By John Odhe, YENAGOA
The time period in history of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State where infighting and factionalism reigned has gone for good under the current leadership of the State governor, Senator Douye Diri.
Stakeholders believe that the emergence of the governor as leader of the APC in the State is a great blessing, not in disguise, but obvious.
This sentiment was shared on Thursday when the governor inaugurated an ultramodern State secretariat of the APC in Yenagoa.
Key leaders of the all progressives congress in Bayelsa State, including the state party chairman, Mr. Warman Ogoriba, thanked the governor for a new secretariat complex.
Diri described the beautiful edifice as the “unity secretariat” as it brought together under one roof key stakeholders of the party for the first time in many years.
Before Diri defected to the APC, the State chapter of the party was plagued with divisions with two factional leaders and two secretariats in the State capital.
Each of the factions was headed by the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and the current Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri.
Party supporters were equally fragmented alongside the two separate leaders, thereby creating disunity that reflected in poor electoral outings in the state.
But Diri’s leadership has reunited all party faithful into one fold. No more parallel leaderships but one. No more two secretariats but one.
Both the immediate past State chairman of the APC, Dr. Dennis Otiotio, a strong ally of Sylva and other followers as well as Lokpobiri and his supporters came under one roof for the first time in many years.
During a stakeholders meeting shortly after the inauguration, APC State chairman, Ogoriba, described it as the best party secretariat in the country, saying it would deepen the party’s unity and motivate members to work for APC’s victory in the 2027 general election.
In his remarks, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, hailed the exceptional leadership quality of the governor, which he said had united the party in the state.
He assured candidates of the party, particularly in his Bayelsa West senatorial district, of victory in the 2027 elections, saying some politicians in other parties would be retired after the polls.
Also, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, expressed happiness that he was part of the new unified APC family in the state, which he said was moving very fast, and called on “those on the other side” to join the party in moving the state and country forward.
In separate remarks, other stakeholders, including Senator Konbowei Benson (Bayelsa Central), and the Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, all expressed gratitude to the governor for the secretariat and the unity of the party, hoping that the APC would be victorious in 2027 across the state.
In his remarks, the Bayelsa governor lauded the unity among members, emphasising that the strength of the party was in working together.
He expressed appreciation to those who though lost in the recent party primaries still remained in its fold, calling them the heroes of the APC in Bayelsa.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, Diri stressed the importance of loyalty in politics, noting that without members standing solidly behind him, he would be unable to lead the party.
He assured party faithful that he would continue to operate an inclusive leadership style and called on leaders and political office holders at various levels to use their positions to uplift people and add value rather than oppress them.
He said: “I like to appeal that nobody should feel sidelined as nobody came to hijack the party. For those who did not succed in the last primaries, you are the heroes of this party as there was no winner nor loser. The only winner is the APC.
“We want to keep this party very strong so we can have the unity we need to succeed. Positions are opportunities and privileges that should be used to empower people. It is one thing to lead and another for people to follow.
“For those yet to be rewarded, keep praying and your benefit will come. APC in Bayelsa is more democratic than any other party and we showed it in the last primaries.
“This new secretariat is our house and whatever issues we have, they will be attended to here. We are happy that the party has a conducive place to work to improve productivity. “
The governor equally applauded the reforms undertaken by president Bola Tinubu, which he said informed his decision to join the APC, and appealed to Nigerians to be patient as the benefits would be felt soon.
Delivering a goodwill message, former NDDC Managing Director, Chief Ndutimi Aliabe, said he was back to the APC and thanked Diri for his leadership and development strides in the state.
Also present at the event were the deputy governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr. Abraham Ingobere, former deputy governors, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi,
Werinipere Seibarugu, and Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd) amongst others
