Deal with your leadership Crisis now, Bayelsa PDP Tells APC
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, Col. 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.
Col. Sam Inokoba, Rtd
Chairman, PDP, Bayelsa State