Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has apologised to President Muhammadu Buhari, over what he described as avoidable disruption to the President’s busy schedule, caused by events of the moment.
President Muhammadu Buhari was expected to be in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital last Friday, 14th February 2020 for the commissioning of the 17 storey headquarters of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB.
The President was also expected to witness the inauguration of the APC Governorship candidate, David Lyon, as Governor of Bayelsa State on the same date.
But the Supreme Court on Thursday sacked the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, and his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, over certificate forgery, while ordering INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to the party that secured the second highest number of votes and got the required constitutional spread
The development scuttled the President’s visit to Bayelsa State, and the commissioning of NCDMB’s new headquarters was postponed sine die.
But the Minister in a statement personally signed by him, extended his profound apology to the President on the disruption of his schedule, described the political development as temporary setback.
“Also of great importance to me is to extend my profound apology to our President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, over the avoidable disruption to his busy schedule which was caused by the events of the moment.
“I am aware that Mr. President and his lovely wife Her Excellency Aisha Buhari had concluded arrangements to travel to Bayelsa to witness the inauguration of the APC Governorship candidate as Governor of Bayelsa State.
“I therefore extend my apology to Mr. President and members of his entourage.”
The Minister also called on the people of Bayelsa state to exercise restraint and shun all acts of violence and lawlessness, which has characterised the state in the last few days.
He assured that the people of Bayelsa that the APC mandate in the state will be restored and that dream of a better, greater Bayelsa State will be actualized
“To the good people of Bayelsa state, I would like to emphasize the need for restraint at all times. No doubt the events of the last few days are as provocative as they are regrettable.
“But however tempting it might be for anyone to take the law into their hands, such temptation must be resisted in the greater interest of our state and the political stability of the country at large.
“The leadership of our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC) has directed its team of legal experts to study the situation critically and proffer legal options available to the party accordingly. We should therefore all remain faithful to, and have confidence in, the wisdom and ability of the party leadership to provide direction at this very sensitive time.
“Once again I call on all people of Bayelsa state irrespective of whatever differences there may be to eschew violence and respect the security measures put in place by appropriate authorities.
“Let me conclude by assuring Mr. President and our party hierarchy that despite this temporary setback, APC in Bayelsa remains strong and its members resolute in our support for the ideals of a greater and prosperous Nigeria as envisioned by our President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari.”
