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Bayelsa 2016: Dame Jonathan Dump Dudafa, Opts For Alaibe
L-R: Member, Bauchi State Re-branding Project Committee, Sen. Mohammed Abdulkadir (left) and Deputy Governor-Elect for Bauchi State, Alhaji Nuhu Gidado, at the inauguration of the Re-branding Project Committee in Bauchi, recently
As the Bayelsa State governorship election scheduled for 2016 gets closer, indications have emerged that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has decided to dump her godson and Presidential Aide, Waripamowei Dudafa, for a former Managing Director of Niger-Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe.
Dudafa is Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Matters and Social Events.
The First Lady’s decision was said to be part of her desperation to kick Governor Henry Seriake Dickson out of the Creek Haven Government House at all cost in 2016.
This was one of the decisions reached during an emergency meeting held in Abuja Monday night.
The meeting was attended by some select members of Bayelsa State Council of Elders and top politicians from Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA.
Sources at the meeting said the leaders categorically told the First Lady that they were more comfortable with Timi Alaibe instead of her preferred godson, Waripamowei Dudafa, whom they claim is rather too young and lacks the experience and maturity to hold such a sensitive office.
“The First Lady, at first, kicked against it, insisting that the choice of Dudafa is not negotiable but when the elders threatened that rather than support Dudafa, they would go back to Yenagoa to pledge their loyalty to the incumbent governor, she had to soft-pedal and pitch tent with Timi Alaibe”, a source said.
Just last week, Bayelsa Elders Consultative Forum (BECF), led by Chief Prince Abeki, had hinted that Alaibe will declare his interest in the governorship race by June, even though he is set to run under the platform of All Progressives Congress.
It has been authoritatively confirmed that Alaibe collected his APC membership card from the APC Chairman in Bayelsa State, Tiwe Oruminighe.
Alaibe, who was reputed to be one of the major financiers of Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term bid, has been holding several nocturnal meetings with key politicians in the state, mostly from his Kolokuma-Opokuma clan.
The agenda is to support someone from Kolokuma-Opokuma to take over from Dickson. To this end, prominent politicians from KOLGA have thrown their weight behind Alaibe.
A very close ally of Alaibe said he has been meeting with some Northern APC leaders to woo them on his governorship ambition.
“Alaibe wants the APC leaders to ‘sell’ him to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. He is counting on his friendship with the North to return the favour he showed to them while as NDDC chief executive. But Alaibe is not trusted back at home because of his attachment to friends, who are mostly non-indigenes”, another source stated.
Already, there are fears and apprehension among Bayelsans that Alaibe as governor will lavish Bayelsa’s resources on his friends like he did in NDDC, rather than develop the state.
The spokesperson of Bayelsa Young Professionals, Tarabina Jones-Peters, said in view of the drop in federal allocation, which has hampered the spate of developmental projects in the State, Bayelsans need a leader who will put the state first above his personal friends and personal interest.
He said, “Unfortunately, we do not see Alaibe as that kind of leader. Therefore, those who are rooting for Alaibe’s candidacy should have a re-think. Bayelsans are not happy with Alaibe because as NDDC chief executive, he did not do anything to develop the state.
“Instead, he was busy dishing out favors and loads of money to militants and northern politicians in a bid to curry their favour to entrench his position as NDDC helmsman and to maintain his ‘good boy’ image at the national level.”
As at the time of this report, Alaibe has not denied any of the reports linking him with contesting the governorship in Bayelsa come 2016.
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a budget of 19,636,030 Units of Account (UA) (26 million dollars) for the 2026 fiscal year, and announced plans to commemorate its 25th anniversary in November.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, who announced this, said the development followed the recent conclusion of its 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
She said the budget was adopted by the Parliament during plenary, stressing that, beyond being a mere accounting act, it was the engine of parliament’s commitment to West Africans.
”It will enable us to carry out our priority missions, including implementing the conclusions of the seminar on AI, while ensuring virtuous and transparent management of public funds entrusted to us.
”This budget represents a five per cent increase compared to the 2025 fiscal year budget, reflecting an upward adjustment of UA 939,233 from last year’s UA 18,996,897.
”Out of the budget of UA 19,636,030 for 2026, the sum of UA19, 368,394 representing 98.64 per cent is expected to be financed through the proceeds from the Community Levy, while UA257,636, equivalent to 1.36 per cent, will accrue from other sources,” Ibrahima said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ECOWAS Community Levy is a mandatory 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods imported into ECOWAS member states from non-ECOWAS countries.
Member states are under statutory obligation to pay the community levy, which is the main source of funding for ECOWAS institutions and their activities.
Ibrahima, however, expressed dismay that some members of the community were still defaulting on the payment of the levy, and warned that, going forward; such would be met with sanctions.
She also said that the commemoration of its 25th anniversary in November would highlight the ECOWAS Parliament’s achievements in deepening regional democracy, cooperation and growth, amid formidable challenges.
The Speaker described the forthcoming anniversary as “a chance to showcase resilience and chart a more innovative, youth-focused future for the community”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
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