A former member of the House of Representatives and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, has revealed the alleged reason the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, is strongly backing the #EndBadGovernment protest in the state.
Newspot earlier reported that the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Monday alleged that desperate politicians who lost the last governorship election are plotting to use the #EndBadGovernance protest to cause mayhem in the state.
Meanwhile, in his reaction, Timipre Sylva, who denied the allegations, described the claims by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri that he is supporting the hardship protest as shocking, insensitive, and divisive.
However, the APC stalwart, in a statement sent to Newspot on Wednesday, said: “It is understandable that Sylva is still reeling from his loss at the polls in the 2023 governorship election, as well as the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, where his attempts to overturn the mandate freely given to His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri, failed woefully.”
However, using that as an excuse to pit the people against President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government on the grounds that he did not receive the president’s support is unstatesmanlike. Statesmen don’t behave in such a manner.
The statement reads: “I read the statement personally signed by the former governor of Bayelsa State and the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva. In it, he once again desperately but futilely attempted to extricate himself from the web of controversy surrounding his planned protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Let me begin by expressing my utter disappointment at the choice of words used by a supposed statesman in the above-captioned statement. It is indeed a shame that he could be so indecorous. However, in fairness to him, defending the indefensible can befuddle the mind.
“It is common knowledge that the former minister had planned to bring about destabilization in the state and stir the people to move against the administration of President Bola Tinubu. He need not deny this.
“Unfortunately for him and his foot-soldiers, their heinous plan was exposed, throwing them into a state of confusion and desperation.
“In Sylva’s statement, he denied knowing a certain Ebideke Atuwo, whom he attempted to link to the current Minister of Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri. This is a clear act of desperation on his part, as it is common knowledge that the said Atuwo is Sylva’s associate.
“For emphasis, Minister Lokpobiri remains the best minister from Bayelsa State to date. He has demonstrated the best intentions for the nation and Bayelsa State. His impact during one year in office as minister is inspiring and commendable.
“The minister has relentlessly been in touch with critical stakeholders across the state since the idea of the hunger-inspired protest was muted, prevailing on them to pacify their people and give the Tinubu administration ample time to turn the tide around.
“Sylva must now eat humble pie and accept the fact that he has been rejected by the people of Bayelsa State. The Bayelsa State APC can no longer continue to sail with him in his rudderless leadership. I advise him to take a bow and leave the stage now so that we can reposition our great party and move it forward.”
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