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Tag: Chief Timipre Sylva

  • Aide kicks as EFCC seals Sylva’s Abuja home

    Aide kicks as EFCC seals Sylva’s Abuja home

    THE Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to Chief Timipre Sylva, Chief Julius Bokoru, has condemned the sealing of his principal’s Maitama home in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Bokoru, in a statement titled, “A grave breach of decency: EFCC’s attempted raid and defacement of Sylva’s family home”, said the action was undertaken “without a letter, a subpoena, a warrant, notification, and even the most basic adherence to lawful process”.

    He said: “No courtesy. No procedure. No humanity. It is behaviour unbecoming of any institution that claims to act in the national interest. What unfolded today at the Maitama residence of Chief Timipre Sylva, was nothing short of an affront to decency and a troubling assault on the very principles that underpin a civilised society.

    “Officers of the EFCC attempted yet another aggressive intrusion into his home and proceeded to spray-paint his walls in stark red, emblazoning the words “EFCC — Keep Off” as though marking the property of a fugitive rather than the home of a respected statesman”.

    Bokoru added: “What deepens the wound is that this is not merely a property; it is the home in which Chief Sylva’s children, relatives, and staff have been effectively encircled for weeks.

    “It is the last space available to them, especially now that it appears they are not permitted to leave the country freely. To violate such a place,.without warning, without justification,.is to inflict terror upon innocent people who have no connection whatsoever to political gamesmanship.

    “Where, one must ask, are his children expected to go? How long must they endure this atmosphere of fear and uncertainty?”

    Bokoru lamented that the action, which he described as arbitrary and vindictive, was a violation of democratic principles and  its values, insisting that it was not how an institution established to uphold justice should behave.

    But he said: “We remain firmly convinced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not involved in these excesses. Throughout his long and distinguished public life, the President has shown respect for due process, fairness, and institutional integrity.

    “This latest incident bears all the hallmarks of local political rivalry being misinterpreted, or mischievously presented, as federal instruction. It is a dangerous muddling of partisan ambition with national authority.

    “Government agencies and parastatals must never allow themselves to become weapons in political contests. To do so weakens not only the institutions themselves but the very fabric of our democracy.

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    “Chief Sylva has, for decades, served Nigeria with calmness, loyalty, and an almost disarming sense of patriotism. From his stewardship of Bayelsa State to his contributions at the federal level and his continued, unwavering support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he has remained dignified even when confronted with provocation. His commitment to this nation has never faltered”.

    He further reminded the public that Sylva’s  aides and domestic servants such as Paganengigha Anagha, Friday Lusa Paul, Musa Mohammed, and Police Officer Reuben Ayuba were still in detention, saying they were being held for weeks on vague, insubstantial, and nearly non-existent allegations.

    Bokoru said: “These are ordinary men, with families and hopes of their own, now caught in a political dragnet that has stripped them of clarity, certainty, and liberty.

    “Their prolonged detention is unjust. Their suffering is needless. And their situation is emblematic of the wider injustice unfolding before the nation.

    “Yet, in spite of the pain and the deep emotional strain of this moment, we remain hopeful. Nigeria has weathered storms before, storms of uncertainty, of injustice, of heavy-handedness, and emerged stronger. We believe justice will rise above intimidation, that truth will outlast malice, and that, as with all trials faced with dignity and faith, this too shall pass.

  • Why commitment to contracting cycle reduction is key

    Contracting cycle in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is among the longest in the world. Over the years, relevant government agencies, including the regulatory bodies in the petroleum industry, have been making efforts to reduce the length of time to seal a contract for implementation. With a new Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, in the picture, will the tide change? EMEKA UGWUANYI asks.

    Reform and transformation of the country’s oil and gas industry should go beyond rhetorics. Considering Nigeria’s age in oil exploration and production of over 60 years, it is supposed to be the clear leader and model for other oil producing African  countries and beyond.

    However, the African biggest producer still battles with challenges of elongated contracting cycle that should have been addressed long ago.

    Delayed contracting cycle is considered a disincentive as it costs the country money in the end. In the past, it took an average of 36 months to conclude a contract process in the industry. The implication, according to an industry analyst, is that if a transaction that is meant to be closed within a period of low oil price gravitates to a period of high price per barrel, the country, not the oil firms, pays more.

    According to the analyst, no company does a contract at a loss; therefore, if the price of oil increases, the cost of other ancillary factors of production, including labour, will  increase and the company will have no choice than to adjust the contract sum to reflect the increase. This is one of the reasons cost variation of contracts is common in Nigeria and, as a result, the country loses money and value from many of its projects.

    Now, will the new Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and th Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, who is less than two months in office, be game changers, the analyst asked.

    It is a fact that a transparent contracting process not only boosts investor’ confidence, it confers integrity on the nation, the analyst said.

    In 2009, NNPC, in pursuit of greater efficiency, best practices, transparency and cost-saving procedures in the contracting process in the industry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with about 24 oil and gas majors in the country for the Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NIPEX) project, which was designed to deliver value and enhance local content.

    The then NNPC GMD, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, noted that NIPEX was meant to streamline responsibilities of oil firms, regulators and other stakeholders, and to prepare  the ground for the major transformation that will ensue from the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    He explained that NIPEX was made up of both the Electronic Marketplace and the Joint Qualifications System designed to reduce the contract cycle time, improve transparency of contract decision making, improve visibility for each operator and NNPC on contract approval status as well as achieve overall contracting cost reduction for the industry.

    Some of the oil firms that signed the MoU  include Petrobras, Addax, Agip, Texaco, Conoco-Phillips, Shell, NPDC, CNOOC, KNOC, Total, BG, Statoil, NAOC, Pan-Ocean, Sahara, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Conoil.

    Ten years on, Nigeria is still struggling to cut contracting process period to less than a year, while the PIB continues to be on the table at the National Assembly and Presidency.

    What the government is doing

    Last year, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and International Oil Companies (IOCs) under the aegis of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), a section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and some indigenous oil firms, signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) aimed at  shortening contracting cycle.

    According to the Board, long-contracting cycle delays take-off and completion of projects, leading to increased costs.

    The SLA commits the 28-member OPTS firms to comply with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, essentially to submit to the NCDMB documents, like their quarterly job forecasts, Nigerian Content plans, bidders lists, Nigerian Content Evaluation Criteria and Nigerian Content technical bids, among other information in relation to oil and gas industry contracting and procurement cycles.

    The Board also pledged to respond on specific timelines, noting that if it fails to meet the set deadlines, the companies can proceed with their tendering processes after duly informing the Board.

    NCDMB Executive Secretary Simbi Wabote signed for the Board, while the Managing Director of ExxonMobil Nigeria, Paul McGrath who is also the Chairman of OPTS signed for OPTS. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Massimo Insulla, his Chevron counterpart, Jeff Ewing and that of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria, Nicolas Terraz, witnessed the event.

    The SLAs with the OPTS are meant to  achieve six months’ contracting process period. The NCDMB said through its efforts, the cycle had been cut significantly to 14 months from 24-36 months in the past. Wabote noted that the SLA signed with the NLNG in 2017 has improved the turnaround time of approvals between the two establishments, adding that the Board was working to sign a similar agreement with the Indigenous Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).

    Wabote had last month during the third briefing of the Board, restated that the SLAs’ NCDMB signed with the Nigeria LNG Limited, International Operating Companies under OPTS and Independent Petroleum Producers Group have helped to shorten the NCDMB interface on the tendering cycle in the industry from 36 months to nine months.

    Also, in April, this year, NNPC said it has  fast-tracked contracting cycle for upstream operations from 24 months to nine months with a strong commitment to further reduce the process to less than six months.

    NNPC’s immediate past GMD Dr. Maikanti Baru stated this, adding that shortening of the process would allow for free flow of investments into the industry with far reaching effect across all tiers of its operations – upstream, midstream and downstream.

    Also, Kyari on assumption of office last month, pledged to make efforts to drastically reduce the contracting cycle in the industry.

  • In charge

    The administration of oath and assignment of portfolios to the 43 ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari marks the real take-off of the government. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) is a constitutional creation specifically saddled with the task of assisting the President and Vice President in running the affairs of state. The constitution mandates the President to choose his ministers in a way that each state of the federation is represented. Now, Nigerians know those who have the task of implementing the agenda of the Buhari administration and giving effect to the manifesto of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Highlights of the composition shows that there is no radical departure from the framework and philosophy of the government as may be deduced from the helmsmen assigned to the ministries. The President has reserved the petroleum ministry to himself, while appointing the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, to directly oversee activities in the ministry. This suggests that the President attaches much importance to the ministry that administers the nation’s primary source of wealth.

    The stature and capacity of Sylva who had worked with a former petroleum minister and governed an oil-rich state is expected to help in translating government policy for the sector to a positive force for development. We hope he would be able to use his influence to block attempts by any presidential aide to sideline him and drive a wedge between the minister of state and the president who for unexplained reasons has retained the office of substantive minister.

    Also significant is the split of the erstwhile ministry of power, works and housing into two, with Mr. Babatunde Fashola retaining control of the works and housing component. The newpower ministry has been assigned to Sale Mamman from Taraba State. It was predictable from the list of nominees sent to the Senate that Major-General Bashir Magashi, a retired military officer, lawyer and politician would be saddled with the task of handling the defence ministry at a time that internal security challenges continue to mount. Speculations were rife until the President unveiled the portfolios as to the nature of the former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s assignment in the administration. The energy, zeal and passion of the engineer-turned-politician might have recommended him for the Interior ministry where he would share defence responsibilities with the ministers of defence and police affairs.

    It is noteworthy that former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has been given the responsibility of supervising development in the Niger Delta, assisted, interestingly, by Mr. Festus Keyamo, a notable senior lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria who performed creditably at the Senate screening where he was asked his opinion on restructuring the judicial system. Abubakar Malami is returning as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice even though many are not impressed with his performance in the first tenure. Rotimi Amaechi remains transport minister and will therefore be expected to see through his move to open up the rail sector and probably the sea ports.

    Adamu Adamu as education minister, is believed to have performed below par, it remains to be seen if the Accounting graduate from Ahmadu Bello University can come up with new ideas for the very important sector. The establishment of Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons is welcome. At a time when management of humanitarian affairs has brought the country odium from the international community, the assignment of Mrs. Saddiya Farouk, a former Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migration and Displaced Persons to the office is fit and proper. Mr. Sunday Dare, the 53-year-old minister given the responsibility of overseeing the youth and sports portfolio is expected to restructure the ministry.

    We expect the ministers to take charge immediately as there is little time for them to make their marks. This administration took off in 2015 with the promise to effect fundamental changes in the security architecture, economic structure and employment generation. At best, modest achievements have been recorded. It is therefore important that the ministers work to ensure that remarkable improvements are recorded in the key sectors. They should bear in mind that the government has only two years to work assiduously towards upliftment of the infrastructural, human capital and social services sectors. The 2023 politics may degrade governance afterwards.This time calls for new thinking. We hope these men and women who have been within the system at the federal and state levels for decades will rise up to the occasion.

  • Bayelsa group to Sylva: contest APC guber primary

    Stakeholders under the aegis of Sylva Sure Deal (SSD) have called on former Governor Timipre Sylva to contest the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 2 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    The Chairman of SSD, Dallas Ebibi and the group’s Secretary, George Izibenadu, said Sylva as the leader of APC in Bayelsa had remained faithful to the party.

    Describing Sylva as a worthy shepherd, the group said Sylva had public appeal across party lines following his detribalised leadership style.

    The statement said it would be unfair for any APC member to doubt the capacity of Sylva flying the flag of the party, insisting that a competitive gubernatorial contest required a candidate with public exposure and general acceptance.

    The group said it recognised and respected the rights of others to vie for the party’s ticket but it would be delusional for APC members to think that any candidate of the party would win the forthcoming election.

    The statement said: “The charitable Bayelsans are witness bearers to the public felicity that was inspired by the development-oriented governance of Chief Sylva. This is the reason public opinion has called on him to contest the 2019 guber poll for Bayelsans to experience a glorious rebirth.

    “Sylva’s achievements are visible and tangible for all. The trajectory of his past to his present shows he is fated to better the lots of Bayelsa State if given another chance to govern.

    “We are appealing and calling on all faithful and patriotic party leaders and members to unite with Chief Timipre Sylva towards attaining victory in the general elections and not to be used as objects of coercion in an attempt to pander to the dictates of external intruders”.

    The SSD noted that it’s call on Sylva to contest the APC primary was predicated on his achievements during his tenure as the governor of Bayelsa.

     It mentioned some of the projects as the Nigerian Law School, Yenagoa Campus, 52 internal roads, Diete Koki Memorial Hospital, new commissioner’s quarters, new House of Assembly Quarter, Ekeki Housing Estate, Annual Payment of Bursary and Award of Foreign Scholarships.

    “It is, therefore, safe to conclude that, Chief Sylva possesses the needed political and administrative deft to reposition Bayelsa State in the path of prosperity”.

  • We will complete N50bn bond repayment in June, says Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State Government has said it would complete repayment of the N50bn bond facility obtained by the former administration of Chief Timipre Sylva by June this year.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in Yenagoa that it was part of the major resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting.

    In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, the Commissioner noted that, when completed, funds currently being used to service the bond would be channelled towards finishing key ongoing projects in the state.

    Iworiso-Markson who listed the priority projects to include the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, Yenagoa-Oporoma Road and Ayama/Ogbia-Okodi Road, said government had already worked out funding modalities in its bid to expedite work on the projects.

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    According to the commissioner, the council reaffirmed the present administration’s resolve to bequeath legacies for successive governments to build on, for sustainable development of the state.

    He said: “We are determined as a government to finish well and strong. Going by the resolutions reached in Council, it is clear that this government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we deliver optimally to Bayelsans.

    “Our resolve is that Bayelsans at the end of the day will judge this government by the footprint we’ve been able to establish. Everything we’ve done from day one to this moment is a testament to our resolve to leave lasting legacy that even successive governments will follow.”

    Expatiating on the funding modalities, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, noted that the state government was expanding the “Contractor Infrastructure Development Finance Scheme”, a model which was used in financing other critical infrastructural projects in the state.

    Under the scheme, he said contractors were empowered to borrow funds from financial institutions to execute projects and present their certificates of work done for government to pay.

    Ebibai pointed out that the model helped to check the issue of slow pace or outright abandonment in the execution of government projects.

    He said: “The Contractor Infrastructure Development Scheme is essentially to ensure that contractors have unhindered access to funds. Under the scheme, the state does not borrow but the contractors may borrow to execute government jobs so that the projects will not slow down or stop.

    “The state government only guarantees for payment for jobs already done. It is some kind of public private partnership arrangement between the state, contractors and banks. In this scheme, we are considering projects that we cannot manage from our monthly cash flow.”

  • Dickson, APC leaders’ trade words on electoral violence, killings 

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, Monday accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of masterminding the killings and other forms of violence that occurred in the state during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Briefing journalists in Government House, Yenagoa, Dickson lamented that at least three persons, one in Nembe-Bassambiri and two in Southern Ijaw, were killed with many people across the state sustaining injuries.

    The visibly angry governor alleged that security agencies especially troops of the Nigerian Army, colluded with the APC leaders to kill the victims, who were members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

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    He said thugs loyal to APC unleashed mayhem on polling units across the state under the watch of soldiers adding that troops were responsible for the act of terrorism against innocent voters by thugs.

    The governor particularly accused a former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, a surveillance contractor, a former National Deputy Publicity Secretary, APC, Yekini Nabena and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, of leading assaults against voters in the state.

    He alleged that Sylva and the surveillance contractor in connivance with soldiers unleashed pre-election violence on Nembe-Bassambiri by shooting into the community throughout Friday night.

    He said the shooting continued in the morning while thugs loyal to them abducted INEC officials and took them to a hotel where they thumb-printed all the ballot papers meant for the seven wards in Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He said INEC in the state had done nothing about it despite text messages sent to the Resident Electoral Commissioner by one of the INEC officials abducted by the thugs.

    The governor alleged that the APC was making efforts to transmit “the unlawful results” to the INEC and appealed to the commission to reject the overtures since according to him no elections held in Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He asked the people of Nembe-Bassambiri to rise against the development and promised to lead a protest against attempts to subvert and undermine the will of the people.

    The governor further alleged that Brambaifa came with about 50 soldiers to disrupt elections in Agbere, adding that they deliberately scattered all the votes when they saw they were losing.

    Dickson claimed that Nabena was arrested with arms at Odi by soldiers but was later released after security agencies received orders from above.

    He said: “I am telling the people of Bassambiri not to accept this and they have my support. Bassambiri has to be freed. I am calling on the leaders of Bassambiri not to allow this nonsense to persist in that proud land. For us we will not accept this.

    “I have had cause to issue several statements on this. I will lead demonstrations and protests aimed at vindicating the democratic rights of the people of Bassambiri. I shall do so. I call on the REC to drop his lilly-liver and wear the garb of an electoral umpire in the state.

    “Because if you allow Sylva to take several electoral materials, lock the place down by force of illegal arms with soldiers and others conniving with them, then what you are telling politicians is that votes are not important”.

    He said there were efforts by thugs loyal to the APC to storm the Sagbama collation centre and manipulate the results in his local government areas.

    On the killings, he promised to set up a judicial commission of enquiries to look into the roles played by leaders and security agencies in the elections.

    But he added: “A preliminary report that I have indicated that they were killed by soldiers. They were not killed by thugs. The chieftain of our party who was in house waiting for the results to be collated and announced but an APC leader who had access to solders went and pointed at them and they just shot them.

    “I believe that the full circumstances will be unraveled. But I feel very sad. Nobody should die in an election. If you defeat my candidate, I will even congratulate you. We are not enemies to kill ourselves. It’s so sad.”

    The governor, however, praised the electoral process in Brass and Ekeremor, saying for the first time in the history of the state, the people were allowed to cast their votes in peaceful atmosphere.

    In their reactions Brambaifa and Nabena denied the allegations against them by the governor saying they were never in breach of the electoral process.

    Nabena said he was never arrested with arms and asked the governor and other persons making the allegations to present the weapons found on him by security agents.

  • Lokpobiri to Dickson: stop linking us to electoral violence  

    Minister of State for Agriculture Heineken Lokpobiri has urged  Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson to stop linking him and a former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, to electoral violence.

    The minister, in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, George Oji, said it was unfortunate the governor always associate APC leaders with violence.

    He described the governor’s allegations as lies against APC leadership in Bayelsa.

    The governor, while fielding questions from reporters in Yenagoa, alleged Lokpobiri, Sylvia and other party leaders in Bayelsa were violent persons, who deploy thugs to create panic and rig elections.

    Dickson added: “I am not known for supporting criminals and militants like them. I am not known to use security agencies to intimidate people. It is my duty to protect the state from the violence and brigandage that is their brand of politics.

    “So, there is no moral equivalence between their brand of politics and my politics. We are poles apart. The world knows”

    But Lokpobiri said Dickson was  behaving as if he was unaware of the high demands of his office, and lacked the mental and intellectual capacity to be governor.

    He said Dickson should realise that governance demanded more than the ridiculous and caricature act of ringing bells and dancing in the public arena.

    The minster described Dickson as the mastermind and architect of political violence, alleging the governor mobilised thugs to his home during the 2015 governorship elections.

    He further accused the governor of deploying thugs in Toro-Orua, Ebedebiri, Angalabiri, Sagbama, Akede, Toro-ebeni, Okunbiri, Ekeremor, Peretorugbene, among others, to intimidate voters and engage in ballot-box snatching.

    The minister said Tamarauebi Babofa, a victim of the 2015 Sagbama mayhem, still lives with the agony of his two legs cut off.

    He said Dickson recently appointed ex-militants as council chairmen and vice-chairmen, and was planning to use them for elections.

    The governor said it was time to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate what the governor did with the N1.3 trillion that accrued to the state in the last seven years, exclusive of council allocations and loans.

    He said: ‘’For instance, Dickson has continued to bandy conflicting figures as to the real cost of the state airport project.

    “At one point he would put the cost at N60 billion, yet at another instance, he would say the figure is N62 billion and at another instance, he would claim the amount is N80 billion. It is difficult to pin the governor to any credible figure for the project.

    “Communities in Bayelsa State are called to interrogate the impact and value addition, if any, of the Dickson’s governmen. This, no doubt, will expose the governor’s incompetence in office.

    ‘’The security agencies should be on the alert to check Dickson’s activities, particularly on thuggery and violence, vote-buying, ballot-snatching and others.

    “The people of Bayelsa deserve to be given the opportunity to exercise their franchise under a violent-free atmosphere. The free reign of terror by Dickson in Bayelsa must stop.”

  • Behold ‘Resource Control’ hat clan

    See what our rich and famous: ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa State Governor; Chief Timipre Sylva, ex- Bayelsa State gov; Dr Peter Odili & more are doing with ‘Resource Control’ hat!

    The Niger Delta is home to several of Nigeria’s ethnic groups and a variety of bold, colorful cultures. Its bustling communities and  diversity has gifted Nigeria some of the best memories in music, fashion and style. From the Ijaws to the Isokos, to the Urhobos and the Esans, the Efik, Annang and Ikas, the people of the Niger Delta proudly wear their culture and sartorial elegance on their sleeves. But one fashion item seems to unite all these groups as one and is now seen countrywide as one of the region’s biggest headwear exports.

    We are talking about the tall, circular and distinct round caps, now popularly known as the ‘Resource Control’ caps, worn by men. Although this fashion item originated from the Ijaw ethnic group, it is now widely worn by all the groups of the Delta and even by Nigerians who are not from the Niger Delta.

    The cap became to be known jocularly as ‘Resource control’ around 2005 when the Niger Delta people were agitating for the total control of the oil revenue from their region and most of the Niger Delta delegates wore the cap to the 2005 National Constitutional Conference. Not quite long, others joined the wagon and you will always hear people call those who wear it ‘Resource control’!

    These caps come in different shapes and sizes and they may be worn on both simple and complex menswear. On a typical day in the region or in Lagos and Abuja, men can be seen wearing these caps while decked in casuals and dinner wear.

    Over the years, some of our politicians and fashionable men have used the resource control cap to create a distinct image for themselves.  Some have turned themselves into brands by wearing exotic, trendy and classic caps to functions.  Politicians and showbiz personalities, ex-President Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor,  Dickson-; ex- Bayelsa State governor  Sylva; x-Governor of Rivers Dr Odili; Senator Ben Bruce, Pa Edwin Clark and even musician, Tunde Obe, who is Yoruba, are examples of famous people who have created unique styles with caps.

  • Sylva: l’ve no plans to leave APC

    Former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva has debunked insinuations that he was on his way out of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Sylva in a statement signed by his Media Assistant,  Julius Bokoru, also described as inconsequential, the recent defection of his former Campaign Director, Media and Publicity,  Chief Nathan Egba, to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Bokoru in the statement on Thursday clarified that the reported defection was a sponsored rumour, describing the PDP as a floundering party.

    “Ordinarily, Chief Sylva would have stepped over this most mundane rumour cooked by the basest of minds but for his teeming supporters, members of the All Progressives Congress and the good people of Bayelsa State who this rumour is aimed at

    “Let it be established that Chief Timipre Sylva is firmly of the APC and nurses no plan to leave the party to any other party, least of all the PDP which is floundering and churning in the throes of its last days.

    “Chief Sylva cannot leave the APC, a party he has joined in building, in both state and national, to the very top of political and governmental efficiency”, Bokoru said.

    He attributed the rumour to the agents of the state government saying they kept recycling the report on the social media to achieve some evil intentions.

    He said: “The purported defection of Sylva which they announced through their Facebook hirelings in August had to be recycled in October, just like the ridiculously untrue story of the 48 houses they keep recycling every year.

    “The fact is not lost to Chief Sylva that this latest defection story coincides with the so called defection of a certain Nathan Egba who was neither a member of the APC nor a man with any bit of political relevance.

    “Chief Sylva urges his supporters, members of the APC and the good people of Bayelsa State to remain steadfast as this current darkness will soon give way for light”.

     

  • Osinbajo’s visit unite Dickson, Sylva

    Osinbajo’s visit unite Dickson, Sylva

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and his immediate predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva at the weekend looked at each other eyeball-to-eyeball for the first time after the controversial 2015/2016 governorship elections in the state.

    The meeting of the two arch political enemies was made possible by the Friday’s visit of the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and his team who were in the state to seek solutions to the crisis in the Niger Delta region.

    There was apprehension in the camps of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when feelers filtered in that Sylva was in the entourage of Osinbajo.

    People were worried about the likely outcome of a meeting between Dickson and Sylva who had remained unyielding and unfriendly political foes after the elections that sharply divided the state.

    The worries were believed not to be out of place considering the hate, jabs and tantrums that characterized the actions of the duo during the poll and lingered months after the exercise.

    People recalled how Dickson, the candidate of the PDP, described Sylva, the standard bearer of the APC, as a guy man, eliciting a swift reaction from Sylva, who called the governor a bushman.

    But eventually when a “guy man” and a “bushman” met for the fist time, their behaviour towards each other betrayed their supporters’ expectations.

    It was a dramatic moment when it got to the turn of Sylva to receive handshakes from Dickson who exchanged pleasantries with members of Osinbajo’s team at the heliport of the Government House.

    With a broad smile, Dickson on getting to Sylva exclaimed: “Countryman! Countryman!!” He then warmly shook hands with him as Sylva returned the gesture with an infectious smile.

    Dickson, who was in high spirits then turned to someone standing beside Sylva and said: “Your friend (Sylva) is running away from me”. But Sylva immediately replied: ” I am not running away from you”. Everybody laughed.

    Some Ijaw leaders were happy at the development and thanked Osinbajo during a town hall meeting at the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, for bringing peace to Bayelsa by uniting the two gladiators.

    The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, before presenting his demands to Osinbajo first counted the peace between Sylva and Dickson as one of the blessings of the visit.

    He said it was remarkable that the visit brought the state chairmen of APC and PDP and Ijaw people from various political divides together.

    He said: “I want to on behalf of the Ijaw nation thank your Excellency the acting President for bringing peace to Bayelsa. This is the first political leader that will bring together two leaders of the Ijaw land together.

    “Ijaw people cut across various political divides sit together. We thank you because our state really needs to be healed politically. Thank you for bringing peace”.

    Even the Masters of Ceremony (MC), Ebi Abi, observed that it was the first of its kind for the state chairmen of APC and PDP to sit together.

    Also Dickson in his speech created more excitement among the crowd. He said he was very glad when he saw Sylva in the entourage of acting President.

    He said: “Join me to welcome my immediate past predecessor. I was very glad when I saw him at the heliport while waiting to receive the acting President”.

    Addressing Sylva he said: “My dear brother, since the end of our campaign, this is the first time I am seeing you. It is good to see that you are looking very well and handsome. That is the spirit of the new Bayelsa”.