The Bayelsa State leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, at the weekend begged his kinsmen in Okpoama, Brass local government area of the state, for forgiveness.
Sylva, a former governor of the state, reportedly urged his kinsmen to put his shortcomings in office behind them and welcome the new dawn in the state powered by the APC.
The former governor was said to have spoken during a unity rally and reception held in his honour by the Traditional Ruler of the Okpoama Kingdom, King Ebitimi Banigo.
He recalled how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) denied him a ticket as a sitting governor to run for second term in office.
But he said his homecoming as the state leader of the APC made him realise that only God can truly forgive.
He said: “If I have learnt any lesson from my travails, it is only the fact that it is only God that forgives. I have forgiven those that offended me. I also urged those of you that I have offended to forgive me.”
Sylva described the decision of the Traditional Ruler and the Council of Chiefs in Okpoama kingdom to honour him as “a blessing.”
He called on the people of the community to consider the rally as a symbol of renewed unity in the kingdom.