The candidate of the African democratic congress (ADC) for Bayelsa East senatorial district seat in the forth coming general elections, Chief Nimi Barigha-Amange says his attention has been drawn to media publication by a faceless group alleging that he is being used by the former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to cause political unrest in the Bayelsa state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming general elections.
Describing the publication information as “untrue, unfortunate and devilish”, Chief Nimi Barigha-Amange in a press statement he personally signed and issued to journalists in Yenagoa says after the 4th of October 2018 PDP primaries, he voluntarily withdrew his membership from the party “because of the undemocratic and shameful manner in which the primaries were conducted”, saying that “the PDP should blame itself for handpicking the candidates instead of casting blames on others.”
He described the PDP in the state as “a party already drowning and no one should apportion blames on the former president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who is internationally recognised as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria”.
He therefore enjoined Bayelsans particularly the people of Bayelsa East Senatorial District to disregard the rumour making the round and not to be used by stooges by faceless people in the name of politics. Chief Nimi Barigha-Amange further stated that “Chief Melford Okilo, of blessed memory, was the father of politics in bayelsa state but Dr Goodluck Jonathan is now the political father of the Ijaw nation and should be accorded with the respect and courtesy he deserves.”
The former lawmaker noted that he has “been a close friend to the former president before he became deputy governor in Bayelsa state” and by joining a different political party does not mean he will be severing their friendship because of political interests as he still has love and respect for the former president.
Chief Nimi Barigha-Amange stated that “people should not use the name of the former president to score cheap popularity under the guise of dirty politics”, adding that “those pointing their fingers at others should also know that more fingers are pointing at them”. He further reaffirmed that as a democrat, he expects others to be likewise and stop dissipating their time and energies on issues that do not exist but rather “concentrate on marketing their unmarketable candidates that they have imposed on the people”.
