BAYELSA: Secondus should resign for trading off ‘PDP’s political capital’ – Timi Frank. Is this the beginning of another controversy or brickbat?

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has congratulated Bayelsa State Governor-elect, David Lyon, describing his victory as well deserved.

Frank also called on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, to resign from office over the defeat the party suffered in the state for the first time since 1999.

The former APC scribe, in a statement issued on Monday, urged Lyon to be magnanimous in victory and serve as a dependable rallying point for all people of the state irrespective of their political affiliations, ethnicity or creed.

He said: “This victory was not won by the APC but by the people of Bayelsa who have resisted imposition and oppression with their blood because of their implicit confidence in the capacity of Lyon to transform the state and change their story for the better.

“Your victory is not an APC’s mandate but that of the collective will of the people of Bayelsa. Please when you assume office, strive to use it to unite the people of Bayelsa because the state can only attain true peace, development and greatness when united.

“Bayelsa has been divided for too long, but you have been chosen to heal their wounds and wipe their tears.

“Bayelsa has elected you governor. It is now your turn to govern Bayelsa and cater for all Bayelsans.

“What you do from now will prove whether the confidence now reposed in you by the majority of Bayelsans was misplaced or you will justify their hopes and aspirations by carrying all stakeholders, including those who contested against you, along in your efforts to realise the Bayelsan dream and thus build a greater state we can all be proud to bequeath to upcoming generations.

“Your opponents during the election equally have lofty ideals and ideas for the advancement of the state. Therefore, embrace and work with them in the quest to realise the overall objective of governance which is the welfare and security of the people of the state.”

Frank prayed for the repose of the souls of victims of election violence and commiserated with their families.

“These innocent Bayelsans whose lives have been brutally cut short died in the service of the state. They paid the supreme sacrifice to make Bayelsa great. Let these deaths, injuries and property destroyed not be in vain.

“I urge you to immediately set up a truth and reconciliation committee to appraise all that transpired before, during and after the election, with a view to ensure holistic healing and reunification of the various interests in the state,” he added.

According to Frank, the victory of Lyon in the election has vindicated his position that the PDP had chosen to relinquish the governance of Bayelsa to the APC when it decided to field a weak candidate against a popular aspirant who could have steered the party to victory.

He also called on Secondus and the National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately apologise to all leaders and members of the party in Bayelsa State in particular and the country in general, or resign their positions for deliberately trading the party’s political capital and dominance in the state for a pot of porridge.

Read also: Lyon thanks Bayelsans for unflinching support as Diri kicks

“Secondus and the NWC knew what to do but they neglected to do it. This defeat is directly attributable to their poor choices, myopic political calculations and selfishness.

“It is our hope that the outcome of the Bayelsa State governorship election will serve as a lesson to the party to field popular candidates in future elections. The era of imposition is over. Take note,” he said.

Frank, a self-styled political activist, has been involved in few controversies in the last few years.

Before the last general election, a group described him as a hireling of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for making a libelous statement against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Frank also claimed in a chat with journalists few months back that he and some unidentified people sabotaged the government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him, many lies were fabricated against the former president in the build-up to the 2015 general election.

The latest statement credited to him on the Bayelsa election may signal the onset of another verbal war between Frank and the PDP supremo.

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