Bayelsa Apc Crisis: Lokpobiri Denies Paying To Be Nominated Minister
SAN FRANCISCO, April 05, (THEWILL) – The Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has debunked claims by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, Chief Tiwei Oruminigha that he paid money to the leader of the party, Timipre Sylva to be nominated as a minister, stressing that he was duly considered worthy to be so appointed into his position.
The Minister, in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Assistant (Media), Donald Ojogo, said the allegation was orchestrated by an insignificant few within the party and oiled by some external forces who feel threatened about their political future, especially as the APC challenges the outcome of the last governorship election at the Election Petition Tribunal.
While dismissing Orunimighe comments that he did not believe in the APC, Ojogo asserted that the Minister had been an avid supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari since 2003 when he was the senatorial candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, for Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
According to the statement, “in the view of the deliberate fabrication of lies and misrepresentation of facts on the part of those who have allowed themselves to be used in this blackmail venture, it has become very compelling to state that the Minister never got his appointment on the platter of financial negotiations as expressly insinuated by the suspended State chairman of the APC in Bayelsa State, Chief Tiwei Oruminigha and his cohorts.
“It is a clear case of misrepresentation of facts to insinuate that former governor of Bayelsa who is the leader of the APC in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva collected money from the minister before his appointment as minister. This is an outright fabrication.
“The reference by Tiwei Orunimigha to statements purportedly made by Hon minister in the build up to the 2015 elections that he (Lokpobiri) never believed in the ability of the APC and its then presidential candidate (now president), Muhammadu Buhari to win election is nothing but an exhibition of either some form of delusion or incurable amnesia.
“For the records, the Hon Minister's political affinity with President Muhammadu Buhari dates back to 2003 when he was the senatorial candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party ( ANPP) for Bayelsa West Senatorial District. He had vigorously campaigned for him to be president then. The assertion by Orunimigha can only be a fictionalised sermon heightened by defeated expectations. It is therefore a blackmail that cannot stand the test of time. It is neither capable of distracting the Hon minister.”