SYLVA’S COMMENTS UNDESERVING OF A LEADER – SENATOR BRAMBAIFA
By Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa, Trek Africa Newspaper
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Bayelsa, Senator John Kojo Brambaifa, has condemned in strong terms the awful comments by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, on members of the All Progressive Congress, APC, from the Bayelsa West Senatorial District, described the members as fake, even when some of them were present at the APC Secretariat for the swearing in of the party executives.
Senator Brambaifa in a statement on Tuesday, expressed worry that a leader who was supposed to be the unifying factor, has turned around to be the falcrum of disintegration, disunity and untogetherness within the APC.
He also lambasted Chief Sylva on how he handled the event, which was improperly coordinated, and not giving regard to other major stakeholders of the party, before leaving for the radio program, where he segregated the members of the party from the West Senatorial District.
According to him, “It’s very sad to notice the leader of our party to give a Media Chart on the 12th Feb. 2022, telling callers from Sagbama and Ekeremor LGAs in the Chart as fake members of APC, after a successful Event that joyous Sagbama and Ekeremor LGAs members were present in their numbers at the APC Secretariat Yenagoa, where the EXCOS at All the levels and importantly, the State ELDERS ADVISORY COUNCIL were legally sworn-in. It was done in an atmosphere of togetherness and every member listened to the leader with rapt attention, respect and a feeling that our party APC has once again come together to fight the big battle,the State forthcoming guber election, when he addressed the jubilant crowd”.
“The first thing that was noticeable in the leader’s address was the dividedness colouration of his whole address. Indeed in the program of activities there was conspicuous attempt to sideline the members of Bayelsa West participants. For instance, in the Goodwill item of the program, no Bayelsa West Senatorial District member was called to address the crowd and yet too many from the other two Districts were called to address the crowd. That was not right! Was it an error on the part of the organisers?”
“The leader abruptly left the function for a Media Chart without telling the jubilant crowd what he wanted to do; infact the whole function came to a close when he left; the other items of program were terminated inconclusively.”
“One had expected too, that the leader would have gone round to few of the other leaders and personalities to thank them for their presence, introducing pleasantries to make them feel good and finally directing the chairman of the party to conclude the function properly.”
“As if all inadequacies mentioned above were not enough, the leader at the Media Chart made uncomplimentary statements, undeserving of a leader of a state party of the ruling party at the centre.He said among other things, “Don’t mind any caller trying to fake him or herself as APC members from Sagbama and Ekeremor, those are Dickson’s people. I don’t talk about that area but I know where we will win when it comes to elections”
“A leader should be a bridge builder, particularly a leader of a Political party at a time the party is having a faction in the state; this time around when the party at the centre is doing everything for reconciliation.”
“Afterall, going by the latest voters registration figures of Bayelsa State, Sagbama and Ekeremor pulled 32.8 percent of the total. It’s inconceivable for a leader to wish away those numbers of voters in a state that is madeup of only eight LGAs. That will be most foolish to think and am sure the hierarchy of the party will not condone that foolishness.”
“This’s a lesson for incoming young politicians of Bayelsa West, that this’s the time to put our house in order. This’s an oppression and day light marginalisation and we must fight against it with all in our power to stop it. Let it told that Sagbama and Ekeremor was the Political melting pot in the old Rivers politics. In those days, the final results of every elections in the state was determined by the results from Sagbama and Ekeremor LGAs. Why this was happening was that the politicians in those days believed and encouraged unity.”
“A word is enough for the wise”, he concluded.
