Sylva springs back

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TWO or three years ago, only few would have imagined former Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State bouncing back to political reckoning. Sylva is today at the threshold of making a historic comeback as governor in the forthcoming elections.

After his disqualification from the 2011 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship primaries which produced Hon Seriake Dickson, Timipire Sylva’s travails continued as he was subsequently hounded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged corrupt charges.

His humiliating disqualification from the PDP primary election was a product of a well-orchestrated plot by some de facto godfathers in the state who at that time where not comfortable with Sylva.

Many believed that his political career had come to an end and that his political dynasty would crumble. It was especially so after Sylva went on a self-imposed-exile away from the politics of the state.

Fast forward to 2014 when the PDP began disintegrating. Sylva began romancing with the new PDP, PDP, before he formally joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose fortunes blossomed with the victory of the party in the general election that saw the party defeat the incumbent PDP at the centre. Suffice to say that the biggest winner in the 2015 presidential poll in Bayelsa State was Sylva, being the linkman between the national and state chapters of the party. Indeed, the defeat of the PDP altered the state’s political equation and opened new doors for Sylva to bounce back into political reckoning.

How time has changed. Few years ago, Dickson was backed by federal might with former President Jonathan, giving his political godson the tacit support but today, Dickson is practically crying everywhere that Sylva is using federal might to plot his comeback.

Sylva who appeared to have perfected plans to oust Dickson with the tactical backings of key political juggernauts in the state is on a ‘revenge mission’, and the omen seems to be tilting in his favour.

At a parley with Elders of the state including traditional rulers and founding fathers penultimate week, Sylva took time to explain to the gathering that his ambition was not inordinate, but based on the conviction that his aspiration is based on true justice as he insisted that since he was unjustifiably denied a second term, he must complete his own second term before Dickson.

According to Sylva, “I believe if as a Governor, I was allowed to run in 2012, I would have won and done my second term in office. I was disqualified from the office I was occupying. It only happened in Bayelsa. And I am running again for the same office, not because I forgot anything. It is because I want to possess my possession. If our elders believe in justice, they must start the (second term) with me.

“I hear people say that let people allow this no second term syndrome end. They say let Dickson go for second term. And I say to the people that let the second term start with me. If you wish you may give him second term after I have served mine. I think it behooves us to put Bayelsa on the part of Justice. I am running for office justifiably. And justifiably, I need your support.”

On the issue of alleged deployment of troops by the APC led Federal Government to rig the coming election for him, Chief Sylva described the claim as a show of cowardice by the incumbent Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson. “I am happy our elders, that you were here during the incidents that led to my exit and towards Dickson’s elections. Over 1002 Military check points were mounted in Bayelsa state. Military helicopters and gun boats were mounted on water and the air.

“Even an armoured carrier was stationed in from t of the State Government House. Because APC is civil and a party of change, we can never do that. What is disturbing Dickson that I have security around me. Is it that they wanted to do something to me and could not do it?”

Source: Vanguard