By Sampson Boroh
The factional chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebierien Fala Itubor, has accused the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, of allegedly working to killing the party in the state.
Itubor alleged that the leadership style of the state former governor has led to gale of defection of party members to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
He lamented that scores of members of the APC including a serving lawmaker in the state representing the Minister’s constituency, Hon. Daniel Charles, had dumped the party for PDP.
The APC chieftain, however, called on the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker Committee to intervene before the worse happens.
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He advised the party to ignore the claims made by loyalist of Sylva that the party was in good shape, and carry out genuine reconciliation.
In a statement on Monday through the Deputy Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Hon. Orubebe Ogeibiri, further lamented that the party in Bayelsa has been abandoned by the party at the National level.
The statement read, “Well it’s unfortunate, and it’s also pitiable to a large extent. Why we say so is that the party has always had problems because of Timipre Sylva’s style of leadership with impunity.
“Sylva does not have regard for the membership of the party. The party has been factionalised since the governorship elections of 2019 till date.
“Anybody coming to say that APC has no faction in Bayelsa is a day dreamer, a liar and story from the pit of hell. APC has been factionaised, the national is aware, because of Sylva’s style…but we have sent series of letters to the national and have requested for a peace and conflict committee to be inaugurated in Bayelsa.
“As far as we are concerned, nothing has been done and Sylva is still claiming there is no faction in the party because he is already preparing list of Exco members towards the forthcoming congress.
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“It is a clear evidence that he is building the party in Bayelsa simply as a vehicle for his personal ambitions. He is seeking to abuse the party by using it as his personal device. He should not be allowed to sacrifice this collective enterprise at the altar of his personal interest.
“For the records we have two chairmen in APC in Bayelsa, and it is not an issue to discuss or argue about. Back to the issue of defection, as far as we are concerned, the defection of the assembly member has proven us right before the public.
“Sylvia’s style is making APC drown and it will remain until the national takes the bold step to remove Sylva as the leader of APC in Bayelsa, and that is the only when we can have a headway as a party in the state.”
