The Southsouth APC Youth League (SAYL) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately reverse the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd) as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The aggrieved party youths expressed shock that Buhari could appoint Ndiomu, whom they described as a known sympathiser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to head such a crucial programme in the region a few months to the 2023 general elections.
The SAYL in a statement on Thursday said Ndiomu’s appointment had further polarised the party and jeopardized APC’s chances in the Niger Delta, especially the Southsouth to win the forthcoming poll.
The SAYL in the statement, which was signed by Hillary Ogbara accused Buhari of foisting a poor reward system in the party by engaging none APC members and confirmed PDP loyalists to head critical institutions in the country
Ogbara said: “What does President Muhammadu Buhari and those surrounding him really want? Do they want the APC to be defeated in the 2023 general elections? This particular appointment of Ndiomu beats our imagination.
“It is unthinkable that a well-known PDP apologist like Ndiomu could be given such critical office to manage a few months to the general election.
“This is one appointment we cannot accept and we are calling on Buhari to immediately reverse it. It is obvious that some persons around Buhari are working assiduously to disgrace the APC and the President in the next election.
“We have continued to complain about the poor reward system in the APC instituted by Buhari’s administration. This government continues to empower known PDP leaders and apologists with major appointments at the detriment of loyal members of the party, who have slaved and laboured for the party”.
Ogbara further lamented that Ndiomu, who hails from Sagbama in Bayelsa State, was hired without the knowledge and input of APC leaders in Bayelsa including the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva.
He said: “Instead of stabilising and energizing the party for the crucial task of winning the 2023 election, Ndiomu’s appointment has divided the APC, created disaffection among party leaders and deepened disharmony in the party.
“How can you make such an important appointment without consulting party leaders in the state especially the leader of the APC in Bayelsa, Chief Timipre Sylva?
“If this appointment is not retrieved and given to one out of many competent and committed party members in the region, we won’t work for APC in 2023”.
