Diri’s Neglect of Old APC Members May Have Political Consequences — Chief Inko Brightstar

Diri’s Neglect of Old APC Members May Have Political Consequences — Chief Inko Brightstarrnrn“You cannot demand political support from people you deliberately refuse to recognise”rnrnBy RealNaijaGist NewsrnrnA foremost Niger Delta activist and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Inko Brightstar, popularly known as General Whoknows Tomorrow, has accused the Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, of allegedly neglecting old members of the APC following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.rnrnChief Inko Brightstar said the situation has become a growing concern among longstanding APC members who, according to him, sacrificed their time, resources and political energy to build the party in Bayelsa State when it had little or no political presence.rnrnHe recalled that Governor Diri, upon joining the APC, made commitments to carry existing APC members along, but alleged that the promise has yet to translate into meaningful political inclusion.rnrnAccording to him, many old APC members expected the Governor to make deliberate efforts to accommodate them in his administration and political structure, including reviewing his cabinet to create opportunities for deserving members of the party.rnrn“OUR RESOLVE IS CLEAR”rnrnChief Inko Brightstar stated that the old APC members cannot continue to be ignored while simultaneously being expected to provide political support whenever elections approach.rnrn«“If Governor Douye Diri has chosen to work primarily with those who came into the APC with him from the PDP, then he should also expect those same people to take full responsibility for supporting and delivering his handpicked candidates in the forthcoming elections in Bayelsa State.”»rnrnHe argued that political loyalty should be reciprocal and that inclusion should not be reserved for a particular group.rnrnThe APC chieftain maintained that the old members of the party are not newcomers seeking political relevance, stressing that they were part of the struggle that sustained the APC in Bayelsa State during its difficult years in opposition.rnrnAccording to him, these members defended the party, mobilised supporters and endured political challenges when there was little immediate reward for their loyalty.rnrn“POLITICS IS ABOUT RECIPROCITY”rnrnChief Inko Brightstar further argued that politics cannot be sustained on one-sided expectations.rnrn«“Politics is about loyalty, inclusion, consultation and reciprocity. You cannot continuously ignore people who built and sustained the party in difficult times and expect them to remain silent when political decisions that affect their future are being made.”»rnrnHe warned that continued exclusion could create dissatisfaction within the party and make it increasingly difficult to mobilise members who feel politically abandoned.rnrnHe therefore called on the Governor to reconsider his approach and create a more inclusive political structure that recognises both those who recently joined the APC and those who have remained committed to the party over the years.rnrn“YOU CANNOT DEMAND SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE YOU REFUSE TO RECOGNISE”rnrnThe Niger Delta activist stressed that his position should not be interpreted as opposition to Governor Diri or the APC, but as a call for fairness, consultation and recognition of longstanding party members.rnrnHe said the old APC members deserve to know where they stand and should not be treated as political spectators in a party they helped build.rnrn«“Our message is simple: inclusion should not be selective, and loyalty should be mutual.”»rnrnHe added:rnrn«“If the old APC members are deliberately excluded from the administration and political decision-making process, the Governor should not be surprised if those he has chosen to work with are also the ones expected to mobilise, support and deliver his candidates at the polls.”»rnrnChief Inko Brightstar concluded that political structures thrive when leaders recognise, consult and reward loyalty, warning that ignoring the grievances of grassroots members could have consequences for the party's political mobilisation ahead of future elections.rnrnRealNaijaGist News — Politics, People & AccountabilityrnrnThe question now is: Will Governor Douye Diri move to reassure the old APC members and demonstrate that his promise of inclusion extends beyond words?rnrnRealNaijaGist News will continue to monitor developments within the APC in Bayelsa State and bring readers updates as the political situation unfolds.