Prince Jonah added that the comments were capable of waning the interest many Bayelsans have recently shown to the APC because of Lyon.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Deacon Tari Agai, he said Nabena succeded in revealing himself as a “treacherous indigene”.
Jonah wondered why Nabena could make such antagonistic statements adding that he does not consider the feelings of committed members and supporters of the party that are still saddened by the botched inauguration.
He pointed out that Nabena failed to bring sufficient votes from the two polling units of his Aduku Community in Sagbama Local Government Area to the ballot box even when he served as the party’s national spokesman, adding that he may have been misled to be accusing the former governorship candidate of not contributing to the running of the APC in Bayelsa State.
The statement reads in part: “It has become imperative to remind Nabena the naked truth of how Lyon has been assisting in financing the party long before his governorship election without holding any political appointment.
“Lyon has also through his philanthropic lifestyle empowered thousands of youths, women and elders in Bayelsa, which is the reason his candidature got Bayelsans thronging into the APC in the last governorship election.
“What Nabena is doing is complete sycophancy to pitch Lyon against other party leaders and members and to also curry favour for selfish gains. We are used to his antics.
“Nabena and his co-travellers should learn from party leaders like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and others, who are using their positions to empower party members, and not to selfishly use such privileges to amass wealth, leave followers in perpetual hardship, or fight fellow party members.”
Prince Gabriel Jonah also pointed out that it is the duty of the party leaders in the state, including he Nabena, who led the last guber campaigns, to organise and lead other party members to thank the masses who supported the APC to victory, though aborted by the Supreme Court.
He said it is a total absurdity for a party stakeholder like Nabena to make such an unpleasant statement against such a kind and humble man that made Bayelsans defy monetary inducement by other parties and massively supported the APC.
He said: “Nabena may know what we don’t know regarding the botched inauguration and he needs to tell APC members the nefarious role he may have played that is making him gloat in public.”
He called on the Mai Mala Buni-led APC caretaker committee to caution Nabena for his unpleasant statement, which he thinks will end up causing more frictions in the state chapter of the party.