APC chieftain rejects claims linking Bayelsa Speaker to militants

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

An APC chieftain in Bayelsa State, Chief Tari Emberru, has rejected allegations linking the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abraham Ingobere, to arrested sea pirates and militants, describing the claims as politically motivated.

Emberru, who hails from Brass Local Government Area, said the allegation was a deliberate attempt to damage the speaker’s reputation and discredit him politically.

He made the statement in a response titled “When Silence Becomes Betrayal”, following a Facebook post alleging that Ingobere had links with criminal elements.

Describing the claim as a “joke taken too far”, Emberru said the publication was “cheap, vexatious, infantile and shameful”, and bore the hallmarks of political blackmail.

He alleged that unidentified individuals were behind the campaign and were seeking financial benefits by maligning the speaker.

Emberru, a Chief of Buoama in Akassa, said the matter was particularly troubling because the allegation was made in the Akassa dialect.

He also dismissed the video circulated alongside the allegation, accusing its promoters of attempting to manipulate a criminal suspect into making statements capable of implicating the speaker.

“Political times are here, and unpopular political merchants who know they cannot win elections through the ballot are seeking ignorant people to do their dirty work,” he said.

According to him, the alleged campaign was aimed at smearing and vilifying political opponents rather than addressing any genuine concerns.

Emberru defended Ingobere’s record, describing him as an upright leader, capacity builder, community developer and mentor who had consistently discharged his responsibilities.

He appealed to the Akassa people, whom he referred to as “Akaha Ibe”, not to stand by while individuals allegedly attempted to damage the reputation of one of their own.

“Silence would become betrayal if we do not condemn these acts of criminality, not necessarily in the media space, but everywhere we find ourselves,” he said.

The APC chieftain also warned Akassa indigenes against allowing themselves to be used by political actors to attack fellow members of the community.

“Silence becomes betrayal when you, as an Akassa person, join hands with political jobbers and faceless individuals to destroy your own and dim your light,” he said.

Emberru urged the people to reject actions capable of deepening divisions within the community and undermining its collective interests.

He said the allegations should concern everyone because similar tactics could be deployed against other individuals.

“Today, it is our speaker; tomorrow, it might be you or me,” he said.

He called on the Akassa people to reject the alleged campaign and avoid actions that could divide the community or hinder its progress.