A report from The Guardian suggests that a new crisis may be brewing in the Bayelsa State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC). The report reveals that Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), has reconciled the state’s Governor, Douye Diri, with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. It appears that Wike and Diri had a falling out after the last presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Concerned APC Stakeholders (CAPCS), a political organization within the APC, Lokpobiri was able to settle the rift between Diri and Wike using his close relationship with Wike. Lokpobiri convinced Wike to forgive Diri for not supporting him during the intra-party election of the party, which resulted in the selection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the PDP ahead of the 2023 election.
CAPCS further explains that Lokpobiri’s intervention and reconciliation of the two politicians is a part of his strategy to garner support for the re-election of Diri in the November 11 governorship election.
CAPCS said the action was meant to ensure that the APC’s candidate didn’t emerge victorious in the poll.
Diri was reported to have incurred the wrath of Wike as the Bayelsa governor abandoned him and supported Atiku in the PDP presidential primary.
It was learned that Wike was livid because despite the heavy funds he released to the Bayelsa State delegates through Diri, the governor swayed and persuaded them to vote for Atiku.
A statement by the coordinators of CAPCS, Nimi Benigha-Amange, and Kopiamu Arikibai, said Wike, who is still unpleasant with Diri, had resolved to back the candidate of APC, Timipre Sylva before he was persuaded to forgive and throw his weight behind the incumbent governor by the oil minister.
The statement reads: “In furtherance of his intention to frustrate the election of Sylva, the minister has brought Wike and Diri together in reconciliation. Although Wike does not have any political influence in Bayelsa other than his relationship with Lokpobiri, he can provide funds for any side he favors to win the election.”