By Edith Ike-Eboh/Deji Abdulwahab

Abuja, Feb. 16, 2020

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha had concluded arrangements to attend the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the November 16, 2019 election in the state, Chief David Lyon, before the Supreme Court judgement that sacked him on the eve of D-day.

Lyon had earlier been declared governor-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and was reportedly at the stadium rehearsing how he would be sworn-in the next day when the Supreme Court’s bombshell landed.

Chief Sylva, in a statement he signed and released in Abuja on Sunday, calling on the people of Bayelsa to remain calm, apologized to President Buhari and his wife for the disruption of their travel plans.

He said: “of great importance to me is to extend my profound apology to our President, Muhammadu Buhari, 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 wife 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.”

He urged the people of Bayelsa to shun all acts of violence and lawlessness and show restraint at all times, adding that the events of the last few days were provocative and regrettable.

“But however tempting it might be for anyone to take the law into ones 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,” he noted.

He urged the people of Bayelsa to remain faithful 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 President Buhari,” he added.

Meanwhile, the APC has confirmed that it has written to the INEC demanding a fresh governorship election in Bayelsa.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said this at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja.

Nabena said that the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, made the request for fresh election in a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu titled: “Judgement in Appeal No: SC.1/2020 between Peoples Democratic Party and APC”.

According to him, “The party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole while affirming the supremacy of the Apex Court, forwarded a letter to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu titled: Judgement in Appeal No: SC.1/2020 between Peoples Democratic Party and APC, requesting for conduct of fresh governorship election in Bayelsa.”

The APC chieftain demanded that the rule of law must be adhered to, in the case of the Bayelsa governorship election.

“When the Supreme Court decided against the PDP on the Imo governorship poll, the party in protest by its National Chairman, Uche Secondus, went around the European Union, UK and US embassies wailing that ‘Nigeria’s democracy is under threat.

“What has suddenly changed in the case of the Bayelsa governorship election?

“This only goes to show that these foreign concerns and all Nigerians must be wary of the politics and insincere antics of the PDP.

“The contention on the Bayelsa governorship is far from over. We are all aware of the NYSC certificate forgery case of the Bayelsa deputy governor, Sen. Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo.

“And the decision of the APC National leadership to continue to pursue all legal avenues to contest INEC’s decision to declare Duoye Diri as Bayelsa Governor, having failed to meet the mandatory constitutional requirement to become the governor,” he said

He urged all lovers of democracy to ensure that the rule of law was adhered to, not only in the case of Bayelsa but in all matters.

According to him, democracy is a game of numbers and the majority must have their way.