ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
As part of the measures to resolve the lingering leadership crisis bedevilling the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, the National Reconciliation Committee of the APC headed by former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has met with some state party leaders.
It was gathered that the meeting which held in Abuja recently was also meant to address the issues of court cases against the newly elected State Executive Committee members and threats of massive defections of party members to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa.
It was also gathered that those who attended the parley included the Bayelsa APC governorship candidate in 2019 and member of the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Committee of the party, Chief David Lyon, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and some leaders of the APC in the state.
However, it was learnt that former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, was absent due to unavoidable reasons.
The reconciliation committee was said to have assured party faithful of fair hearing and amicable resolution of issues involved and bring to bear solutions that would satisfy all parties concerned.
It was further learnt that the reconciliation meeting resolved that the APC State Leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, should convene a meeting of stakeholders of the party in the state.
The meeting is expected to be hosted by Chief David Lyon to resolve the issues raised in the petition within seven days.
The reconciliation is said to be premised on the fact that the National Secretariat of the APC could not afford take risks to allow states with delegates’ problems to attend the National Convention slated for March.
Sources at the meeting said that the committee was informed that there were fears among stakeholders concerning the deep polarisation of members on the congresses and membership of the party.
It was also gathered that some members expressed concern that the names submitted and their emergence as executive members of the party did not represent the collective interests of the stakeholders.
It is believed by some concerned members that if those issues were not properly looked into and addressd, the development might result in massive defections and loss of delegates for Bayelsa at the national convention.
Leaders of an APC group, Grassroots Mobiliser Forum of All Progressives Congress, led by its Chairman, Idutimi Komonibo, the Secretary-General, Dallas Ebibi and the Vice Chairman, Reuben Wilson, in a statement urged the reconciliation committee to insist on convening the stakeholders’ meeting as a matter of urgency.
The group tasked such a meeting to review the ward, local and state government and state congresses of the party.
The group said: “Chief David Lyon from Central and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri from West should work in conjunction with one stakeholder from each senatorial district to be nominated by them single-handed.
“INEC should be properly communicated on a new date to properly monitor or review the ward and local government congresses in order to give it a legal backing.
“A recommendation should be made by the reconciliation committee to the National Caretaker Committee of the APC to approve an emergency unity rally in Bayelsa in order to bring all aggrieved factions together.”