The South South coordinator of The Asiwaju Group, Pastor Reuben Wilson, has pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to take urgent steps to ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.
He said few weeks to the November 11 governorship poll, he has absolute confidence in the ability of Timipre Sylva to win the election given his campaign manifesto.
Wilson, who is also the founder of the Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership and Accountability, said it was worrisome that party leaders from the State, especially those in high political offices, were not showing signs of support for Sylva.
“The Asiwaju Group and the Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership and Accountability actively participated in your electoral victory by massively mobilizing voters in the South-South Zone to give you the minimum constitutional requirement of 25% votes in each of the Six (6) South-South States, that hitherto, were the strongholds of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“Your Excellency, Sir,I used my personal funds to sponsor the campaign activities of The Asiwaju Group (TAG) and the Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership and Accountability (PRIFGLA) in the South-South Zone for your presidential election and our efforts greatly reflected in the votes you eventually got from the South-South States that helped you fulfill the constitutional requirements for you to be elected President,” Wilson wrote in an open letter he sent to the President on Monday.
Noting his readiness to continue to work for the party at all levels, including the 2027 presidential election, if Tinubu decides to re-contest, Wilson said there were danger signals ahead of the election and said it was necessary for the president to intervene urgently.
He said: “I promise that I will even do better in 2027, if you decide to contest for a second term in office. However, I’m deeply worried that the All Progressives Congress (APC) might lose the forthcoming Bayelsa State gubernatorial election scheduled for 11th of November,2023, if you don’t quickly intervene and prevail on the National secretariat of the party to do the needful by mobilizing all party stalwarts from Bayelsa State , especially appointees of your government, to be loyal to the party’s interest and work committed for the success of the party in the election.
“At the moment such dedication and commitment isn’t seen from some of your appointees and some other party stalwarts from the state. Therefore, I wish to most humbly request that you prevail on such persons, especially, Sen.(Dr) Heineken Lokpobiri, Hon.Minister of State (Petroleum ) to be more committed to the activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“He is at the moment not showing enough commitment and support for the party in the state. He is also not relating properly with the party faithfuls in the state. His activities are mostly centered around his friends and associates that have dumped the party and decamped to the People’s Democratic Party in the State.
“The chances of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, His Excellency , Chief Timipre M.Sylva to win are very high based on the popularity of his campaign manifesto and his track record of better performance, compared to the incumbent Governor. I’m very sure about our victory but recent developments portend grave negative signals against our anticipated victory, if not quickly addressed , hence, this open letter to your Excellency, Sir.”
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He also decried the appointment of people who were not supportive of the President during the election, saying it was imperative for the APC national leader to consider rewarding those who worked genuinely for his successes, even as he commended the appointments of the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu, and that of the NDDC MD, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.
According to him: “Most of your loyal supporters in the South -South Zone, who faithfully and tirelessly worked for your electoral victory aren’t happy with some of your appointments because some of your appointees from the South -South Zone didn’t work for you in the last presidential election but got appointed and are enjoying your government at the expense of your very dedicated, loyal and committed supporters.
“I’m therefore, pleading with you to consider such dedicated supporters for appointment into various critical offices in your government, as it’s only such people that can truly fight for the party and your interest at all times.”