Some concerned stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have described the recent suspension of the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, over allegations of anti-party activities as not only untrue but illegal and unconstitutional. In a statement signed by Stanley Bolou-Ebi and Mercy Ineye on behalf of the Coalition of Concerned APC Stakeholders, the group insisted that the Ekeremor council Chairman of APC, Mr. Mitin Eniekenemi, who issued the suspension notice was sacked a year ago by the decision of a Federal High Court in Bayelsa State.
Explaining further the concerned stakeholders said that Mr. Eniekenemi, whose tenure has since elapsed and dissolved, has no locus standi to suspend the Minister, as Lokpobiri is of Ward 8 while Mr Mitin is of Ward 10 both in Ekeremor LGA.
They further argued that the power of suspension of a party member found wanting on allegations is vested on the party’s ward executive and not on the LGA executive as Mr Eniekenemi is only an impersonator.
The statement read “first, Mr. Eniekenemi Senator Mitin has no locus standi in the APC to suspend an incumbent Minister Heineken Lokpobiri and others, as the said Mitin is no longer the Chairman of APC in Ekeremor Local Government Area where the Minister hails from.
“Secondly, the APC constitution is clear on disciplinary procedures on who has powers to suspend a member based on allegations of anti-party claims as orchestrated by the said Mr Eniekenemi Senator Mitin.
“For the avoidance of doubt let it be stated that the power of suspension of a party member found wanting on allegations, is vested on the party’s ward executive and not on the LGA executive as Mr Eniekenemi Mitin is only an impersonator and therefore lacks such powers to suspend an incumbent Minister who is not of the same ward as himself.
“Minister Heineken Lokpobiri is of Ward 8 while Mr Mitin is of Ward 10 both in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State and therefore a member who is not a ward executive cannot suspend another member from a different ward” the group cited.
They averred that this jaundiced move by Mr Eniekenemi and his co-sponsors, within and outside the APC, was to create an atmosphere of mischief and discord within the APC in Bayelsa State.
They also alleged that the move is targeted at tarnishing the good image of the Minister so as to give the impression to the presidency and party’s national leadership, that Minister Lokpobiri, who is the leader of the party in Bayelsa State, as the current highest ranking officer of the party, is not capable of handling the party affairs ahead of state and national congresses to elect new executives.
“We therefore state categorically & unequivocally that we the critical stakeholders of APC in Bayelsa State and FCT, are the grassroots champions of the party and our loyalty is firmly rooted on the serving Minister Lokpobiri of Petroleum of State (Oil) as we believe he is more than able to take the party to the next level in Bayelsa and at the national.
“We therefore pass a vote of confidence on Minister Heineken Lokpobiri as the leader of APC in Bayelsa State as we call on him to remain focused and committed to the cause of implementing Mr President’s reforms in the Petroleum (oil) Sector so as to better the economic fortunes of Nigerians.”
According to the group “The incumbent Minister Lokpobiri is on track and has our full support as grassroots stakeholders of the party.
“We call on him to remain focused and not be distracted by a disgruntled former APC Executive who is no match to knot his shoe lace.
“We call on the party’s national leadership to set up an adhoc disciplinary committee to investigate Mr Eniekenemi Mitin and his co-sponsors and bring them to book for stirring the hornet’s nest at this suspicious time.
They also added that, “The aim of Mr Mitin was to cause mischief and incite the public against a Minister who is working hard to implement the economic reforms of Mr President in changing the narrative in the oil sector in positive direction.”
The APC critical stakeholders also observed with dismay, that there were misnomers in the press release by Mr Eniekenemi Mitin who claimed that a disciplinary committee was set up since 2020, four years ago, to try the alleged offenders for anti-party activities of gross misconduct.
“We state that such claims of an adhoc disciplinary committee was never set up before the abrupt termination of the Mitin-led Local Government Executive in January last year by a High Court ruling.
“We therefore state that the actions of Mr. Eniekenemi Mitin is criminal and tantamount to cyber stalking, defamation of character, and impersonation, likely to cause a breach of public peace within and outside the party and must be resisted by every well-meaning stakeholder in the APC.
“We insist that the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa Command should swifty investigate the actions of the said Mr. Mitin with a view to bringing him as culprit to book,” the group reiterated.
