CHIEF INKO BLASTS LOKPOBIRI OVER "UNGUIDED" STATEMENT DURING APC SECRETARIAT OPENING

CHIEF INKO BLASTS LOKPOBIRI OVER "UNGUIDED" STATEMENT DURING APC SECRETARIAT OPENINGrnrnA chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Inko Brightstar, popularly known as General Whoknows Tomorrow, has cautioned the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Rt. Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri, to refrain from making what he described as "unguarded and divisive statements" against former Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva.rnrnChief Inko expressed his displeasure after listening to Lokpobiri's speech during the commissioning of the Bayelsa State APC Secretariat along the Sani Abacha Expressway in Yenagoa on Thursday, 25 June 2026.rnrnAccording to Chief Inko, the Minister's remark that he had "retired some big politicians in the state" was widely interpreted as a veiled reference to former Governor Timipre Sylva, who also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.rnrnHe called on the leadership of the APC to caution Lokpobiri, warning that such public statements could deepen divisions and create unnecessary disunity within the party.rnrnChief Inko stated emphatically that there is no history of the APC in Bayelsa State without acknowledging the immense contributions of Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva. He maintained that no amount of political rhetoric could diminish Sylva's influence, insisting that "even twenty Heineken Lokpobiris cannot retire Timipre Sylva."rnrnAccording to him, Sylva remains the politician with the strongest political structure in Bayelsa State, and rather than engaging in attacks against him, Lokpobiri and those he described as his "committee of betrayals" should concentrate on building their own political base.rnrnChief Inko also advised the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, to exercise caution in his relationship with Lokpobiri. He argued that anyone whose political agenda is to "retire" fellow politicians today could adopt the same approach toward Governor Diri tomorrow if he succeeds in his alleged ambition to contest the Bayelsa governorship election in 2027.rnrnHe concluded by urging all APC stakeholders to prioritize unity, mutual respect, and constructive engagement ahead of future political contests.