The Ijaw Young Professionals (IYP) on Monday berated members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State who set to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their action as “shameful and disgraceful.”

It was widely reported at the weekend that many of the ruling party’s leaders and members in the state were ready to switch camp to the opposition party at an event in the state capital on Saturday.

Listed among those ready to defect were the former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe and former member of the House of Representatives, Stell Dorgu.

The Spokesperson of IYP, Seighfa Tonye-Brown, in a statement said the planned defection was “shameless and disgraceful.”

He however expressed optimism that their defection from PDP “will not affect the chances of the incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson, from being re-elected.”

According to him, the reason for the impending defection was “greed and selfish interest rather than the desire to serve.”

Tonye-Brown said based on that premise, the defectors will not enjoy the support of the people of Bayelsa State.

He said that these same people were those who conspired against former President Goodluck Jonathan in his reelection bid despite the enormous benefits they got through influential appointments “but was never reflected in whatever form in the lives of their people in the state.”

This, he said, did not recommend them as worthy leaders to be trusted and called on Bayelsans to reject them ahead of the election.

“Our people must shine their eyes and beware of these characters because they do not mean well for them. We know the antecedents of these so-called leaders who are obviously desperate for power to satisfy immoral ends. We know for a fact that the only motivation for defecting is their noted greed and locust mentality.

“They are all fair weather politicians who are only concerned about themselves and their families. Curiously many of them have benefited so much from the Dickson administration as well as that of former President Goodluck Jonathan but what did they do for their own people? This is why our people must be careful not to be deceived by these so-called leaders. They are just selfish,” he said.

While calling on Governor Dickson not to lose sleep over the proposed defection, the group said Bayelsans were convinced about his sterling performance in office and will do everything possible to rally support for his re-election.

“Bayelsans are no fools. We will mobilise across the state and we are sure our people will recognise this betrayal by these so called leaders which will ensure massive support to re-elect the countryman governor. Without doubt, this coming election is all about the ordinary people but never that of a gang of selfish elite who are out again to plunder our common wealth as they did in the past. They should know that Bayelsa State does not exist for them alone. Their selfish interest cannot take precedence over the collective wellbeing of our people.”

•Photo shows Timi Alaibe.

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