APC Chieftain Flays Exclusion of Bayelsans from Ambassadorial List

By John Iwori
 

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Bolous Indiamowei has flayed the exclusion of the indigenes of Bayelsa State in the ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Mohammadu Buhari for confirmation in the National Assembly.

Indiamowei who was at various times, a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives, stated that it was the height of injustice for the people of the oil and gas rich to left of the exercise.

The erstwhile legislator told THISDAY at the weekend that it was wrong for the Buhari’s led Federal Government to have excluded the indigenes of the state among the ambassadorial nominees sent to the upper chamber of the National Assembly for confirmation.

The former lawmaker who represented Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency in the third Assembly wondered why Buhari would chose to deny the people of the state their rightful position in the scheme of things in spite of their contributions to the national economy and the successful election of Buhari in the 2015 presidential elections.

His words: “From my findings, there are at least three indigenes of Bayelsa State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that are qualified to be appointed as ambassadors. Yet, Buhari did not deem it fit to appoint any of them. How can someone be so insensitive to the feelings of the people? It is more baffling to me because in the same list that Bayelsa State did not have a single nominee, some states have three while some have two. Haba! What did the people of Bayelsa State did to deserve this kind of poor treatment from the Buhari administration?”

He expressed dismay that the exclusion of the indigenes of the state in the ambassadorial list to the National Assembly was following a similar pattern of marginalisation and neglect since Buhari took over the reins of administration over a year ago.

According to Indiamowei who was a torn in the flesh of the pioneer Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Heineken October Lokpobiri while members of APC, including their gubernatorial candidates in other states had been given ministerial positions or other juicy posts, their counterparts in Bayelsa State have been neglected.

For instance, the APC flag bearer in Taraba State in the 2015 general election is already a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), just as her counterpart in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside is the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), but this is not the case of the APC gubernatorial candidate in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva.

He vowed that he and his teaming supporters would not stop to speak out against the injustice and marginalisation of the people of the state no matter what it takes to do so.

The former legislator who is known for his vocal positions on key issues on the floor of the National Assembly enjoined Buhari to tow the path of equity, justice and fair play in his administration of the country so as to arrest the growing tension in the country.

He expressed fears that the Buhari’s administration may not get the peace it need to ensure the sustainable development of the country if it continues to treat some parts of the country as outcast.

Indiamowei stated that members of APC in the state are being treated as orphans due to the fact they have not been carried along in the scheme of things since the election of Buhari over a year ago.

“As it is, members of the APC in Bayelsa State are like orphans. You are aware that we are in the opposition in the state. We are not the government in power because we lost the election to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The only place we can turn to is the federal level. Yet, we are not being considered for anything tangible by the government at the centre. We cannot continue like this. That is why we are crying out. Otherwise, some persons will think that because we are members of the ruling APC, all is well”, he added.