The Bayelsa chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed divergent views on the views of Edwin Clark group on elections.
While Bayelsa APC on Thursday criticised the Edwin Clark led Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum for being partisan in comments on elections, the PDP said the criticism was disrespectful.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum had issued a statement entitled, “On Danger Signals from Rivers and Other States.” alleging that APC leaders, Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva were behind electoral violence in Rivers and Bayelsa.
The statement was signed by Chief E.K. Clark (PANDEF Leader); Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere Leader); Chief John Nwodo (President General, Ohaneze); and Dr Pogu Bitrus (President, Middle Belt Forumt)
The groups said: “There has been a spillover of the Rivers situation to Bayelsa State where Mr Timpire Sylva of the ruling APC has also been alleged to be terrorising residents with impunity.
“We call on the President to call Messrs Amaechi and Sylva to order and restore normalcy so that the electoral process in Rivers State in particular can be concluded.
“Indeed, if we are a Republic governed by law, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and Mr Timpire Sylva should have been arrested by now for the wanton violence they have instigated.’’
However, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, Publicity Secretary of Bayelsa APC, observed that the group seemingly expressed concern over the statement, noting that it was laced with malice and prejudice.
Buokoribo said the APC finds the statement offensive, unwarranted, disgraceful and partisan.
“Like most Nigerians, we know it as a matter of fact that these are partisan elders on the side of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“During the Presidential Elections, this group openly supported and campaigned for the defeated PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“These elders do not represent the interests of the ethnic nations they purport to speak for. They are only representing their pockets. And they have since made clear who is lining their pockets.
“In the specific case of Bayelsa State, if anyone needs to be called to question concerning the elections, that person is Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.
“The governor and his party, the PDP, were the ones that unleashed war and terror on our suffering people. And they were the ones spreading fake news to incite violence and try to cover up their evil activities.
“They were so wild and uncontrolled that even the military had to issue a statement a few days ago to call Dickson and the PDP to order.
“That statement was widely publicised by the local, national, and international news channels. It is surprising that the forum did not read such a crucial statement before reaching the conclusions in their statement.
“They just decided to pick and choose those to slander. But the thinking public knows Sylva is an innocent man. He is a man of peace,” Buokoribo stated.
The APC wondered why the elders failed to reach out to Sylva and hear from him on the allegations before releasing their statement.
Buokoribo noted that the principle of fair hearing was because the APC leader had only “been alleged” to do the things they referred to in the statement.
He further stated that those making the allegation were known partisan participants in the said political contests.
“But, alas, the elders have been so compromised that they are determined to deny their target even the right of fair hearing.
“With elders like Clark and his group, it is not surprising that our communal governance structures have become comatose.
“The earlier responsible people in the region begin to dissociate themselves from the group’s divisive prejudices, the better for the South and Nigeria,” the APC stated.
However Bayelsa PDP described the response by APC as despicable display of disrespect for the person of Ijaw National Leader, Pa Edwin Clark and other elder statesmen and leaders in the South South and Middle Belt.
The State Secretary òf the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, berated the State Publicity Secretary òf the APC for casting aspersions on the integrity of Pa Clark and other leaders in the South South and Middle Belt.
He said that APC was attacking the group for saying the truth about the election+related violence in Rivers and Bayelsa.
Keku said that it was as immoral as it is sickening for a son of the South South to make such a disparaging remark about the elders and leaders of his people for saying the truth about issues of grave concern to them.
The PDP said the people of Bayelsa rejected the APC with the PDP clinching 17 out of the 21 declared results of the 24 Member House òf Assembly seats while APC got only four.
Keku added that the PDP would retrieve the four seat erroneously announced for the APC at the tribunal as the APC lacks the capacity to win a seat in the House òf Assembly in a free and fair contest.
The PDP Scribe called on the APC leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, and his remnant òf supporters to immediately tender an unresolved apology to the Ijaw Nation, the Niger Delta, the South South and the Middle Belt.
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