Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
A support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa has pledged to work to ensure that the party retains power at the Presidential and Governorship elections in 2023.The group known as Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership and Accountability made the promise during the inauguration of its office in Yenagoa on Tuesday.The group said its leadership and members would leverage on the acceptability of the party to reclaim the mandate the APC during the last governorship poll in Bayelsa which was nullified by the supreme court.Reuben Wilson, an APC stalwart who initiated the group while speaking to party loyalists at the event noted that there was need for unity amongst party followers to ensure the party bounces back to its winning ways in 2023 polls.According to him, the political pressure group is formed with the mission to cross fertilise ideas to achieve the expected goal of reclaiming power in Bayelsa and retain the Presidential seat come 2023.“My mission is for the masses, my mission is to ensure that APC reclaim its lost mandate in Bayelsa, my mission is to retain power at the centre, my mission is to bring Bayelsans together to enthrone development,” he said.Wilson urged members to be united, work as one big family and do away with all tendencies that cause division.He emphasised that the group will only work for candidates at the national and state levels that will put the welfare and development of the members at heart.“As the 2023 elections draw close, we should only work for those who have the development of Bayelsa at heart, who can develop the state.“Someone who takes over power at the centre and will think about us and make our wellbeing and welfare a priority. That is the kind of person we will support.“Remember what happened, we won an election in Bayelsa, APC won the polls convincingly and it was taken from us, so we need to unite and work to take back what belongs us,” Wilson said.He urged members of the group to go from door to door, house to house to woo back disappointed members of the APC to work collectively to take back the mandate the party lost during the last governorship election in the state.Also speaking, a former Commissioner of Environment Mr.Alamene Williams said the inauguration of the office of the group will serve as a link between all members of the APC in the state.He observed that mobilising support from the electorates would be smooth because there are no political camps in the APC as members belong to one big family.Williams commended members for their steadfastness, trust, loyalty and for having faith in the leadership of the initiator of the group, who he said is a man of truth, accountability, love and who exhibits good leadership qualities.Representatives of APC supporters from different wards in Bayelsa who took turns to speak thanked Pastor Reuben for the initiative, adding that the move will ensure unity and togetherness in the APC.They urged aggrieved members to set aside their grievances to come together to build the party and work to ensure that the APC reclaim its lost mandate through the back door.They all described Wilson as a leaders who loves and give listening ears to his followers.