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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday stormed the residence of a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Sunday Frank Oputu, and shot him dead.
It was gathered that Frank-Oputu, who had also served as state chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), was murdered at his residence at Bay-Bridge, Yenagoa.
Frank-Oputu, who was a founding member of the APC, was shot death through his window while asleep by yet to be identified gunmen.
The chieftain, who is best described as the voice of the opposition party in the Bayelsa State, also had a running litigation across the political space of his party the APC and his community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
He was among those opposed to the control, and APC leadership style of the minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
While he repeatedly claimed he did not have any personal grouse with Chief Sylva, but differ with his style of party leadership, Frank-Oputu was a member of the faction of the APC loyal to the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
But the Sylva-led APC had last year declared late Sunday Frank-Oputu expelled alongside eight others for alleged anti-party activities.
Sources also claimed he was at the forefront of the struggle to extricate his community from the firm control of illegal oil bunkering activities of some unrepentant militants in the Egbematoru axis.
He recently, in conjunction with community leadership, petition the military, DSS, and other security agencies over the activities of some unknown persons in the area
However what led to his murder is yet to be revealed, the security agencies have a job at hand by ensuring Bayelsans are assured of their safety during and after the election.
When contacted the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Asinimi Bustwat, who confirmed the incident said details will be made available to journalists.
The senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial district, Senator Cleopas Moses condemned the killing of Sunday Frank Oputu and calleld people of his constituent not to use other means of settling their differences rather than resorting to taking life of someone.
He further expressed sadness over the unfortunate death of the APC chieftain from his Senatorial district
