2027: Bayelsa West Should Forget About Governorship Ambition — Chief Gen. Inko Brightstar

The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, have been advised to drop their governorship ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.rnrnThis call was made by Chief Gen. Inko Brightstar, popularly known as WhoKnows Tomorrow, through RealNaijaGist News Reporters. He cautioned that Bayelsa East Senatorial District should no longer be taken for granted, stating that Bayelsa West must honour the long-standing zoning agreement to maintain peace, fairness, and justice in the state.rnrnAccording to Chief Brightstar, Bayelsa East has already been politically shortchanged over the years. He gave a historical breakdown of past administrations in the state to back his claims:rnrn “The first democratically elected governor of Bayelsa State, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha of blessed memory, was from Bayelsa Central and served over six years before his impeachment. His deputy, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, from Bayelsa East, completed the remainder of that term. Later, Chief Timipre Marlyn Sylva, also from the East, was elected governor in 2007. Although his initial election was nullified, due to a petition filed against him by Mr.Ebitimi Amgbare of Action Congress (AC), Sylva won the 2008 re-run and served from then on.rnrnIn total, both Jonathan and Sylva, representing Bayelsa East, governed the state for just six years combined.”rnrnChief Brightstar noted that Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, from Bayelsa West, succeeded Sylva and ruled for a full eight years (2012–2020). Power then shifted back to Bayelsa Central with the emergence of Senator Douye Diri, who is currently serving his second term.rnrn> “If we follow the zoning logic fairly,” Brightstar continued, “after Central finishes in 2028, it should be the rightful turn of Bayelsa East, not Bayelsa West again. Any attempt by the Sagbama/Ekeremor axis to take over power in 2027 is a direct insult to the people of Bayelsa East, who have endured political marginalization despite their earlier contributions.”rnrnrnHe argued that equity, justice, and equal opportunity demand that Bayelsa East be given the next opportunity to produce the governor, not only to correct past imbalances but also to preserve the fragile unity in the state.rnrn “Bayelsa East has been patient for too long. Let us not allow ambition to destroy the zoning structure that has helped maintain relative peace and fairness in Bayelsa politics.”rnrnChief Inko Brightstar concluded by urging stakeholders across the state to act in good conscience and reject any political arrangement that sidelines Bayelsa East in 2027.