The fragile peace in Yenagoa was shattered early Monday morning when an explosion rocked a petrol filling station allegedly belonging to Bayelsa State deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, as his row with Governor Timipre Sylva deepened.
The row followed alleged violent attacks by groups loyal to both the governor and his deputy in the local government primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Ekeremor, last Saturday.
Ebebi had told newsmen on Sunday that he had differences with his boss but they had been managing it until now, lamenting that he was operating from a three-bedroom flat as his office.
Later on Sunday, pro-Sylva protesters carrying placards with inscriptions, ‘Ebebi must go’ took to the streets of Yenagoa with police patrol vans following behind.
But the situation took a drastic turn on Monday following the explosion at Ebebi’s filling station, Ebilade Oil along Isaac Boro Road around Biogbolo/Yenizuegene axes of Yenagoa where the Joint Task Force (JTF) quarters is located.
There was no casualty as the explosion occurred at a time that the filling station was deserted, but observers said it was not unconnected with the festering political crisis in the state.
The explosion which occurred at about 2.30a.m was preceded by several gunshots, according to residents of the area, which sent fears into them and has set the political tone for the state ahead 2011, some observers said.
The police and army have also taken strategic positions in the state capital, while both the military and police have intensified patrols ostensibly to douse the growing tensed political atmosphere.
An attempt by pro-Ebebi supporters to address a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre along Azikoro Road was stopped by a detachment of police in four patrol vans on the orders the state police commissioner, Onuoha Udeka.
The police said the planned press briefing by the pro-Ebebi supporters amounted to a political rally and the group did not obtain any police permit to hold a rally.
But the group said in the press statement that there was an attempt on the deputy governor’s life and called on PDP national executive committee to investigate alleged anti-party activities of Sylva’s loyalist and commissioner of youths, conflict resolution and employment generation, Bekes Etifa.
The angry group numbering over 500, carrying placards, some saying, ‘Sylva must go’ took to the streets heightening an already tensed situation.
Sylva’s giant billboard by Concerned Bayelsans for Timipre Sylva at Imgbi Junction was destroyed just as both army and police reinforcements were drafted to Government House gate to thwart any attempt by the protesters to gain entry into the seat of power.
There was odor of teargas close to the spot where Sylva’s billboard was torn just as BusinessDay gathered that the protesters were disrupting traffic on its path.
BusinessDay learnt at Ebilade Oil that the deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, was there earlier to inspect the damage done. There was minimal damage on the floor of the filling station which was closed to business.
The police could not confirm the explosion but a JTF source said that they heard the explosion just like everybody else and might not be unconnected with the crisis.
The source further disclosed that the troop deployment was to ensure security as top army officers would come into Yenagoa this week for the annual general meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Explosion rocks Yenagoa
•As row between Sylva, deputy deepens