June 23, (THEWILL) – We have read His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva’s impassive reaction to Governor Douye Diri’s directive to the state Attorney-General to commence legal action against him and others behind the killing of 31-year-old George Sibo on November 12, 2023, in Twon-Brass, the headquarters of Brass Local Government Area of the state.
As usual, his reaction was mindless and lacked any feeling of contrition. Such glaring disdain is consistent with those who place no value on human life. Only their selfish, self-serving interests matter to them.
It is just as ridiculous that Chief Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the November 11, 2023, governorship poll in the state, could turn around to deny and feign ignorance of the dastardly killing of a young man; an act he instigated by his actions.
Suppose the APC candidate, an interested party in the election, had not invaded the INEC collation centre in Twon-Brass and held hostage officials of the electoral umpire. Would George Sibo have been attacked and killed by his supporters and party men?
It would have been better for Chief Sylva to show remorse instead of this vile show of dancing on the grave of the slain Brass youth.
It also amounts to sheer prevarication to claim Governor Diri was desperate in an election that was his to win, and which he won convincingly.
Sylva’s feckless effort to put truth on its head only reinforces the generally held opinion that he lacks character and honour.
It is only a man who relishes in untruth and lies that would claim a “stolen mandate” in an election that was adjudged by the National Chairman of his own party as credible and won freely by Governor Diri, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate.
Undoubtedly, there was no “electoral heist” in Bayelsa on November 11, 2023, except only in the warped imagination of Sylva and his dyed-in-the-wool associates.
By the affirmation of the Bayelsa electorate and the imprimatur of INEC, Sylva has no mandate to lay claim to. We advise him to pick up the pieces of his already saturnine political misadventure and move on.
Perhaps, the serial governorship contestant has forgotten the criminal indictment of the tribunal hanging over his head like the ‘Sword of Damocles’ for presenting forged electoral documents to the court.
Let it be clear, however, that Governor Diri has no reason to be afraid of Sylva. But the governor remains his albatross because of his political forthrightness and for his ability to dismantle the violent political culture that the likes of Sylva enthroned in the state.
Today, elections in Bayelsa are no longer a do-or-die affair. November 11 was a referendum on the new political culture and Bayelsans overwhelmingly preferred Governor Diri.
They will not go back to Egypt!
About the Author
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
