The Bayelsa State Government have been accused of allegedly ordering the removal of the governorship campaign posters of former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, in some parts of Yenagoa, the state capital.
Some members of the Timi Alaibe campaign organisation accused the state government of targeted attempt to strangulate the campaign plans of Chief Timi Alaibe ahead of the September 2nd governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the removal of his campaign posters.
The incident has continue to raise controversies in the social media and among political commentators in the state, after the campaign organisation of the former NDDC boss lamented over the incessant attack on their posters.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board stated that, in line with an earlier announcement, most governorship aspirants including Timi Alaibe, had embarked on illegal, irregular and indiscriminate pasting of posters and erecting/installation of signages and billboards within Yenagoa city and its environs.
The Executive Chairman, Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board, Hon. Ebi Waribigha, in an announcement issued after some campaign posters were removed, warned the general public, especially political aspirants or candidates and their supporters or agents acting on their behalf, to desist from the illegal, irregular and indiscriminate pasting of posters and erecting/installation of signages and billboards within Yenagoa city and its environs.
According to the statement, “The public may wish to be informed that most of these advertorials fall short of prescribed standards and best practices as they distort the aesthetic condition of the city, cause impediment to free flow of traffic, pose serious danger to pedestrians/motorists and transmit offensive and unethical messages to the public’.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 35, 78 and other relevant sections of the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Law and the Regulations made pursuant to the law, accord the Board the statutory right to regulate and issue permit approvals for the location, design, display and construction of outdoor signpost, advertisement boards, electronic display screens, posting of bills/posters and other forms of outdoor advertisement in the state.”
“The Board therefore wishes to warn the public that henceforth Government shall not condone these activities in the state without authorization from the Board. To this end, all individuals, government, political parties, aspirants and their supporters and corporate organizations are requested to obtain a valid permit from the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board (former CCDA).
“Failure to adhere to this announcement shall attract appropriate sanctions including but not limited to payment of fines/penalties, forfeiture and/or prosecution among others,” Waribigha said.
But a member of the Timi Alaibe campaign organisation, Comrade Tony Ile described the removal of Timi Alaibe’s posters along Isaac Adaka Boro expressway allegedly by agents of the state government, as the most primitive and cowardly act of any government in the political history of Bayelsa State.
According to him, “How could any reasonable government which pride itself as a transparent and people oriented government indulge in such a shameful act?
“I personally drove along the said express and even took pictures of the removal of posters stationed at the centre kerb of the road. They removed all the posters and kept them at the shoulder end of the road all in a determined effort to keep the man (Timi Alaibe) growing popularity and acceptability away from Bayelsans who have vowed to vote him come rain or sun’
“My appeal to the restoration government is that they should know that Alaibe is PDP and PDP is Alaibe. He has come to stay and also determined to keep the PDP family in tact.”
Comments