2nd July, 2015
Former Bayelsa Governor, Timipre Sylva on Wednesday in Abuja expressed optimism that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the November elections in the state.
Sylva said this while briefing newsmen after he led a 16-man delegation of Bayelsa elders on a courtesy visit to the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
“I am not sure of contesting for the governorship but I am optimistic that the APC will be victorious in the upcoming gubernatorial election,” he said.
NAN recalls that before Sylva decamped to APC, he was governor of Bayelsa from 2007 to 2011 on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He was, however, ousted by Gov. Seriake Dickson, also of PDP after serving a single term.
“My role is to make sure that APC wins the governorship in Bayelsa. APC is going to win, that we are very sure about,” Sylva said.
He dismissed rumour of division in the Bayelsa chapter of the APC, saying that any reported rancour was sponsored by the incumbent administration in the state.
“It is the people who are not even members of the party that are making some noise. The party is intact; everybody is intact in the party, we don’t even want to discuss them.
“There’s going to be a tsunami rally in the course of the next few weeks, Bayelsa is the next big thing that will happen in the history of this great party,” he said.
The APC Chairman, while receiving the delegation, assured the group that he would lead other national leaders to the rally, planned to receive defectors from other parties into the APC.
“We will give you every support that we consider necessary; as many of us as possible will be there physically with you on that great day.
“It will be a historic day that will change the destiny of Bayelsa and governance,” the chairman said.
Odigie-Oyegun said Bayelsa was in need of rescue and he was glad that the elders were spearheading the move. “The leadership of the APC is very glad that people of your calibre have seen how our nation was decimated in every facet.
“The economy in particular is decimated to the point that it is almost impossible for the presidency to meet its obligation. After hibernating with them for so long, you have decided that Bayelsa is in need of rescue, so you are most heartily welcome into the fold of the progressives.
“You only need to look at the APC states to see what transformation truly means in Sokoto, Kano, Oyo and Edo. By the end of the exercise, we hope to add Bayelsa to the list of the progressives’ family,” he said.
Senator John Braimbaifa, who led the delegation, said sensitisation was going on in the eight local government areas in the state as the massive rally was being planned to welcome defectors into the party.