By Seyi Babalola
The Bayelsa state executive committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has backtracked on the suspension of Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and other party chieftains.
The decision followed the convening of an extended meeting of the party, involving members of the state executive, sitting state Assembly members from the party and the local government chairman of the party.
The single agenda was to deliberate on the festering crisis arising from the suspension of critical stakeholders of the party in Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor‚ Sagbama and Yenagoa local government areas, notable among those suspended was Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; former APC governorship candidate in the 2019 poll, Chief David Lyon, among others.
A communique issued on Tuesday, October 15, after a press conference held at the party secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital, and signed by the state chairman of the APC, Chief Dennis Otiotio-Odoni and the acting State Secretary, Owutuamo Tamaranpreye, said the suspension was put on hold after a plea from the minority caucus of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly who is the only elected members of the party from the state, and after extensive deliberations.
The communique said the extended state Executive Committee of the party resolved to suspend the ratification of the chieftains’ suspensions in order to further consult with critical stakeholders of the party as advised by the APC caucus of the state House of Assembly.
Furthermore, the communique said the extended state exco of the party and the APC State Assembly Caucus condemned the rascality and hooliganism of the state Commissioner for Power, Mr. Kharin Kumoku, who allegedly led thugs to invade the APC State Secretariat in an attempt to burn it down.
The communique said: “We call on the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri to caution the commissioner.
“We also call on the Commissioner of Police CP, Francis A. Idu, and the Director of Department of State Services (DSS), Bayelsa State to arrest and investigate the Commissioner.”
The APC, Bayelsa State chapter, reiterated its commitment to upholding democratic principles and engaging in constructive dialogue to resolve internal conflicts.
The party called on all party members and stakeholders to maintain decorum and focus on the collective goal of ensuring the party’s success in Bayelsa State.
