31st July, 2023
By Nathan Nwakamma
The Bayelsa Chapter of the Tinubu/Shettima Independent Campaign Council (ICC) on Sunday allayed fears of an impending hijacking of Bayelsa’s cabinet position by politicians not affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The support group told APC members in the state that former President Goodluck Jonathan would not be permitted to pick Bayelsa’s ministerial nominee.
According to the ICC, it is impossible for Jonathan, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to propose the state’s representative in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet.
The ICC’s reply follows the uproar in the party caused by accusations that Jonathan was attempting to take over as governor of Bayelsa.
Concerns were expressed by APC stakeholders in the state, including members of the important APC Elders’ Forum, who strongly denounced the decision.
The ICC, through its Director of Administration, Chief Joseph Fafi, issued a statement in Yenagoa urging party members who were upset by the story to calm down.
Fafi, who described Tinubu as a meticulous man who rewards devotion, emphasised that such injustice and unfairness will not be tolerated under the current administration.
Fafi, a former Chairman of APC in Bayelsa, said: “At this point everyone needs to calm down. Tinubu is a thorough person and is known to always reward loyalty.
“It is inconceivable to think that Jonathan would nominate a minister from Bayelsa.
“While he is an elder statesman and we accord him that regard, but as drivers of Tinubu’s presidential campaign in Bayelsa under the leadership of Engr. Preye Aganaba, we know those who supported and those who worked against Tinubu.
“It was open and incontestable. Giving him the right to produce a minister in this government isn’t among the privileges Tinubu is ready to offer Jonathan,” Fafi noted.
Fafi said that Tinubu understood that APC Bayelsa was preparing for a major election and would make appointments to strengthen the party and not empower any PDP mole.
He said: “For us, Bayelsans, this is not just any year. There’s some significance to the fact that this is an election year.
“Appointments coming in must be precise and tactical. Tinubu knows better than to give the ministerial slot to a PDP mole who would only try to truncate APC’s chances of upstaging the PDP and Gov. Douye Diri.
“While the rumours come with some “flesh“ because obviously a few PDP chieftains are scurrying around nocturnally to fly certain persons who campaigned heavily for Atiku, the rumours in reality will remain what they are: rumours.
“We are optimistic Tinubu will appoint a core, seasoned and well qualified party person who would be a huge positive in our gubernatorial elections come Nov. 11.
“We urge our teeming supporters and entire campaign structure in the ICC, members of the APC and Bayelsans in general to relax for the right thing will be done, equity will take centre stage”.
NAN