As the All Progressive Congress (APC) leadership tussle in Bayelsa State continues unabated, the leadership of the ruling party in the State has called on the National leadership of the party to urgently wade in to calm frayed nerves before it degenerates further to disrupt the existing peace and progress in the State.
The PDP, whose call came through a statement signed by its Chairman,
Sam Inokoba
(Rtd), noted with serious concern the rising tension among the three factions of the APC in the State led by former ACN chieftain, Ebikibina Miriki, Richard Kpodo and Tiwei Orunimighe, all claiming leadership of the party in Bayelsa State.
While commending the State Government’s recent statement on its commitment to the protection of lives and property of all law abiding citizens and residents, including the APC and any other legitimately registered political party, the PDP says it is lending its voice to that of the State Government to urge the APC National leadership to as a matter of urgency resolve the brewing imbroglio and announce its authentic leadership in the State, stressing that, the State cannot afford to be thrown into undue chaos and crisis as a result of APC’s failure to put its house in order.
Col. Inokoba also reminded the leadership of the APC at the National level that, two of its factional leaders (Richard Kpodo and Tiwei Orunimighe) are on the Police wanted list for various offences and both men have since been on the run.
“We are therefore calling on the national leadership of the APC to be mindful of the type of characters they may be considering as party leaders in the State, since it has been duly established that they are on the wanted list of the police. Similarly, we call on the national leadership of the APC to hid the advice of the State Government on the use of Kpodo’s personal house as the party’s office in the State, knowing fully well that the same building along with several others in the Etegwe/Edepie area of Yenagoa, have been earmarked for demolition over six months ago by the State Government in order to make way for the second flyover bridge.
He explained that this clarifications have become necessary, before the PDP in the State or the PDP-led Government is accused of suppressing and intimidating the opposition, saying that the house will sooner or later be demolished and the fact that the wanted men are bound to be apprehended by the police the moment they show up in the State as they plan to do in their bid to formally launch the party in the State. “You can be rest assured that once this happens, the PDP will be accused of being behind the demolition and also fingered as the mastermind of the plot for their arrest, forgetting that, they had long been declared wanted by security agencies in the State”
For emphasis, the PDP Chairman further added that Government is demolishing a number of houses, not for any other reason, but to construct projects that will make life more meaningful for our people and add beauty to our State capital, Yenagoa. And, in all of this, Government is paying compensation to the owners of such structures and they are doing this without any form of discrimination.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has directed the Police and other security agencies in the State to ensure adequate security at the secretariat of the All Progressive Alliance, (APC) in Yenagoa, the State capital.
A Government House statement says, the directive is in keeping with the policy of the present administration to ensure security of lives and property of residents and visitors to the State.
“As a responsive Government, we will not abandon what is clearly our constitutional duty to provide security and ensure that people go about their legitimate duties without any form of molestation and same for the APC and any other party that is lawfully registered and recognized as a political party in Nigeria”
Governor Dickson however appealed to the leadership of the party at the national level to ensure that, steps are taken urgently to resolve the leadership tussle among its rank and file in the State.
The Governor, who expressed serious concern over the seemingly bitter rivalry among members of the APC in the State, wants it properly handled before it degenerates to a security problem for the State.
Clearly, the rivalry or rift in the party is between loyalists of former Governor Timipre Sylva and members of the ACN, who have been in the opposition all the while and a part of the new alliance that gave birth to the APC.
Another thorny issue within the party is that, Two of Sylva’s loyalists (Richard Kpodo and Godwin Sidi) have reportedly imposed themselves on the party as Chairman and Secretary as well as sited the State Secretariat at Kpodo’s personal property located at the Etegwe area of Yenagoa without due consultation.
Governor Dickson also pointed out that the said personal building of Mr. Kpodo has long been earmarked for demolition alongside other structures, to make way for the second fly-over bridge to be constructed around the area, adding that Government has already set aside the sum of N1 billion for the payment of compensation to owners of properties to be affected by the project.
According to him, the exercise is not to witch hunt anybody or group of persons, but purely intended to bring about infrastructural development to the State capital in line with the Restoration agenda of Government.
Governor Dickson recalled how, a section of his personal property was demolished, as a result of ongoing expansion of the new Opolo/Elebele expressway, describing it as a price everybody has to pay for the development of the critical infrastructure of the State.
While, calling for the understanding and cooperation of the citizenry in this regard, the Bayelsa State Chief Executive noted that, the development of the needed infrastructure in Yenagoa and other parts of the State, is a continuous exercise and buildings and other property that fall within the right of way of such projects will be demolished and compensation paid to their owners.
“Bayelsa is at peace and I want to use this opportunity to call on the APC to ensure that, the problem does not cause a breach of the peace within the State capital and its environs, as Government will do everything on its part to maintain the existing peaceful atmosphere around the State”
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