Setback for Sylva as key loyalists withdrew support for Guber ambition
We are not perturbed, says APC Chairman
….he has no structure to defeat Diri-Hon. Sunny-Goli
There seem no end in sight to the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State as Hon Israel Sunny-Goli, a chieftain of the party and core loyalist of Chief Timipre Sylva, candidate of the party in the forthcoming governorship election has quit his campaign train.
Sunny-Goli, the immediate past member representing Nembe-Brass federal constituency, at a news conference on Thursday in Yenagoa, said the former Petroleum Resources Minister, his principal of over 20 years has no structure to defeat Governor Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He said the reason for quitting Sylva campaign train was due to his lack of capacity to win election.
Hon. Sunny-Goli, who displayed a Governorship race chat, with incumbent,Gov. Douye Diri exectwd to emerge victorious in the Eight local Government areas of the State during the forthcoming governorship elections, said the former Minister of State for Resources Chief Timipre Sylva has taken his loyalty of over 20 years for granted and as such he cannot continue to support him.
He said though there are other members of the party that will support Timipre Sylvia, “but because my interest is not in him I pulled out and it doesn’t mean the party will not conduct election , so that tomorrow people will not take loyalty and support for granted.”
‘I have told you earlier on that timipre Sylvia is taking my loyalty for granted and support for over 20 something years and undermining me. I have mentioned here during my presentation that myself and supporters across the State we have decided on who to support when it comes to the governorship election come Nov.11, 2023 and we will know who we will support and in the appropriate time we will let you know where we are going to put our vote.”
“So don’t put on and as a politician have looked at the state and how the parties are preparing and it is my right to also say how I feel and I have told you as it stands if INEC is to conduct election, Gov. Douye Diri will win all the Eight local government areas landslide. And am giving you a graphic position so wait for me to tell you who I will support come November election”.
Hon. Sunny-Goli, who was accompanied to the media interactive session by scores of traditional chief and thousands of supporters, dismissed the claims that he will defer to the rulling People’s Democratic party (PDP) in the State, insisting that he remains a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
” Uptill date, I am still a member of the Apc. You know we just elected our President,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and am proud to be among those that supported him to succeed.On the occasion of having issues with my principal, Chief Timipre Sylvia, these are issues that bother on taking my loyalty for more than 20years for granted, I have discuss with my supporters across the state ,have told them my reasons and they have accepted”
“Also i have my right to support whosoever I want to support when election comes, it is a tough decision because for you to leave a place where you have stayed over 20years is not easy but for some obvious reasons I have to take a decision for some people to know that my loyalty and support should not be taken for granted for whatever reason , so am quitting the campaign of Timipre Sylvia becoming the governor of bayelsa state come November 11 and at the appropriate time the world will know where we are going to support. Myself and my supporters “.
‘Ihave looked at all the parties and all the candidates and campaign to win the hands of bayelsa and am also convinced that as it stands Timipre Sylvia does not have the political structure of bayelsa state to win douye diri come Nov 11,2023.”
“The governorship election is not a child play is something you will work years to achieve, you don’t use 3 months is not possible by any political calculation and if inec were to conduct election today I tell you douye diri will win with victory not just the 8 local government area but with landslide.”
“We are all politicians we know what it means to win election, so today am also giving a possession against November 11 and I reassure to all the leaders, men and women here, I will do well also to ensure that on monthly bases I will review on whatever am doing today.”
*Anybody can counter me but as a politician and one that have been involved for over three decades, I know what it takes to win election. , I will be giving you update and reviews of this presentation and by next month on the 10th of next month I will still call you and look at it again where a candidate stand until Nov 11 where a governor elect will be declared”
.”You don’t take things for granted, if you want to win election you must talk to your people , douye diri is trying his best, he has brought peace back to the state ,APC man will bring thug unlike when gov dickson was here ,I can attest to that there was a victim of attacks and other attacks but that is not the case there is serenity and peace amongst our people.”
“I want to thank you for creating the time to come and listen to this on what I have said today that the Apc does not have the structure to win Douye Diri today and I wonder what he can do in this three months , it is practically impossible, is not possible to over power what somebody has done over the years.”
While reacting to the comments made by the former lawmaker, State Chairman of the APC Dr Dennis Otiotio alleged that the state governor Senator Douye Diri is using billions of tax payers’ money to lure members of his party..
*He is promising them appointments spending billions”.
Otiotio further noted that the lawmaker lost his elections in the wards that make up his Constituency , adding that the party is not perturbed by the position taken by the former lawmaker.
He expressed confidence that the APC will emerged victorious in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
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