A pro APC support group in Bayelsa State, the Bayelsa APC Progressive ,Movement for Good Leadership and Governance has raised the alarm over the anti APC activities of the minister of Petroleum Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri.
The group described Lokpobiri as an APC member in the day and PDP at night, saying that his anti party activities poses great danger to the party especially the upcoming Governorship election in Bayelsa state.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tunibu and signed by the group’s President, Dr. Ebipade Godknows and Secretary, Mrs. Evelyn Dogood and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, noted that few weeks to Governorship election in Bayelsa State there are no visible signs indicating that Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources is working for the success of Chief Timipre Sylva as the Governor of Bayelsa State.
They emphasized that the anti-party activities of Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri can be traced back to 2019 when he wanted the ticket to run for Governorship of Bayelsa State but couldn’t as it was given to Chief David Lyon, adding that since then Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri has been fighting the party with so many litigations.
The letter reads in part: ” ordinarily one would have thought that since he is now holding such a major position as minister of Petroleum (State) he should use his position to better the chances of the party but the reverse is the case as Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri has continued to work with the PDP. The consistent visit to Bayelsa Government House and frequent meetings with Governor Diri says it all, its worrisome and he needs to be called to order.”
The duo said it calls for serious concern that Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri has not attended any stakeholders meeting in the state even at this critical moments of going into elections, as he has not also attended any of our campaigns even when the campaign train went to Ekeremor his Local Government Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri refused to attend but has ample time to meet with Gov. Diri and even facilitate Diri’s visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The leadership of the group stated that it is worrisome that Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri’s core supporters in Bayelsa State are openly campaigning for the PDP and their candidates for the November 11, 2023 election, adding that this poses a great danger for the APC in Bayelsa state and want Mr. President and the National Party Chairman of the APC to quickly intervene and call Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri to order.
The group also noted that it has it on good authority that Gov. Diri and Sen. Lokpobiri have an agreement that he Diri will hand over power to Sen. Lokpobiri should he wins the election for his second tenue, stating that this might be one of the mean reasons Sen. Heineken is engaging in anti-party activities.
The President and Secretary pointed out that the letter is written in good faith because as committed members of the APC , they want the party to occupy the Bayelsa State Government House this time around.