The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, yesterday, resumed exchange of verbal jabs over the February 13th Supreme Court judgement that disqualified the Governor-elect, Chief David Lyon, for contesting the November 16th, 2019 Governorship Election with a running mate, Cheif Degi Biobarakuma-Eremienyo who allegedly forge his academic certificates.
The fresh conflict between the parties began when the PDP in a statement credited to its Chairman, Mr. Cleopas Moses, claimed that the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, helped the PDP win the Bayelsa State governorship election.
Mr Cleopas in the statement went further to condemn Chief Sylva for criticising the Supreme Court judgement that voided the participation of APC in the governorship election in a recent television interview, claiming he (Sylva) was responsible for the pockets of violence in Yenagoa and Abuja following the sacking of the Governor-elect, Lyon.
Reacting to the allegations, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC in the State in a counter statement said the APC considers the position of the PDP as irresponsible, petty and provocative, adding that It is a clear fact that the PDP lost at the last governorship election the APC won fair and square.
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Although the APC in the statement accepted the fact that Douye Diri is legally the governor of Bayelsa State, it claimed that in the hearts and minds of the people, Diri is illegitimate solely for the fact that he was not the one they voted for.
“The strange decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to ignore the Bayelsa State electorate, make themselves the voters, and impose another person as governor is incompatible with democratic norms. This is a judgement without justice; this is a judgement without legitimacy. Yes.
“Even though we are bound by the judgement as a legal entity, our party does not consider the action of the Supreme Court as fair or just. As citizens, we have the right to critique the decision of the apex court. No body or institution, not even the governor imposed on us by the Supreme Court or his party, can deny us that right.
“Legally, Douye Diri is governor of Bayelsa State, but in the hearts and minds of our people, he is illegitimate. He was not the one they voted for. He will bear the burden of illegitimacy throughout his tenancy at Creek Haven, Government House, Yenagoa.
“As to the charges of violence, Sylva has already disclaimed and denounced the recent protests that took place in Yenagoa and Abuja after the Supreme Court judgement of 13 February 2020. In the specific case of Bayelsa State, we have said it time and again that it was the PDP Government under Governor Henry Seriake Dickson that ran a regime of heist, violence and lawlessness since 2012.
“Another confirmation of our position is the decision of Senator Diri to take a bank loan of NGN2.9 billion for the purpose of buying operational vehicles for the governor, his deputy and other top government functionaries. Coming less than three weeks as governor, this move is scandalous, unsympathetic and ungodly. Sadly, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the loan request.
“Diri is taking the loan at a time when civil servants and pensioners in the state have not been paid. This is a continuation of the frivolities of the PDP government of Dickson; a major reason the people of the state roundly rejected them at the poll.
“Unfortunately, Bayelsa State is in for another long haul under an illegitimate regime that does not feel any sense of commitment to the welfare and sensibilities of the people. This cannot be the government that the people of Bayelsa State deserve. It cannot be the government the people voted for.” The statement read.
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