Truly, Same Sylva, Minor Differences!

By Emmanuel Ebiye

Chief Timipre Sylva, APC Guber Candidate in Bayelsa State, is the same yesterday and today!

Brigandage reigned supreme under his government between 2007 and 2012 when anyone identified to be against the administration was targeted for attacks.

His former Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi and former aide, Famous Daunemigha, were targeted and persecuted unjustly. Even his now party Youth Leader,Chief Preye Agama escaped death by the whisker!

Imagine a sitting Governor, who masterminded planting of guns in the residence of Daunemigha, and at th same time, planted explosives in the private residence of Ebebi. For Agama, hiding inside the wardrobe was a saving grace.

Incumbent Governor, Douye Diri, member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Hon. Fred Agbedi, Mrs. Faith Opene, and a few others were allegedly arrested for holding a political meeting in Yenagoa under Sylva.

What manner of leadership!

Unsatisfied, the administration floated a parallel and dreaded security outfit, known as Famou-Tangbei, meaning “Kill and throw Away”. They descended on Young Bayelsans and engaged in extra-judicial killings. Even politicians were clamped upon by the inglorious security outfit. They operated like a “mafia” group to torment opposition.

For five years under Sylva, Bayelsa State experienced retrogression because of the state of insecurity. No meaningful investments could survive.

Cultism strives and Violent killings such as indiscriminate shooting at Ekeki Park was the order of the day.

But Bayelsans waited for the right moment and publicly stoned him for poor performance. Sylva, left office in shame in 2012 after he allegedly threatened to “kill” the then president in a leaked audio conversation.

Fast forward to 2015, when he attempted to re-contest governorship poll, the election witnessed another orgy of violence and innocent people lost their lives. The records are there.

He lost at the poll and staggered in the pains of defeat through the night clubs at night and was openingly rejected by the people.

In 2019, he became more ruthless as many blood was shed in Nembe during the PDP guber rally. That’s Sylva for all.

Same Timipre yesterday and same Sylva today but he has failed each time because God reigns over the affairs of Bayelsa State.

In 2023, Sylva is at it again! Same old style.

But now, Bayelsans clearly understand the desperation of the APC candidate in the November 11 Governorship. The killing of three young people on February 15, 2023 in Bassambiri was a dress rehearsal.

The Government is cutting his plans in Opu-Nembe and other places.

The running advertisement on Moniepoint is such a hilarious jingle promoting that brand with humour and laughter.

The main character was such a handsome man but he “metamorphosed” to a disgusting physical appearance becoming so unattractive to his female suitor. Sad!

That’s the case of “Same Joe, Minor Differences.”

That’s the man who held the soul of Bayelsa APC in his palm as the “Sole Proprietor” deciding who should stay or leave the party. At the same time, he solely make choices of candidates in every election.

Sylva, never liked competition within the party. Chief Timi Alaibe in 2015 tasted the sour experience when Sylva decietfully said he was not contesting Governorship.

He made Alaibe to join APC but later joined the guber race. Sylva eventually muscled Alaibe and others out of his “territory.”

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, then Governor of Edo State as the Chairman of the panel for the 2015 APC Guber primaries was held hostage for “hours” and it took the JTF Commander’s intervention to whisk Oshiohmole out of Sylva’s detention at the Sports Complex venue of the primaries.

Genuine delegates of the said primaries were chased away from the sports complex by arms wielding cultists. Same Sylva yesterday and today.

Chief David Lyon, who gave hope to the APC and enjoyed great followership during the 2019 guber polls, has suffered same fate in the hands of Sylva. He is now a victim too. Sylva, crumbled Lyon’s business.

The incumbent Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri was a also a victim. Sylva, used his “boys” to hull insults at the distinguish Senator and locked him and his followers out of the APC in Bayelsa through suspensions. But fate has brought Lokpobiri back to the mainstream.

Trust no one is surprised that Sylva’s key associates like his former Deputy Governor, H.E Werinipre Seibarugu, Hon. Warman Ogoriba and immediate past House of Representative Member for Nembe/Brass, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, have abandoned him.

As Minister of State Petroleum for four years, he abandoned his people.He also failed to attract any meaningful development to Bayelsa State.

Sylva said on a live radio programme when asked about any possible future governorship bid, “That chapter of my life has closed.” And suddenly, he is back to seek the same governorship seat he had earlier declared he would not contest.

And Bayelsans in millions joined him to say Amen and indeed, God has accepted his request for that chapter of his life to remain closed.

He humiliated David Lyon in the process. And he expected Lyon, Lokpobiri, Powel to wholeheartedly support him in his failed bid.

It is still same Sylva yesterday, and today. He certainly cannot be trusted with power!

Emmanuel Ebiye, writes from Yenagoa.