Juanita Hotels in Port Harcourt.
BEN MURRAY BRUCE
The light complexioned senator Ben Murray-Bruce has been known for his franchise in Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria -MGBN beauty pageant. He owns Silverbird entertainment Group with cinema and Rhythm FM stations across major cities in Nigeria. As a senator he is popularly on radio and Tv with “I WANT TO MAKE COMMON SENSE” advocacy prime time talk-show. Senator Ben Murray-Bruce is seriously eyeing Bayelsa state Governor’s seat given that facts that his senatorial District claims it is their turn to produce the next Governor of Bayelsa state.
BENSON KOMBOWEI
Real time lawmaker and grass root man of the people hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government area as he was elected as representative of Constituency-4 Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa state House of Assembly. Having been an old lawmaker he was once Chairman of information Committee at Bayelsa state House of Assembly and now elected Speaker of the House. The insecurity rocking his constituency nowadays has made him to organize a Christian Crusade invite Rev’d Uma Ukpai for the cleansing of the land of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
TONYE ISENAH
Youthful and energetic Honourable Tonye Isenah hails from Odi Local Government Area of Bayelsa state as he was elected to represent Odi Constituency 2 having been elected as Chief Whip in the Bayelsa state House of Assembly. Although he wants to progress to Federal House of Representatives come 2019 but his ambition may not be unconnected with that of Governor of Bayelsa state as his connection to power brokers in Bayelsa state is strong and he is quite delivering dividends of democracy to his people.
PEREMOEBIE EBEBI
He is a two term Speaker of Bayelsa state House of Assembly and Acting Deputy Governor to Governor Goodluck Jonathan when DSP Alamieyeseigha was impeached in 2005. He was active politically and may still be eyeing returning to CREEK HAVEN YENAGOA Come 2020.
WENIPREYE SEIBARUGU
This two terms Speaker of Bayelsa state House of Assembly Wenipreye Seibarugu was acting Governor and later elected Deputy Governor to Timipre Sylva. He may be nursing ambition of returning back to CREEK HAVEN in 2020 as Bayelsa State executive Governor.