APC inaugurates state, local government, wards executives, elders’ council in Bayelsa
By Bassey Williams, Yenagoa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has inaugurated the State, Chapter and Wards’ Executives and the Elders Council to pilot the affairs of the party and reconcile aggrieved members, respectively.
Performing the ceremony at the State party secretariat along Melford Okilo road in Yenagoa, the State Party’s Legal Adviser, Barr. Stanley Damabide, urged the officers to place the interest of the party above selfish considerations.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, task the newly inaugurated executives to work assiduously to ensure that the APC takes over the government of Bayelsa State during the next election stating that the PDP government has failed Bayelsa State.
He advised members of the party to shun rumours making the rounds that APC in Bayelsa State is factionalised adding that the APC in the state is one big family and is waxing stronger.
He described the inauguration as a new beginning for APC in the state describing the congress that brought in the new executives as a very peaceful one.
Speaking after the inauguration, the State party Chairman, Chief Dennis Otiotio, said the new executives whom he described as people of like minds will hit the ground running and will leave no stone unturned to ensuring that the APC will not only take over the Creek Haven but will sweep all the seats both at the State and National Assemblies.
Otiotio said his major task is to reconcile aggrieved members of the party hence the setting up and inauguration of the elders council of the party.
He called on people of like minds to come over to APC and wrestle power from the PDP whom he said has successfully impoverished and under-developed Bayelsa State for the past ten years stressing that the prosperity government of Senator Douye Diri is rehearsing governance and not governing.
According to him, the number of prominent Bayelsans who have voluntarily defected from the PDP to APC is a clear indication that Bayelsans are tired of the PDP government, adding that the PDP is using the state’s resources to woo members into the party by promising the political appointments adding that it is only in Bayelsa State that the government has over five hundred Special Advisers.
The Chairman said his Party will not participate in the forthcoming Local Government elections in the state stating that it will only be a scam as names of Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Secretaries and Councillors will be written in government house.
High point of the occasion was the reception of over two thousand defectors from the PDP by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva who received them on behalf of President Mohammadu Buhari and the presentation of brooms and flags as symbols of the party.
Prominent among the defectors were Dr. Rufus Abadi and Dr. Munemune from Southern Ijaw as well as a PDP chieftain from Ekeremor, Hon. Back-to-life.
Among the party faithfuls who witnessed the inauguration were the state pioneer party chairman, Chief Timighe Tiwe; former Deputy Governor of the State, Senator John Brambaifagha and Rt. Hon. Seibarugu who is also the Chairman of the elders council.
