Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
A support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership and Accountability, (PRIGLA) on Tuesday received some 200 members of other political parties who pledged to support the party in the Nov 11 governorship poll in Bayelsa.
The decampees included those who claimed to be moving from Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, Action People’s Party, Zenith Party and the African Democratic Congress.
The decampees comprised former candidates, aspirants and their supporters from various political parties who participated in the last National Assembly and State Assembly elections in the state.
The defectors who are mainly from the Peoples Democratic party said they identified the remarkable efforts of the support group, PRIGLA in propagating the ideals of the APC in Bayelsa hence their choice to identify with the group.
Speaking on behalf of defectors, a Senatorial candidate under the African Democratic Congress, Mr Fuludu Vincent said they decided to join the APC because the party has better programmes and policies for the people than the ruling Peoples Democratic party in the state.
Vincent explained that the APC gubernatorial candidate has a better track record of performance during his tenure as the former governor of Bayelsa.
He said that under Sylva as former governor Bayelsa people were empowered with contracts and most rural areas of the state experienced development.
He added that the state under the leadership of Gov Douye Diri has not experienced development commensurate with the amount of funds that have accrued to the state from the federation account.
He, therefore, appealed to all who mean well to Bayelsans to try to queue behind Chief Timipre Sylva.
He further added that” the present administration in the state lacks ideas on how to govern the state, little wonder Bayelsa is listed as one of the least performing states in terms of development compared to the amount of funds received.
“Little wonder IPAC in its independent assessment has come out to voice its displeasure at the slow pace of development in the state resulting in poverty, business leaving the state in droves and the astronomical fall in the internally generated revenue”, Vincent.
Receiving the decampees, a chieftain of APC and founder of the PRIGLA, Pastor Reuben Wilson commended the defectors for the right decision to pitch a tent with the APC in the state.
According to Wilson, the party’s candidate has been tried, tested and trusted as a former governor and a former Minister where he showed capacity and competence to deliver development to the people.
He noted that the APC will give them every privilege and rights that they deserve as members, advising them to be steadfast, and committed to the success of the party.
“People are realising every day that the APC represents a credible alternative to the PDP in Bayelsa state, knowing that the PDP has failed in all ramifications.
“They have failed to bring development to Bayelsa state. They have succeeded to impoverish the people; they have succeeded in enthroning bad governance to the people of Bayelsa state.
“The PDP lacks the capacity to enthrone good governance. That’s why the people of Bayelsa state are defecting day-by-day to the APC,” Wilson said. Wilson explained that APC has a credible candidate in Sylva with grassroots support that would occupy Creek Haven come November 11, 2023, adding that they will be adequately rewarded.