July 30, (THEWILL) – The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has described the claims by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, that he (Sylva) is supporting the hardship protest as shocking, insensitive and divisive.
Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa, said Diri’s allegations, coming a day after he had issued a well-publicised and received statement urging youths in Bayelsa, Niger Delta and other parts of the country to shelve the planned protest, only portrayed the Bayelsa Governor as a man desperately politicising a serious issue.
In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, titled, “Our Governor Has Gone Mad Again”, Sylva said he shuddered in disbelief that the Governor, instead of joining hands with him to prevent the protest, decided to seek political capital out of it by accusing him falsely.
He said: “I once read a play by Prof. Ola Rotimi of blessed memory titled: Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again. In the prevailing circumstances in Bayelsa State, I thought that play should have been about a governor who goes mad from time to time.
“Seeing statements credited to Gov. Douye Diri at his ‘Security Council’ meeting, I shudder in disbelief. How could a Governor, instead of joining hands with me in my efforts to prevent the protest, be accusing me falsely?
“And let’s say the truth, if anyone were to protest against bad governance in Bayelsa state, it would not be against President Tinubu but against Governor Diri. In spite of that, I believe that protests are mostly counterproductive. And I will never encourage them.
“Just a day before his statement, I had asked our youths to shelve the protest and give more time to President Tinubu. Prior to that, I had spoken to youth leaders in and around Bayelsa State, on the phone and in person, on the need to give the President more time as he is working tirelessly to better our lot.
“My statement was extensively published and well-received and I strongly believe it got to the hearts of millions of our youths nationwide.
“Waking up to Gov. Diri’s wild and vile accusations that I am in fact supporting #endbadgovernance and hunger protest is nothing but a political culture shock of sorts to me.
“Hardly can I fathom the fact that Gov. Diri would politicise such a serious matter and openly harass me, and churn out such irresponsible, insensitive and divisive rhetoric.”
Sylva wondered why the Bayelsa Government would link him to one Ebidek Atuwo, someone he said his investigations revealed came from Ekeremor, the same Local Government Area of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
“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 (Oil) is also a ‘member’ of APC.
“Instead of trading accusations and rocking the boat, at this critical time, let us join hands together as leaders of our people to give them hope. This is yet another opportunity to tell our youths to shelve the protest.
“We cannot get the succour we need if our economy is grounded and our streets occupied. While dissent is natural and sometimes inevitable, only sincere dialogue guarantees peace and progress,” he added.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
