Bayelsa professionals slam Sylva over comments on TV programme

The Network of Bayelsa Professionals (NBP) has slammed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the November 11 governorship election in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva for failing to acknowledge the ongoing construction of the Nembe-Brass road by the Senator Douye Diri led administration.

Sylva, while appearing on Channel’s TV’s popular programme, Politics Today on Tuesday, Sylva alluded to the difficult terrain in constructing critical projects in the state but failed to mention the efforts of the Diri administration in that regard, especially the multi billion naira Nembe/Brass road.

The Bayelsa professionals in a statement by their spokesman, Mr. Deinmobofa Tantua and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, described as the height of mischief, the refusal of Sylva to admit and give the deserved credit to Diri.

“Sylva, while making reference to the difficult terrain of Bayelsa state which affects rapid development in terms of constructing critical infrastructure, said he doesn’t have a road to his place. And that he had to travel 1hr 30mins by boat each time he visits his community.

“At that point, one would have expected him to tell the world that in no distant time he would drive to his village because of the ongoing construction of the Nembe-Brass road, ambitiously being undertaken by the Prosperity Administration of Governor Douye Diri. But in outright mischief, he did not. We see this as unfortunate for a man seeking the votes of his people.

“Perhaps it was because of shame that he did not. It is the same road he was alleged to have said is not economically viable, and that was why he couldn’t for five years as governor make any attempt to construct it.

“In the spirit of patriotism and being a statesman that he ought to be, one would have expected Sylva not to be flippant. It is because of this attitude that we decided as a group to stand by Diri because indeed Diri is better in all ramifications”.

The statement said that the construction of the Nembe-Brass road is targeted at enhancing the economy of the state and create access to the Atlantic Ocean for the state to harness its abundant natural resources.

The statement further said, “In the same interview, Sylva alleged that his successor sold the turbines when he left as governor.

“From available records, that is not true. Out of the three turbines, Sylva only installed one, and it wasn’t functional even after it was commissioned. Diri’s administration is now rehabilitating the three turbines via a public-private partnership.

“The company in charge will increase the capacity of the turbines from 71mw to 120mw when completed as well as build a smart prepaid meter manufacturing factory in Bayelsa”.

The NBP again called on the peope of the state to choose Diri of the PDP on November 11, “as he represents the light to continue to illuminate Bayelsa’s path to greatness,” it said.