By Samuel Oyadongha There had been much anticipation in the days leading to the Presidential campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State given the alleged chasm between Governor Serikae Dickson and the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan. The First Lady had been alleged to be behind those scheming to be working to stop Governor Dickson from aspiring towards a second term in office. For her alleged inclination, some stakeholders in the state had warned the first lady not to come along with the president for the rally. Her supporters on the other hand were alleged to have also conceived a plot to humiliate the governor by booing him at the campaign ground. As if envisaging trouble, the organisers had banned the use of sachet water which they feared could be used by any of the warring sides to pelt their antagonists on the podium. Even more, a day to the rally of last Friday that the police came out in full force in a show of force to intimidate the troublemakers. As early as 8.00 a.m. thousands of residents of Yenagoa had trooped out of their homes early as 8am to line up the major roads to give the august visitors a rousing welcome. To bolster the crowd, the state government had closed all schools in the capital city for that day. Massive crowd The massive crowd at the stadium, including large number of pro-Jonathan groups led by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and Women groups, defied the sweltering sun singing dancing as the event was turned into a huge carnival.. The situation was not different outside the campaign ground as the army of supporters who could not access the sport facility waited patiently for over six hours for the arrival of the president, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan herself a great mobilise, and their entourage. Some women and men who could not stand the scorching sun collapsed. Many were dehydrated as they were barred from entering the campaign ground with sachet or bottled water following alleged security reports of plan to use such objects as missiles. It was as if God saw the plight of the crowd, the heaven opened up and poured its showers of rain to cool the heat just as the President was about to give his speech at the event. The fear of many security officials and non-partisan political observers was quickly brought to fore when Governor Dickson rose to welcome the president and his delegation. Just as he commenced a section of the crowd as had been feared booed him but this was countered by the singing and drumming of his supporters. But the governor, a former policeman was hardly perturbed as he proceeded as if unbothered by the revolt of his political antagonists who had reportedly combined with those who have faulted his slow execution of stomach infrastructure. The president, however, later came to his aid to rebut the insinuations in some quarters that the First Family was agreed on the campaign to hound the governor out of office. Clad in Ijaw traditional attire and amidst thunderous applause from supporters, the president expressed happiness to be back and appreciated the support he has received from the people of the state during his political journey which has seen him move from deputy governor to president -
See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/jonathans-home-trouble-dame-dickson/#sthash.0aFYMrQT.dpuf

DD

.