An activist to the core, who showed his vociferous stance against abuse of citizens’ rights during his stint at the Bayelsa State Citizens Rights Protection Group, Joseph Fafi distinguished himself also as acting Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and was later appointed as a member of the Governing Board of the University of Port Harcourt, Choba by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He is set to deliver his candidate and governorship hopeful, Preye Aganaba, in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state come November 2019.

In this interview with Kristina Reports Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Godswill Jumbo, he addressed some issues related to the imminent governorship poll, and his party’s offerings to Bayelsans should it be voted into office. Excerpts:

Kristina Reports: We are looking at developments in Bayelsa State. Governor Seriake Dickson has declared that the State was PDP and that his shoes would be too big for his successor. And then the leader of your party, Timipre Sylva has been nominated, screened and confirmed, awaiting inauguration as Minister of the federal republic of Nigeria. Now, combining these two and looking at the caliber of people emerging on the platform of the APC, like the former Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, we want to know how the APC is preparing for the elections as the days keep reducing. Also does the APC have somebody whose legs would big enough for his shoes or maybe even bigger?

Joseph Fafi: Well, reacting to that, even the Governor knows that APC will take over this State. It is obvious that APC will take over Bayelsa State in this coming elections. So, for us, we are focused to ensure that whoever becomes the flag-bearer the party will be united and work towards ensuring total victory for APC in Bayelsa State. It is time for APC in Bayelsa State to join Edo State in linking up with the next level agenda of the Federal Government. And Bayelsans are aware of that. All that Bayelsans are waiting for is for APC to field a fresh candidate, a candidate that they all can identify with. Even the PDP, that is all they are waiting for. If you get into Bayelsa and feel the pulse of the people, ask them, they will tell you that APC should do well to bring in a fresh candidate, and then the entire PDP will join us, and majority of them, that is, will join us because what we need in Bayelsa State is a breath of fresh air. We need a young person. We need somebody who is fresh. We need somebody who can identify with people from all the divide, whether it is APC or PDP because the major aim now will be developing Bayelsa State and bringing it out of this nightmare or darkness that we are in; and then so that there will be prosperity in the land.

When you say that the Governor knows that APC will take over and then you are talking of the nightmare, the darkness that Bayelsa is in, now, recently we have seen the Governor commissioning some high profile projects like the airport, flyover, and several other projects. Are these in consonance the description that Bayelsa was in darkness? Is there something else that APC has up its sleeves that Bayelsa can expect it to deliver much more than what is already on ground?

Well, when I say in darkness, I am not the physical light. We are talking about a situation where there is no longer the dividends of democracy. We cannot run away from that. The Governor has done his best but, so far, the best has not been good enough, especially, especially, in terms of security. It is so appalling that a very state capital that we can count the number of streets and you can walk through the entire state capital, and he cannot provide security for its citizens. That it is becoming difficult to walk the street in the evening and even in broad daylight people are killed for something as minor as phones. And then, what are we talking about? You commission projects or whatever, it doesn’t really matter when people are no longer safe to enjoy those projects. I believe the Governor has done his best, he meant well or means well for Bayelsa State but I think he is rounding and it is time for somebody fresh to come in and then take over from there. His shoes cannot be big for any successor for God’s sake. When you are leaving you expect your child or anybody who is taking over from you to perform better than you. And so, he should hope that somebody, not from PDP but from APC, will come and then link up with the Federal Government and ensure maximum development for Bayelsa State and for Bayelsans.

Now, looking at the calibre of individuals that are emerging on the platform of the PDP, people like the former Managing Director of NDDC, Timi Alaibe, the sitting Deputy Governor, Jonah Gboribiogha, and former federal permanent secretary, Godknows Boladei Igali, among others, are we sure APC has what it takes to swamp this people and be able to emerge victorious in this election? This is because these people are no mean feat, politically speaking.

Yes, they are no mean feat, you would say, because they occupied political offices and they have made some money because that is the impression by the average person that since this person has held public office he has made money but you ask “whose money?” It is money belonging to the people. I am not saying that they are all corrupt but the thing is they are recycled. Are they the only ones in Bayelsa? Can’t they be supportive of a fresh candidate? Let us try somebody new. Let somebody with a fresh idea come on the scene and then work for the development of the State. They have held positions in different places, what were their contribution to the development of Bayelsa State? My belief is that all those who have held different offices from the NDDC to Permanent Secretaries, whatever, they should give way for somebody with a fresh idea to take over. And so, for me, it is just greed that is making them to come to become Governor. It is not because they want to serve. They have had the opportunity to serve whether they served well or they didn’t.

Talking about politicians being recycled and those who have held positions in whatever capacity leaving the scene but in APC, we have somebody like Heineken Lokpobiri, who has served as a Senator of the federal republic and also as a former Minister of State for Agriculture. Now, we want to know, does your standpoint include your party faithful?

Well, for the Minister, who wants to also govern, he has every right to aspire. He has all the credentials. But what is the motive? We need to ask and we need to know, what is the motive? Is the motive to serve Bayelsa? And if you want to serve Bayelsa, is it that you must be Governor before you serve the people? How much service have you rendered in the capacity you have been opportuned to hold? How much service have you rendered? You were Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly. You became a Senator for eight years of the federal republic for eight years and then became a Minister, nonstop, for another four years. How much service have you rendered to the people? And now you want to become governor that is what Bayelsans are asking. While have no grudge or no opposition to anybody that is aspiring to the highest office in the land, we must do that with some decorum, we must leave greed, pure greed out of it. You can serve Bayelsans in different capacities. You cannot wait until you become Governor before you serve. So, Bayelsans are aware of that and Bayelsans will speak. At the end of the day, he is a party member and we will encourage him to submit to the desire of the party. What APC needs now is a fresh candidate. A fresh candidate that we can present and that is the only way we can win the election because most of the PDP members will support a fresh candidate from APC.

Are you looking at direct or indirect primaries to produce your party’s flagbearer?

Well, whichever one the national deems fit. The leader of the party, Chief Timipre Sylva has opted for direct primaries and we support him; we are not in opposition to that. We support him totally.

As a major stakeholder of the APC in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta, let us ask, for Bayelsans, for the South-South, for the Niger Delta and Nigeria, what does Timipre Sylva’s incursion into federal politics as a Minister of the federal republic of Nigeria hold? What does it symbolize? What hope does it hold for the people of Bayelsa State, for the South-South and the Niger Delta?

At last we have a sense of belonging, a sense of belonging for a party that has contributed so much to build. For now, I will say it is one of the best things to happen to Bayelsa APC because he has paid his dues. I have worked with him closely throughout the period I was Chairman of the party and I can say
Without fear or favour that Timipre Sylva is a good man despite some persons think about him. He is one of the best characters, one of the best leaders I have the privilege of identifying with. We are all very happy for him. And I think that is where he belongs. He has outgrown Bayelsa State. Let him continue as a leader. And I believe that every faithful party man will acknowledge his leadership. We now have a voice and, of course, you know he was instrumental to the amnesty programme and several other programmes that have brought peace to the Niger Delta. This will give him more opportunity to do more not only for Bayelsa State but for the Niger Delta.