Tag: Sylva

Former Petroleum Minister (State), Chief Timipre Sylva, is not involved in any coup as rumoured in some quarters, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Julius Bokoru, has said.

Bokoru, in a statement on Wednesday, said desperate and narcissistic politicians plotting to actualise their ambitions in 2027 were behind the rumour because of their perception of Sylva as their obstacle.

He said such evil politicians took their desperation to a sickening level following Sylva’s intimidating political presence and credibility exposing their dark, self-serving ambitions.

Describing the former Governor as an unrepentant and thoroughbred democrat, Bokoru said Sylva had shown unwavering support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.

He recalled that Sylva recently mobilised the entire structures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State to unanimously endorse President Tinubu at the APC Bayelsa expanded stakehokders’ meeting.

Bokoru, however, admitted that Sylva’s Abuja home was subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters, saying they inflicted significant damage on the property.

He said the security operatives that raided Sylva’s house did not provide any reason for their action.

He confirmed that Sylva and his wife were already out of the country at the time of the raid.

Read Also: N/Delta group urges Tinubu to implement Sylva’s vision for gas

Explaining their absence, Bokoru said Sylva was in the United Kingdom for a routine medical check and would soon be on his way to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.  

Bokoru added: “In the past forty-eight hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has ‘fled’ the country in connection with certain purported matters.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property.

“Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently.

“It is important to state unequivocally that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, and his esteemed wife, Her Excellency, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country at the time of the incident.

“As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.

“The next development I was made aware of, regrettably, were reports circulating across social media and other platforms concerning the raid on his residence”.

He added: “While the Defence Headquarters has already debunked the swirling rumours of a coup in Nigeria, it is important to state emphatically that Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, has no involvement whatsoever—either in planning or in logistics—with any such plot.

“Chief Sylva is a thoroughbred democrat, whose entire political journey has been defined by his faith in democratic processes and institutions. From the 1990s, when he was first elected into the Old Rivers State House of Assembly, to his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State, Sylva has achieved every milestone through transparent, democratic engagement and the will of the people.

“His unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a matter of public record. It remains fresh in memory how he mobilized the entire Bayelsa APC structure to unanimously endorse President Tinubu at the APC Bayelsa Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting.

“These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027, who see Sylva as their last real obstacle—a man whose political presence and credibility continue to expose their dark, self-serving ambitions”.

A former Petroleum Minister, State, Chief Timipre Sylva has given the Sahara Reporters seven days to retract what he described as an inaccurate report linking him to thuggery in Bayelsa State.

Sylva, a former Bayelsa State governor, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Julius Bokoru, said his attention was drawn to a video circulated by the online news platform, alleging that thugs attacked a traditional chiefs’ meeting in Bayelsa State instigated by him.

The statement said even persons trying to link the Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa, knew it was false.

The statement said: “Even those that are trying to connect this act to the former governor know that it is false. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a chief; former Governor of Bayelsa State and former Minister of State for Petroleum, Sylva has consistently eschewed violence in all its forms.

Read Also: Gbajabiamila hails military, unveils 1,200-seater auditorium at Lagos Army Barracks

“As governor, Sylva played a pivotal role in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which successfully brought ex-militants out of the creeks and ushered in peace in the Niger Delta, thereby maintaining respectable oil revenue.

“His governorship remains the most peaceful in the state’s history. It is perplexing, therefore, that Sahara Reporters would seek to portray Sylva as violent without any tangible evidence”.

The statement said there was no way the viral video could be linked to Sylva, who was in Abuja at the time the incident happened, adding that the culprits had no known affiliations with him or his supporters.

It said: “One wonders what investigative rigor Sahara Reporters employed to arrive at such a verdict. While Nigerian journalism has made significant strides, Sahara Reporters, owned by a serial presidential candidate, has unfortunately regressed. It has become a tool for targeting innocent Nigerians at the behest of anonymous parties.

“Other reputable media houses in Nigeria would reject such a hatchet job, as evident in media algorithms. Sahara Reporters has devolved into a rogue outfit scavenging for scraps and clients with ulterior motives.

“This is a far cry from the standards of the Nigerian press. The Nigerian Union of Journalists should address this anomaly masquerading as a media unit.

“Chief Sylva gives Sahara Reporters seven working days to offer a public apology, rephrase their post, or defend their position in court.”

A former Petroleum Minister (State), Timipre Sylva, has called on youths across the country, especially those from Bayelsa State and Niger Delta to shun the planned August 1 hardship protest.

Sylva, a former Bayelsa state governor in a message at the weekend, entitled, “Dear Bayelsans, Proud Niger Deltans and Great Nigerians”, said the protest should be shelved because no problem had been solved by agitations.

He said: “The planned protest should be shelved. No problem has been solved by protests and agitation. Only constructive engagement solves problems. The anonymous organizers, have reiterated that the protest is primarily about ending biting hunger. 

“While we know that a right to peaceful assembly is protected by the Constitution Of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as ammended,.we also know that non-toxic constructive dissent and agreement are the most important ingredient of democracy.”

Read Also: Diri to Sylva: stop denigrating judiciary

He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved massive empowerment and employment schemes that would improve the lot of teeming youths and people adding that Tinubu was not aloof to the problems but had shown concern as a listening President.

While appealing to the people to give the President more time, Sylva said: “Upon assumption of office, President Tinubu began a major economic Renaissance, building on the firm foundations of his predecessor. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and clearly building an economy cannot be done in just over a year. 

“Mr President’s promise and manifesto will definitely come to fruition, but the time he has been at the helm does not realistically afford him, the time to do the magic expected from him. 

“We should not forget that this government just granted our 774 LGA’s full autonomy. This means more employment, projects and empowerments at the grassroots level where the most economically troubled Nigerians, are.”

“So I appeal for more time time and  understanding of the situation at hand, and the timeless wisdom that we do not throw out the baby and the bathwater”.

Sylva warned that uncoordinated and spontaneous protests could  lead to dangerous and ambiguous outcomes as opportunists and cynics could seize the events to unleash their devilish agenda.

He said: “Every nation has its share of cynics and opportunists, there may be those who, beginning from the 1st of August, may appear at gatherings with ghoulish intentions. There are those who have been seeking for this opportunity not out of patriotism or love but out of pure mischief. 

“I urge our youths across the country to be vigilant and apply wisdom. Not everyone on the streets hope for an end to hunger. Some minds have been warped, some influenced by powerful forces sabotaging our nation. 

“I humbly implore you all, Bayelsans, Niger Deltans, Nigerians and our very illustrious youths to wait on your country, support our President and shelve the planned protests. We do not cut off our nose to spite our face. Things are on course to improve.”

• Says ex-Gov championed subsidy removal for national growth

A coalition of non-governmental organisations under the auspices of the Niger Delta Media Activists Group (NDMAG) and the Excellent Leadership Foundation (ELF) has applauded former Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva for his great roles towards the development of the Niger Delta region.

The coalition described Sylva, the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources as a champion of human capacity  development in the region, saying that the pioneer Pro-Chancellor of Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko remained a beacon of hope for the Nigerian youths as he turns 60 years on Sunday.

In a statement yesterday made available to journalists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by the National Coordinator of the coalition, Chief Izzi Yakiah, he noted that Sylva whose rise in Nigerian politics began in 1992 when he won a seat in the Old Rivers State House of Assembly to represent Brass Constituency had demonstrated dedication to serving humanity.

Yakiah said Sylva had initiated policies that relatively brought peace and stability to the Niger Delta region at the heat of agitations for resource control.

He recalled that Sylva’s role in the establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in 2009 under late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua could be likened to a patriotic commitment that had paved the way for self-development of Niger Delta youths in various fields of endeavours.

Read Also: It’s shameful we are still generating 4.5GW electricity – Tinubu

Yakiah, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), eulogised the ex-minister’s contributions to the development of Bayelsa State when he served as governor between 2007 and January 2012.

He mentioned the elaborate infrastructure roadmap of Sylva that executed the clearing and land reclamation of Bayelsa Business District,  construction of 52 internal link roads within Yenagoa metropolis, building and furnishing the multi-billion naira Glory Land Castle, completion of Azikoro phase two, initiated and completed Onuebum-Otuoke road and Yenagoa Gateway road  phase one.

Yakiah further said the other infrastructural projects by the Timipre Sylva administration included the building and equipping of the Bayelsa State Library, building of the Yenagoa Tower Hotels and International Conference Centre from second floor to eighteenth floor among others.

He noted: “We also praise Chief Timipre Sylva for his wide electrification of communities and distribution of stable electricity power to boost small scale businesses and scholarship offered to Bayelsa indigenous students to study engineering and Medicine in Russia and other countries are testament that Sylva records of human capacity developments in the homogenous state have not been replicated by successive governments in the last 13 years.

A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has carpeted the Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, for ordering his prosecution over the death of one George Sibo in the last governorship election.

Governor Diri had threatened that the state will institute legal action against the killers of Sibo, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation centre in Brass Local Government Area of the state on November 12, 2023.

Thirty-one-year-old Sibo was killed when Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 governorship poll, allegedly led his party members and supporters to invade the collation centre and held INEC officials hostage.

At the burial of the deceased in Twon-Brass on Thursday, Diri directed the state Attorney-General to commence legal action against Sylva, a former governor of the state, and others who stormed the collation centre on the fateful day.

The Bayelsa governor expressed sadness over the dastardly killing of the young man and promised that the state government would bring the culprits to book.

Read Also: Bayelsa Tribunal: Sylva heads to Appeal Court, vows to reclaim mandate

But reacting to the prosecution threat in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Julius Bokoru, yesterday, Sylva said the directive, which Diri gave to his Attorney-General, had shown the governor’s desperation to deploy diversionary tactics and distractions against his case at the Appeal Court.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa recalled that Diri had abandoned a phantom EFCC case he conjured to distract him and had devised another style in his failed attempt to stop him and the APC from concentrating on their case.

Sylva said Diri’s new “devilish plot” was dead on arrival as he knew nothing about the death of George Sibo, whom he described as an illustrious and promising youth of the state.

He asked members of the public to discountenance the new plot by the governor, insisting that nothing would stop him from reclaiming his stolen mandate.

The statement said: “Chief Sylva is curious at what Diri’s apparent desperation can push him to. It is clear this recent effort is a symptom of fear.

“Shortly after Diri tried to conjure some phantom EFCC case against Sylva, he has devised a new method of distraction which, of course, is dead on arrival.

“Sylva knows nothing of the murder of George Sibo, an illustrious and promising youth of the state. It is important to note that by the time the young man died, Sylva was well out of the Island.”

The statement observed that Diri had continued to spend huge amount of taxpayers’ money on heavy propaganda to distract Sylva’s focus on his case.

The statement further said: “It is clear that this is fear, anxiety and everything to distract Chief Sylva after his attempt to bring up EFCC issues failed at the wake of a long and relentless string of propaganda against Chief Sylva with tax payers’ money.

“It is clear that any attempt to drag Chief Sylva into this issue is either inspired by fear and anxiety or by a thoroughly jaundiced mindset. 

“Everything imaginable has been put in Sylva’s way to distract him after Diri’s attempt to bring up phantom EFCC issues failed. After the endless and relentless string of propaganda failed against Chief Sylva, now this!

“This response, which at this point is forced from Chief Sylva, is painful for two reasons: how can a sitting governor assume the role of a forensic and criminal investigator and convict Chief Sylva even before investigations commenced? How much more can a sitting governor debase the office, making such wild, frantic and baseless allegations?

“In the course of the last elections, we saw strange things from Governor Douye Diri who seemed constantly edgy and ready to emotionally erupt, but this latest unwarranted combustion is a new low.”

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state and former minister of state for petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has expressed his discontent with the judgment of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal on Monday, May 27.

In a statement issued by his special assistant on media and public affairs, Julius Bokoru, Sylva immediately convened a meeting with elders and stakeholders of the party following the verdict.

Rising from the meeting, the former Governor of Bayelsa state instructed his legal team to promptly pursue justice at the Court of Appeal.

Prior to the judgment, Sylva had raised concerns about the tribunal’s impartiality, citing several irregularities observed by his legal representatives during the trial.

He had subsequently filed an interlocutory appeal seeking the dissolution of the panel and the formation of a new one.

Read Also: Kogi Tribunal’s verdict: Accept defeat in good faith, Audu urges Ajaka

Sylva said: “We are not satisfied with the decision of the tribunal. But this is just a court of first instance and after meeting with the elders and critical stakeholders of our great party, the APC, we directed our legal team to seek justice for Bayelsa at the Supreme Court.”

The governorship candidate assured the people of Bayelsa that the court of appeal would surely correct the travesty perpetrated by the tribunal.

He declared that the liberation of Bayelsa was close and that justice was inevitable for the traumatized people of the state, appealing to them to remain positive, law-abiding and steadfast.

The 2023 Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Great Joshua MacIver, has sacked his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Jonah Daumieye.

MacIver, who was running mate to former Governor Timipre Sylva and Bayelsa Coordinator of the Tantita Security Nigeria Limited, said Daumieye was relieved of his post after thorough assessment and consideration of his awful conduct in private and public.

The APC chief was quoted in a statement yesterday by his Chief of Staff, Timi Igoli, as saying that it had become evident that Daumieye’s character was not in alignment with the ideals, character and personal values that the name IzonTukpa, his sobriquet, stands for.

Read Also: INEC, Diri, Sylva, PDP close case in LP’s petition against Bayelsa guber poll

The statement reads: “By this notice, we wish to inform Bayelsans and the general public of the termination of Mr Jonah Daumieye’s appointment as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Great Joshua MacIver aka De IzonTukpa.

“This decision, which takes effect immediately, has been made in the best interest of maintaining the integrity and credibility of our media and publicity efforts.

“We wish Mr. Daumieye the best in his future endeavours.”