A former lawmaker representing Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Israel Sunny-Goli, has appealed to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, not to get involved in media campaigns that would drag Bayelsans into joining the August 1st nationwide protest against hardship.
Sunny-Goli, a former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Sylva on youth affairs, alleged that his former boss is the sole sponsor of one Mr. Ebideke Atuwo, who is the coordinator of the August 1st protest in Bayelsa State, describing Sylva’s denial of involvement in the planned protest as “indecorous” and “desperate”.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, had cautioned youths to be wary of failed politicians who plan to use the proposed national protest to disturb the peace of the state.
Speaking during the 34th state security council meeting in Yenagoa, Senator Diri said that security reports available to him indicated that politicians that lost the last governorship election in the state were plotting to cause mayhem.
However, Sylva, in a swift reaction issued a statement in Yenagoa, denying knowing Ebideke Atuwo, wondering why the state government would link him to someone he said his investigations revealed came from Ekeremor, the same Local Government Area of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State (Oil).
He said “The State Government feels there is great wisdom in linking me with a certain Ebideke Atuwo, a chap I do not know. On investigation, the chap is from Ekeremor. Same place as Senator Lokpobiri. If the link with me is because he is a member of the APC, then I dare remind Gov. Diri that the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) is also a member of APC.”
But reacting to the statement from the former governor, Hon. Sunny-Goli explained that “Sylva had denied knowing Ebideke Atuwo, an associate allegedly linked to the protest and tried to connect him to Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, this as a clear act of desperation. It should be known that Lokpobiri is the best minister from Bayelsa State to date.
“Sylva’s actions could be attributed to his loss in the 2023 governorship election and subsequent legal challenges. I urge him to accept defeat and step down as leader of the APC in Bayelsa State. I call on the party to reposition itself and move forward without Sylva’s leadership.
“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.
“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 upturn the mandate freely given to His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri failed woefully.
“Sylva must now eat the 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
“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 the 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.
“However, in fairness to him, defending the indefensible can befuddle the mind.
“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 (Oil), 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.”
. TheWitness
