Why Mrs Jonathan dumped APC for Dickson

…• Political associates angry

FROM FEMI FOLARANMI, YENAGOA

The decision of Mrs Patience Jonathan, wife of former Presi­dent Goodluck Jonathan to support the re-election of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a second term in of­fice has been linked to the quest for political survival of the first family as it seeks refuge from the All Pro­gressive Congress (APC) led government at the cen­tre.

Mrs Jonathan, who did not hide her political disagree­ment with Dickson in the build up to the 2015 general election, and had taken sev­eral steps to undermine the Dickson administration with a plot to stop the re-election of the governor, has made a U-turn based on what sourc­es attributed to the concern to protect the ex-president in the face of the relentless attacks by the APC, and the need to ensure that Jonathan is not forced into exile if the APC wins the Bayelsa gov­ernorship election slated for December 5.

Sunday Sun investiga­tions revealed that Mrs Jona­than, who had toyed with the idea of backing the APC if it would stop the re-election of Dickson has backpedaled on her plan when it was im­pressed on her that backing the APC against the PDP in the Bayelsa election would place her husband and her family in serious discomfort, especially if the former Bay­elsa State governor, Timipre Sylva emerges as the candi­date of the party.

Recall that Jonathan as president in 2011 had en­sured that Sylva was barred from the governorship pri­maries, a move that eventu­ally forced him out of the party due to serious political disagreements.

Sunday Sun gathered that before the Abuja peace meeting which was brokered by the Bayelsa State Senate caucus in the National As­sembly, Mrs Jonathan had become receptive to Dick­son as she seized opportu­nities of Dickson coming to see Dr Jonathan for meet­ings to demonstrate that she was no longer maintaining a hard-line posture by hugging and embracing the governor.

Sources said what must have softened her stance were comments credited to Jonathan on why he must back Dickson and ensure that the Sylva-led APC in Bayelsa State did not take over the state otherwise he would be forced into exile.

“In one of the meetings held in Bayelsa, the former president made it clear that he had no moral justifica­tion not to support Dickson, who is of the PDP that can protect him at home from the attacks being launched on his administration by the APC government. Jonathan made it clear that if APC wins the December 5 elec­tion, the state would become uncomfortable for him, and compel him to go on exile to any West African country,” revealed a source.

Sunday Sun further learnt that Mrs. Jonathan did not give any condition for sup­porting Dickson as reality has dawned on her that her husband’s loss of power at the centre has made her politically vulnerable, and would therefore make life very uncomfortable for her if APC takes over in Bayelsa.

Meanwhile, Mrs Jona­than’s decision to back Dick­son has made her part ways with her political godson, Dr Waripamowei Dudafa, who served as the Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Af­fairs to the former president.

Dudafa, after review­ing the situation with other political associates of Mrs Jonathan is said to have de­clared that he was no longer on the same page with her since she had chosen to sup­port Dickson.

However, Mr Gesiye Iso­wo in a press statement he issued on behalf of Dudafa said their decision not to support the re-election bid of Dickson was not influenced by Mrs Jonathan, stating that she could not dictate to them on who they should support.