The Bayelsa State Elders Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Gov Douye Diri to be wary of enemies of peace and development in the state’s chapter of the party.
The elders while congratulating Diri for joining the APC, said the governor should not allow enemies of progress and agents of destabilisation to draw him into their fold.
The elders in a statement signed by their Secretary, Chief Clarkson Ayebaepreye, said: “While the governor’s decision to align with our great party could represent a fresh opportunity for unity and progress in Bayelsa, the governor must be wary of being drawn into the parochial feuds of individuals whose interests do not align with peace or development.
“Governor Diri must stand as a leader for all, not a captive of any clique or personality. The people of Bayelsa deserve reconciliation and purposeful governance, not factionalism disguised as cooperation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the APC in Bayelsa remains united in its loyalty to President Tinubu and committed to advancing his Renewed Hope Agenda. However, the growing pattern of intra-party hostility emanating from certain quarters must be checked before it undermines our shared progress”.
The elders insisted that the ongoing campaign of calumny against former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva was championed by the faction of the party loyal to the Minister of Petroleum (State), Heineken Lokpobiri.
They said the camp was behind the false allegations that Sylva was involved in hostilities against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
They said: “Over the past weeks, we have observed with dismay a series of publications and insinuations, many of them malicious in tone and origin, falsely alleging that Chief Sylva has been involved in activities detrimental to our democracy or in any way hostile to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
“These claims are patently false, politically motivated, and intended purely to sow division within our ranks. In response, the Elders Forum constituted a discreet fact-finding team to review these allegations.
“The outcome confirmed what most discerning observers already knew — that the falsehoods are being peddled by a small faction within our party, acting in concert with external interests who thrive on discord.
“It is now increasingly evident that the faction led by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has made it its singular pursuit to undermine Chief Sylva and destabilise the Bayelsa APC, rather than contribute meaningfully to party cohesion or governance”.
The elders lamented that despite benefiting immensely from the party through ministerial appointments, Lokpobiri seemed to have channeled his resources to creating internal hostilities instead of acting as a unifying influence.
They appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to compel Lokpobiri to retrace his steps insisting that the constant circulation of unfounded stories through proxies would only damage the image of the APC in Bayelsa and undermine the progress of the President nationwide.
They said: “We remind Senator Lokpobiri and his associates that political relevance is sustained through service, not sabotage. The time has come to replace blackmail with bridge-building, and bitterness with brotherhood.
“The Elders Forum will continue to defend the integrity of our leaders, particularly Chief Timipre Sylva, and to uphold the principles of unity, discipline, and loyalty upon which the APC was founded”.