Ahead of the senatorial bye-election Some Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Bayelsa State, have challenged the Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya led reconciliation Committee not to be teleguided by a section of the party in his reconciliation moves.
Recall that Mai Mala Buni, the Chairman, Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had last week approved the appointment of the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to chair the Party’s Reconciliation/Election Committee for the October 31 concurrent legislative by-elections for Bayelsa Central and West Senatorial Districts.
Reacting to the development, Chieftains of the APC in Bayelsa Central and West Senatorial districts, Hon. Sunday Frank-Oputu and Elder Christopher Abarowei said the Gombe Governor led Committee may fail like all other reconciliation efforts in the past if it aligns with the position of the Chief Timipre Sylva led faction of the party.
While Elder Abarowei from Sagbama in Bayelsa West Senatorial District described the setting up of the reconciliation committee as a welcome development, warned against factional hearing of grievances.
Hon. Sunday Frank Oputu insisted that the reconciliation Committee had failed before starting its work due to the composition of the Committee and the continuous recognition of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources as the Leader of the APC in Bayelsa.
According to Frank-Oputu, “The Committee has failed before starting its work. They should check the reasons why the APC is failing in Bayelsa State and they will discover that the party fail due to the overbearing one-man show by the former Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva”.
“Until Chief Sylva is removed as the leader of the APC in Bayelsa, the fortunes of the party will remain failures. He will not allow the committee to hear from all stakeholders. The APC in Bayelsa is factionalised due to the failed leadership of Sylva. Past reconciliations failed immediately such committees leaves Bayelsa. He always has another agenda”.
“Sen. Omo-Agege, the Vice Chairman of the new Committee, is also part of the Sylva agenda in Bayelsa, Delta and the States of the South-South. Sylva will not allow true reconciliation in Bayelsa and the APC will fail if the new Gombe Governor Committee allows itself to be hoodwinked by Sylva. ”
On his part, Elder Christopher Abarowei said though he is not a pessimist,” the reconciliation effort is a good one, however, it is always good to be proactive instead of been reactive.”
“I warned about the dangers of the timing of the purported suspension of Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and some chieftains of my party. Some persons saw it as an effrontery position when I said on radio programs that the suspension was made at a wrong time as we were faced with the challenges of going into the Senatorial bye-elections for the Bayelsa West/Central districts.”
” The Gombe state Governor-led committee has a big task in their hands to genuinely reconcile the gladiators in this context though I am not a pessimist. It is important to state that most stakeholders have been sidelined and humiliated with some having their elective functions given to subordinates to control.”
“The major factions are the Lokpobiri and the Sylva factions and the major actors need to sincerely express genuine willingness for total reconciliation. The major issue of reconciliation was the last Governorship primary of the party which has been overtaken by events as the judiciary has made final pronouncements concerning that process.”
“All involved should see the window as an opportunity to sheath the sword and prepare the party for the task ahead which is less than 23 days.
