‘Jonathan Can’t Nominate Bayelsa’s Minister’

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

As tension continued to mount over alleged attempts by former President Goodluck Jonathan to nominate a minister from Bayelsa, the state’s chapter of the Tinubu/Shettima Independent Campaign Council (ICC) has assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the former president would not be allowed to nominate the Bayelsa’s ministerial slot.

The ICC said that it is inconceivable for Jonathan, who is one of the leaders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), to nominate the state’s representative in the incoming cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Its reaction followed the tension generated in the party by virile reports that suggested that Jonathan was making attempts to hijack the Bayelsa’s ministerial slot.

The reports rattled all APC’s stakeholders in the state, including members of the influential APC Elders’ Forum, who vehemently condemned the move.

The ICC, in a statement that was signed yesterday in Yenagoa by its Director, Administration, Mr. Joseph Fafi, appealed to party members, who were angry at the report to calm down.

Fafi, who described President Tinubu as a thorough person who rewards loyalty, insisted that there was no way such injustice and unfairness would be allowed under the current president.

Fafi, a former chairman of APC in Bayelsa, said:  “At this point everyone needs to calm down. Tinubu is a thorough person and is known to always reward loyalty.

“It is inconceivable to think that Jonathan would nominate minister from Bayelsa State. While he is an elder statesman and we accord him that regard, but as drivers of Tinubu’s presidential campaign in Bayelsa State under the leadership of Mr. Preye Aganaba, we know those who supported and those who worked against Tinubu.

“It was open and incontestable. Giving him the right to produce a minister in this government isn’t among the privileges Tinubu is ready to offer Jonathan.”

He said that Tinubu understood that APC Bayelsa was preparing for a major election and would make appointments that would strengthen the party and not empowering any PDP mole.

He said: “For us, Bayelsans, this is not just any year. There’s some significance to the fact that this is an election year. So appointments coming in must be precise and tactical.

“Tinubu knows better than to give the ministerial slot to a PDP mole who would only try to truncate APC’s chances of upstaging the PDP and Governor Douye Diri.

“So, while the rumours come with some flesh, because, obviously a few PDP’s chieftains are scurrying around nocturnally to fly certain persons, who campaigned heavily for Atiku, the rumours in reality will remain what they are: rumours.

“We are optimistic Tinubu will appoint a core, seasoned and well qualified party person who would be a huge positive in our gubernatorial elections come November 11th. We urge our teeming supporters and entire campaign structure in the ICC, members of the APC and Bayelsans in general to relax for the right thing will be done, equity will take center stage.”