A former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Chief Timi Alaibe, yesterday withdrew from the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State for “party’s interest”.
Alaibe formally declared his decision to pull out of the rescheduled governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a statement he issued at 3am, entitled: For the sake of our party, I withdraw from the APC governorship primary.
Describing the decision as a self-sacrifice, the former NDDC chief said it was taken out of his desire to give APC the peace and unity it needed ahead of the election.
There was jubilation in Yenagoa, the state capital, when the news of his withdrawal filtered into the state secretariat of the party at 3:30am.
Delegates had gathered in large numbers and waited for the primary to end.
Alaibe said: “It is with all nostalgia that I recall the zeal, enthusiasm and hope with which thousands of Bayelsans made a statement in the direction of change in August 2015. I can also vividly recall a mental replay of the occasion wherein a qualitative representation of the leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) ushered in respected leaders and members from their then party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“That singular event has been phenomenal just as its true meaning and direction have all exuded confidence, unity of purpose, cohesion, collectivism and courage. That day undoubtedly marked the beginning of a people’s journey from hopelessness and squandry as enunciated by the accidental PDP-led government in Bayelsa state to that of quality leadership that an APC government will represent.”