Is Jonathan Switching Support to APC’s Alaibe from Dickson?

After the former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and wife, Patience recently endorsed the re-election campaign train of Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson, the candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigerian Newspaper Daily Sun reports that Jonathan may have withdrawn his support from Dickson, and switched it to one of the 18 guber aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Alaibe.

The APC governorship primary comes up today, Tuesday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

The report says that Goodluck and Patience aren’t entirely convinced that Dickson will remain loyal and dependable.

“That is the nature of politics. There’s no permanent enemy but permanent interest. What is unfolding is baffling but it is true Jonathan is hobnobbing with Alaibe for strategic political reasons. I can tell you categorically that Tomoplo as the go-between had a meeting with him and his wife and Alaibe in Otuoke and all the issues were well discussed.
“It does not mean he has totally abandoned Dickson but based on the pressure from Tompolo, he wants to have a Plan B and it should interest you that he actually donated some dollars to fund Alaibe’s campaign to get the ticket. That’s the situation but let’s wait and see.”

It was gathered that at the meeting, the ex-militant leader laid out the strategic issues of the forthcoming election and the need to protect Jonathan’s interest in case the APC wins. He said that as such, the idea of having a Plan B, which will hedge against possible persecution and loss of political relevance, was tabled.
In return, the former president would Alaibe, an ally of Tompolo and long standing business partner.

How this support from the ex-president for the former NDDC boss would translate to victory at the APC primaries today, is yet to be seen.

The newspaper, which cited its source as a major stakeholder in Bayelsa PDP, claimed that the ex-president had earlier expressed fears of persecution should APC take over the state.

But with the recent meeting facilitated by Tompolo, those fears have been allayed as Alaibe has agreed to work with Jonathan, assuring all parties to the arrangement that upon his possible emergence as governor in February next year, he will respect Dame Patience, protect the ex-president’s interest and even go a step further to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari not to witch hunt him.

Meanwhile, it was also gathered that as part of his deft moves to clinch the APC governorship ticket, Alaibe has temporarily stopped fraternizing with Senate President Bukola Saraki, for fear of incurring the Presidency and national leadership of the APC’s wrath.

The embattled Senate president is believed to be a strong pillar behind Alaibe’s aspiration to govern the oil-rich Niger Delta State.