Confusion has hit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the state executive of the party in Bayelsa State announced on Saturday, the suspension of a former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Sylva was the party’s candidate in last year’s governorship election.
The state chairman of the party, Chief Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe and the secretary, Daniel Marlin announced the decision of the party in a statement on Saturday.
Orunimighe, had while addressing newsmen at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja last Wednesday, accused Sylva of side-lining the leadership and trying to corner federal appointments due to the state for only his cronies.
He said the party wants the Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri to resign, for allegedly inducing Silva to secure his nomination as minister.
In statement made to journalists in Abuja, Mr. Orunmighe said, “We also want to call on the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri, to resign his appointment, the reason being that he paid for his ministerial position. I also believe, and those of us standing here know very well, that he is not a member of the party,” he said.
It will be recalled that appointments into President Buhari’s cabinet took months after his inauguration. The delay of the ministerial appointments was hinged on the idea that Buhari was widely consulting and taking his time to ensure that only the best hands emerged as ministers after what the APC said was a rigorous selection process.
Sordid details emerging from Bayelsa however suggest that the process that produced the present crop of Buhari’s ministers may not have been as thorough and credible as was presented to Nigerians.
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