APC NWC begs Sylva on true reconciliation in Bayelsa

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has pleaded with the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, to pursue true reconciliation for the party in the state.

There is no love lost among several leaders of the party in the state, especially between Sylva and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

The crack in the party was noticeable during the 12th expanded critical stakeholders meeting recently held in Yenagoa, but which Lokpobiri, David Lyon, Israel Sunny-Goli, Senator Biobarakuma Degi, and other leaders did not attend.

Sylva, in his remarks during the meeting, had indicted the national leadership of the party for not living up to expectations during the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections to defend the party.

The deputy national chairman, South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, who acknowledged Sylva’s role as one of the founding fathers of the APC in Nigeria, pleaded with him to pursue true reconciliation in the party.

According to him, the national leadership of the party is aware of the issues at stake and the national chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, is determined to ensure unity returns to Bayelsa APC.

“When I was coming, the national chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, told me to tell Bayelsans that Bayelsa is very important to APC, and that whatever must be done to ensure Bayelsa delivers 100 percent during the 2027 election needs to be done. Therefore, the national secretariat is very conscious of what is happening here. The national chairman told me that he would come again to Bayelsa when he is sure unity is assured among all the rank and file of our members in Bayelsa. He is very determined to achieve that. So, the National Working Committee of APC, headed by Prof Yilwatda, is promising Bayelsans that in due course, unity will be totally achieved in the party in Bayelsa State.’’

Turning to Sylva, Eneukwu likened him to a father who built a house and who has the responsibility not to allow the house to be destroyed.

“I want to appeal to you. You are like a father to the party in Bayelsa. There is nobody that does not know your contributions to the party in Bayelsa, in terms of moral and financial support. There is nobody who would build a house and wants the house to be destroyed. Please, be more tolerant. The national secretariat is asking that, even if there is a reconciliation committee, if you do not agree in your heart, there won’t be reconciliation. Please, put in more efforts to act as a father and be more tolerant.’’