Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Lokpobiri denies buying ministerial position from Sylva

By Julius Osahon, Yenagoa
05 April 2016   |   12:09 am
Minister of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has denied claims by a faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa that accused him of buying...

LOKPOBIRI

Minister of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has denied claims by a faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa that accused him of buying the ministerial slot meant for the state from former Governor, Timipre Sylva.

The former senator who left the fold of the People Democratic Party (PDP) immediately he lost the ticket to return to the senate in 2015 in controversial circumstances, declared that he did not pay for the ministerial slot in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The suspended chairman of the Bayelsa chapter of the APC, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe had in his attack on the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Timipre Sylva called for the resignation of Lokpobiri claiming he bought the slot from Sylva.

But the minister, in a statement issued yesterday via email and signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Mr Donald Ojogo, stated that the crisis within the Bayelsa the APC was been “orchestrated by an insignificant few within the party and oiled by some external forces who feel threatened about their political future, especially as the APC challenges the outcome of the last governorship election at the Election Petition Tribunal”

According to Lokpobiri he was found worthy for the position and he was appointed, adding that he did not need to pay anybody.
He also dismissed Orunimighe comments that he did not believe in the APC, stating that he has been an avid supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari since 2003.

The statement read in part :“The Hon Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri never got his appointment on the platter of financial negotiations as expressly insinuated by the suspended State chairman of the APC in Bayelsa State, Chief Tiwei Oruminigha and his cohorts. Like other appointees of Mr President, Senator Lokpobiri was duly considered worthy to be so appointed in his position.

0 Comments