Dennis Naku
16 November 2009
Yenagoa — Crisis rocking the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a frightening dimension weekend, as unknown gunmen allegedly bombed the residence of its embattled party chairman, Chief Rufus Abadi, at his country home in Otuan, Southern Ijaw local government area.
The attack came few hours after Abadi stayed away from the enlarged meeting of the party held in Government House, Yenagoa, just as one of his aides; Mr. Jones Abiri said it was a clear assassination attempt.
Abiri told Daily Champion in a telephone chat that his boss did not attend the meeting because he took ill, but unknown to him that there was a plot to kill him by political detractors.
He said the yet to be identified gunmen had stormed Abadi's country home in the wee hours of last Saturday where they reportedly left two of his high rise buildings and a bungalow in ruins, after a fruitless search for him.
Abiri claimed that about N700,000 and two mobile phones belonging to Abadi's wife, saying the gunmen thought Abadi had travelled to his village, since he could not attend the meeting of the party's executive committee held last Friday.
The meeting was expected to be attended by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, members of the National Assembly and Ministers from the state and others to resolve the crisis in the party.
They, including the state Deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, however, shunned the meeting,
According to Abiri, the gunmen who stormed Abadi's residence about 1am, met his wife and children in the building, but left them unhurt, after informing his spouse they came for her husband
"A visit to the attack scene is "pitiful. They even removed the cover of the septic tank in search of my boss," adding that the matter has been reported to the 'A' Division of the State Police Command, he said.
Abadi was loyal to Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State until a sour relationship occurred three months ago, resulting to his invitation by the State Security Service (SSS) over alleged petition of threat to life by one of his aides. He was also evicted from his VIP accommodation in Creek Haven, the seat of power in the state.
Most members of the National Assembly and other notable members of the Party in Abuja claimed to have received the letter for the meeting late last Thursday, but in attendance at last Friday meeting were Governor Sylva, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Nestor Binabo and a member of the Federal House of Representative representing Yenagoa Constituency.
Contacted on the matter, Bayelsa State Police command spokesman, Tadius said he was not aware of the bombing of Abadi residence as he was away to Ogoni, River State for his brother's ordination as a priest.
On his part, Governor Sylva's aide on media, Preye Wariowei described the attack on Abadi's residence as unfortunate. He called on security operatives to unravel those behind the attack.
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