The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has sent a letter to the IGP, accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of masterminding the violence that led to the death of two people in Twon Brass Island of Brass Local Government Council Area.
The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has sent a letter to Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police, accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of masterminding the violence that led to the death of two people in Twon Brass Island of Brass Local Government Council Area.
The Twon Brass Area of Brass Constituency 1 is the only area with an APC State House of Assembly member, Honourable Israel Sunny-Goli.
The APC also accused the PDP-led administration in the state of intimidation and unlawful arrests.
The member representing Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Sunny-Goli, alleged that the violence was initiated by the PDP through the acting Chairman, Honourable Victor Isaiah, to chase out opposition members from Brass Local Government Area.
The APC, through its spokesman, Doifie Buokoribo Ola, restated that what happened on Monday August 20, 2018, in Twon-Brass was a show of shame, alleging two APC members, Kelly Ikurusi and Peter George, were killed by mercenaries that unleashed terror on the community.
According to the APC, the incident left three others, Oputongha Pogo, Moses Blacky and Toinpre Sorboi, in critical conditions.
Buokoribo called on "the Federal Government and all meaningful security agencies to advise the PDP-led administration not to play politics with human lives, but rather canvass voters with goodwill, [rather] than hoodwink with force", stating that “If not, we will vehemently resist these heinous crimes being perpetuated against our party members”.
Narrating his version of what happened, Sunny-Goli said: “I did not win my mandate through the barrel of the gun. I won without killing a soul. It is on record that APC won in Brass without violence.
"We have had many Local Government Chairmen, but the present caretaker chairman of the Council was appointed by Governor Dickson with the mandate to chase away APC members. The youths had internal issues in the community and it degenerated into the PDP bringing thugs into the community to kill people.
"The chiefs of Brass Community had settled the matter and allowed those chased out to come back. But the PDP imported thugs and gunmen from Odioma community and boys belonging to an ex-militant, Africa Ukparisia, to Imbikiri area of the town. The brass boys went to seek explanation on why strange faces and thugs entered the town, and they opened fire on them.
"All they are doing is to intimidate APC supporters. But with these attacks and intimidation, the boys are more determined. The few PDP members are now afraid and have deserted the town."
Sunny-Goli went on to announce that he would put his declaration to contest for the seat of Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency of the State on hold.
However, Owei Benjamin, a member of the PDP from Brass Local Government Area Council, disagreed with the position of the APC, insisting that "It has been established that armed youths loyal to the opposition APC in their tens, invaded the chairman's official lodge in an attempt to harm him. But little did they know that the chairman wasn't around. However, they were resisted by members of the Brass LGA volunteers.”