Bayelsa: Alaibe, Sylva throw verbal punches

Ahead of the rescheduled governor primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, the two main candidates in the contest seem to have taken each other on in a pre-contest bout as their supporters are throwing accusations and counter accusations at each other.
The supporters of former governor Timipre Sylva, and those of those of former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Timi Alaibe have accused each other of being responsible for the crisis in the party in the state, out of desperation to be the party’s candidate.
Sylva’s supporters under the aegis of APC Youth Vanguard accused Alaibe of been too desperate for power. In response, Alaibe’s supporters under the leadership of Mr. Friday Dressman, dismissed the claims.

They noted that it was Sylva, not Alaibe, who was desperate to return to the Government House after the people of the state had once rejected him.
A new twist was added to the debate when another group under the aegis of the Concerned Bayelsans for Good Governance urged the party to disqualify both aspirants from taking part in the rescheduled primary.
In a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, by the President and Secretary of the group, Preye Dombraiyefa and Francis Arifagha, respectively, the group said the party would be better served if the two aspirants stepped down.
They said, “That Bayelsans earnestly yearn for change, a progressive and productive government but neither Sylva nor Alaibe can engineer the birth of a government as encapsulated in the change mantra of the APC owing to their preference for violence, deceit and endangering the lives and properties of Bayesians.”
Meanwhile, National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, for today (Monday).

Read also: Bayelsa: 3 govs to conduct fresh APC primaries

It was gathered that the meeting is to brainstorm on the multiple crises rocking it among which is the the management of the party’s success, the power rift between the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, among others.
Also on the table for discussion is the proposed ministerial list, which is expected to be sent to the National Assembly anytime soon by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking with journalists yesterday, a top member of the party’s NWC noted that apart from the crisis, the meeting will also dwell on the ministerial list that has put the party against President Buhari, who seems not to be interested in consulting officials of the party in the appointment of the members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and the power rift between the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande and the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.
According to the NWC member, the crisis between the chieftains of APC has stalled the inauguration of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, as well as holding of the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting.

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