10 governorship candidates step down for Sylva

10 governorship candidates have stepped down to declare support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva in the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa state, reports Punch. The candidates of the 10 parties led by the All Progressives Grand Alliance's governorship candidate, Christopher Enai, announced their decision on Thursday when Sylva’s campaign train stormed Ekeremor, the local government area of the Minister of State (Agriculture), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Enai, who spoke on behalf of the ten candidates, said Sylva was the best for the governorship post. He, however, refused to give the names of the other parties’ candidates. Their withdrawal from the race was accepted by the state APC Chairman, Tiwei Orunimighe. Sylva and his entourage were received by a mammoth crowd of APC supporters who had thronged the open field at Ekeremor town as early as 6am. The entire town was agog as party faithful and sympathisers were treated to musical renditions by popular Ijaw musician, Barrister Smooth, just as comedians sent the crowd reeling with laughter. APC flags were hoisted in strategic areas of Ekeremor community. Enai, who refused to give the names of the other parties’ candidates, said Sylva was the best for the governorship post. He said, “My withdrawal is not that I am leaving APGA entirely. I want a situation where we can achieve a new Bayelsa and I believe that the APC can do it. “My supporting the APC is not that I do not have followers in APGA but my reason is that I want to support my brother, Timipre Sylva, because this is the time to face the reality in Bayelsa politics. “I must say that I am in love with the APC. So, I am using this opportunity to call on our people to vote for the real change and for good governance. “Of course, I am not the only candidate defecting, I know them all but I am not in the right position to mention them for publication. Right now, out of the 20 political parties in the race, about 10 have stepped down.” In his remarks, Sylva said it was the birth of a new dawn in Bayelsa and he urged the people to embrace change in order that the state could move to the next level of socio-economic and political development. He promised to abolish hunger if voted into power, adding that Bayelsa State was too blessed for the people to live in penury. The governorship candidate said that his government would not shortchange the people but would run a transparent government. “I will link Sagbama to Ekeremor by road. I want to assure the people of Bayelsa that I will not play ‘419’ because some people are doing ‘419’ with the road. I will truly empower Ekeremor people and all the areas in Bayelsa State,” Sylva said.