Angry APC members attack Bayelsa chairman

There appears to be cracks in the All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa
State chapter, as some angry members have launched verbal attacks on
the APC state Chairman, Mr. Tiwe Orunimighe, over his leadership
style.The angry members, under the auspices of Third Force, have
accused the chairman of being highhanded, autocratic, disrespectful
and divisive.They also accused him of spending N7.2m brought for the
inauguration of state executive council without the approval of the
exco members.Third Force, led by Michael Oyanimighan and said to be
sympathetic to the shortchanged Senatorial Vice-Chairman elect for
Bayelsa Central,
Mr. Joseph Fafi, contended that Orunimighe's leadership was creating
division in the party.The group said, "Tiwe Orunimighe is highhanded,
autocratic and disrespectful. His actions have succeeded in dividing
the APC family in Bayelsa State."Also, the APC state chairman
vehemently refused to swear in the party's senatorial vice-chairman
elect for Bayelsa Central, Mr. Joseph Fafi. In his stead, one Falla
was sworn in. This action is unacceptable and undemocratic. It is
against the provisions of APC Constitution."Article 21 (11) of the
constitution specifically states that anybody that tampers with
delegate list, election result, nomination of party officers will be
expelled and prosecuted."They also accused Orunimighe of shutting down
the state's secretariat, saying the action was taken without recourse
to staff and party members. "It is curious that Orunimighe locked up
and took the keys of the state secretariat. Also, the N7.2m brought
for inauguration of state executive council was spent without the
approval of the Exco," they alleged.They also took a swipe at the
leader of the party and former Governor Timipre Sylva, saying Sylva
had been leading the party from outside, using his cronies to cause
confusion.But Orunimighe fired back at his critics, saying they were
ingrates and bad eggs of the APC.He said, "Apart from former Governor
Timipre Sylva that has given us money, I spent my own money for so
many things. Where is the highhandedness coming from? All things done
in that party are done according to national directives."They are
miscreants who want to spoil a purposeful and alternative party for
Bayelsans. We have suffered lack of purposeful leadership because of
the Peoples Democratic Party monopoly. Look at the so-called members,
what are their political antecedents and integrity? They are
politicians who think they will take the party to pay their rents and
feed themselves."In his comment, Secretary of APC in Bayelsa, Mr.
Marlin Daniel, said the aggrieved members were renegades who were
uncomfortable that they could not manipulate the APC leadership.

PUNCH