ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
National Coordinator, APC Strategic Communication Group and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Chief Izzi Yakiah, says there is no problem rocking the party in the state.
Yakiah in an interview on Tuesday said that the APC is intact and united in the state under the leadership of a former Governor and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
He contended that all the issues being talked about as reasons for a faction in the party had been resolved before the 2019 governorship election in the state.
The party stalwart said: “All you have been hearing about concerning the APC are issues that have been resolved prior to the governorship election in the state.
“You will agree with me that the party came in one accord and was able to win that election if not for the Supreme Court judgment that upturned the victory and brought Governor Douye Diri on board.
“The party has one leader and he is Chief Timpre Sylva. He has made several leadership strides in the past. In the course of his progressive developmental leadership quality, Sylva has been able to win over 43 per cent of the presidential election, which in fact, is the highest in the Southsouth and Southeast region up till date.
“That record has not been beaten and the facts are there for people to verify. He has also been able to, as a matter of fact, win two House of Representatives seats, one senatorial seat and four House of Assembly seats. The records are also there.
“If one begins to talk about factions, politics is about capacity, politics is about ability. You can’t claim to be a leader without followers. You need to have reasonable followers before you claim to be a leader. Timpre Sylva is the one that brought APC to Bayelsa State. He has stood firm for the party and has carried it to a level where Bayelsans are very happy with the APC.”
He recalled that during the party’s stakeholders meeting held on February 2, 2021at the party’s secretariat on Mbiama-Yenagoa road, Yenezue-gene, Sylva attended, and a lot of issues affecting the party were discussed including party unity and strategies to win future elections.
Yakiah said the meeting was fully attended by party chieftains across all strata and the issues of party reward system were also discussed.
He said Sylva had done a lot to ensure that the party remained united and had also facilitated the appointment of over 20 APC members in federal parastatals and boards, all in 2021.
He rationalised: “These persons fomenting trouble are persons who have benefittd so much from the magnanimity and leadership style of the Sylva. He has a large heart, he has a forgiving spirit. In fact, this is a man that does not allow issues bother him.”
He assured the APC faithful in the state that Sylva would address the issues in the party and ensure that the party moves forward.