The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in Bayelsa State, Mr. Moses Cleopas, on Monday came under severe criticism
after he openly accused two prominent governorship aspirants in the state, Mr.
Keniebi Okoko and Timi Alaibe, of sending ‘fake bank alerts’ to some unnamed
delegates to the party primaries in the state.
The Alaibe campaign organisation, through its
Administrative Secretary, Prof Seiyefa Brisibe, described the statement as
ridiculous, noting that it was unbelievable that Cleopas would descend so low
to fight the same people he should be leading.
Cleopas had in a statement yesterday night accused
the aspirant of sending fake bank alerts to the delegates who are currently
camped in various hotels in the state pending the election taking place today, alleging
that the bank credit alert was to deceive the delegates.
“As a campaign organisation, we find it difficult
to believe that this extremely criminal allegation is coming from the chairman
of PDP in Bayelsa State. We assume that there is a mistake somewhere. How would
any reasonable person wake up to this utter kind of evil allegation against
responsible fellow human beings?
“While we allow our lawyers to study the legal
implications of this obviously irresponsible and careless allegation, we need
to state that there is no truth in it whatsoever. The burden is on those making
the allegation to provide evidence when the time comes.
“We believe this is dirty politics taken too far.
Someone does not need to go to this extreme just to win an election. This allegation is an equivalent of bloodshed for the sake of politics, and must not
be ignored by those whose responsibility it is to ensure that it doesn't happen
again.
"Our principal has been called names. His
reputation has been dragged in the mud by those who are bent on scoring cheap
political points. Issues bordering on terrorism have been raised against him.
And today, he is being accused of engaging in acts that violate both local and
international laws. His silence has been misconstrued as weakness and a victory
for those on the offensive.
"Let it be clear to whoever is behind this
gutter politics that Timi Alaibe has an impeccable reputation both in the private
and public service. Accusing him of criminal activity as though it were a
child’s play is unacceptable and is not going to be ignored,” Alaibe campaign
organisation said.
Also in a statement issued in Yenagoa, Okoko, a
business and philanthropist, who expressed anger over what he described as the
chairman's 'reckless' utterances, said it was unbelievable that a man who's
supposed to be neutral in a contest as important as the governorship primaries
had become an active participant, taking
sides with impunity.
According to him, "As usual, we would have
ignored such rambling as an attempt to stain my person and portray me in bad
light in the eyes of my teeming supporters within and outside the state who are
banking on me to create a new and sustainable future for this state when I
become governor.
"But coming from no less a person than the
chairman of our great party, the PDP, it behooves on me to respond to this
grave allegation by one who ordinarily should be an umpire in this political
game.
"Let it also be stated very clearly that we do
not believe that the chairman is acting with the backing of our dear Governor,
Seriake Dickson, whose love for the PDP and the Bayelsan people has never been
in doubt. The governor we know will never support this level of impunity.
"Firstly, as a pastor with a strong family
name to defend, I have never and will never engage in this kind of act which
the chairman who has thrown all decorum to the wind is publicly accusing me of.
"In my 13 years as a private businessman, I
have never been accused of any fraudulent activity unlike him who has always
depended on the spoils of the government to survive. I have built my reputation
with my own sweat, and any attempt by anybody, including Cleopas, to smear that
image will be resisted.
"The wicked is always afraid of their shadows.
The same act which he has continuously deployed and all the illegal processes
to sway delegates to his preferred candidate(s) are now backfiring.”
"Our advice to him is to thoroughly search his
conscience and retrace his steps where he lost his path in the interest of our
party," he said.
Okoko, therefore, demanded a 24-hour retraction of
the statement issued by the chairman, and vowed to use all legal means to clear
his image if it’s not done within the stipulated time.
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