BREAKING NEWS: I have never betrayed Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri- Hon. Wilson Ayakpo
HON. WILSON AYAKPO DAUYEGHA
EKEREMOR MAIN TOWN, EKEREMOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAYELSA STATE.
28th May, 2025.
PRESS STATEMENT
I, Hon. Wilson Ayakpo Dauyegha wish to correct the deliberate misleading narrative circulating in Bayelsa State and beyond that I betrayed Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri before the 2019 Governorship Election in Bayelsa State. It is expedient that I address these in-accuracies and provide clarity on the matter.
The pivotal role Sen. Lokpobiri played in my political voyage into the 6th Bayelsa State House of Assembly cannot be over emphasized. Apart from the huge funds I expended in the Election, Sen. Lokpobiri also contributed immensely in my victory at the Polls, that I acknowledge and I am eternally grateful to him to date.
As a sign of gratitude to Sen. Lokpobiri, I remained loyal to him and took actions that were beneficial to his political interest. Prior to the All Progressive Congress (APC) Primary Elections that produced Chief David Lyon as the Party Flagbearer I was rooting for Sen. Lokpobiri to emerge as the Party Flagbearer but as God will have it Chief David Lyon emerged. To show that I was loyal to Sen. Lokpobiri, I went as far as rejecting the Primary Results that produced Chief David Lyon, what is more? I went as far as the VIP Section of the Port Harcourt International Airport and accosted the Party Representatives from the National that conducted the Primary Elections and tore the Results Sheets. Not only that I went as far as confronting the most successful Party Chairman APC has produced in Bayelsa State in the person of Hon. Jotham Amos, which actions I regret as a person. I made and inherited Sen. Lokpobiri Political Enemies because of my actions to protect his political interests.
After the altercation with the then Party Chairman, I received threats from many quarters, particularly from Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, the former Member House of Representatives, representing Nembe/ Brass Federal Constituency. Before Political Campaigns started, I was persuaded by many high ranking members of APC both at the National and State Level on the need to work for the Party in the Governorship Elections. High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo also called me in this regard.
So I decided to heed to the calls for me to work for the success of APC in the Governorship Elections. Before accepting to work for the good of the Party I went to see my Political Benefactor Sen. Lokpobiri of my decision to work in the interest of the Party in line with the doctrine of Party supremacy where the Party interest, decisions and authority takes precedence over individual interests. I said to him in these exact words:
“Sir, since you are in Court in a Pre-Election matter, working for the Party to win the elections, would be a win-win situation for you, because if I work for the Party and it wins the election, if the Court gives judgment in your favour that you are the valid APC Candidate, you will be the Governor of Bayelsa State and it is still a win-win situation for you”
I was utterly vilified and called unprintable names by Sen. Lokpobiri. He retorted in anger:
“the David Lyon you have decided to support, in a civilized society can he, David Lyon buckle my Shoes”
Interestingly as it seems currently, those Political Enemies I made just to protect Sen. Lokpobiri political interests are now his Allies, the likes of Chief David Lyon, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli are now his Associates.
The question that begs the answer is that:
“Does working for the interest of the Party and realign amounts to betrayal”
I do not think so. Just as I will never in my life wear Sen. Lokpobiri the toga of betrayer when in Chief Ndutimi Alaibe Camp in 2007 he clinched the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ticket to the Senate, He later re-aligned and left Chief Ndutimi Alaibe. The same scenario played out when His Excellency, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva on a platter of gold secured Sen. Lokpobiri’s 2nd term ticket in 2011 against His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi and also influenced his Ministerial appointment in Former President Muhammed Buhari’s Cabinet as Minister for State, Agriculture. It is common knowledge that, From 2019 till date Sen. Lokpobiri has left Chief Sylva.
I encourage everyone to look beyond the unsubstantiated allegations against my person and evaluate the evidence I have stated here.
Finally, as an APC Member, I make bold to state that I never betrayed Sen. Lokpobiri, I only stood and worked for the success of my Party and if Sen. Lokpobiri or any other credible and sellable Candidate becomes the Flagbearer of the APC in the next Governorship Elections, I will still fight for the good fortunes of the Party.
SIGNED:
_________________________
HON. WILSON AYAKPO DAUYEGHA
FORMER MEMBER,
BAYELSA STATE 6th HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
