The Bayelsa State Elders Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Governor Douye Diri to be wary of those it described as the enemies of peace and development in the state chapter of the party.

The elders, while congratulating Mr Diri for defecting to the APC on Thursday in Yenagoa, urged him not to allow “enemies of progress and agents of destabilisation” to draw him into their fold.

The elders gave the advice in a statement by their secretary, Clarkson Ayebaepreye.

“While the governor’s decision to align with our great party could represent a fresh opportunity for unity and progress in Bayelsa, the governor must be wary of being drawn into the parochial feuds of individuals whose interests do not align with peace or development.

“Governor Diri must stand as a leader for all, not a captive of any clique or personality. The people of Bayelsa deserve reconciliation and purposeful governance, not factionalism disguised as cooperation,” the elders said.

The maintained that the state’s chapter of the APC remained united in its loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.

“However, the growing pattern of intra-party hostility emanating from certain quarters must be checked before it undermines our shared progress,” they said.

They alleged that speculations around the former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, were championed by a rival faction of the party in the state.

Mr Sylva is alleged to be one of those behind the recently rumoured coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which the former governor’s media aide, Julius Bakoru, denied.

Mr Bakori said, “These claims are patently false, politically motivated, and intended purely to sow division within our ranks. In response, the Elders Forum constituted a discreet fact-finding team to review these allegations.

“The outcome confirmed what most discerning observers already knew—that the falsehoods are being peddled by a small faction within our party, acting in concert with external interests who thrive on discord.”

The elders, however, appealed to Mr Tinubu to compel those behind the allegation to retrace their steps, adding that their action would damage the image of the APC in Bayelsa.

“The Elders Forum will continue to defend the integrity of our leaders, particularly Chief Timipre Sylva, and to uphold the principles of unity, discipline, and loyalty upon which the APC was founded,” they said.

(NAN)