Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has fired back at Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, linking him to the planned protest against bad governance by President Bola Tinubu.
Sylva, in a statement on Tuesday, described Diri’s claims as “wild and vile accusations” and a “political culture-shock,” adding that he would rather protest against Diri’s government than that of Tinubu.
He also referenced the play “Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again” by the late Professor Ola Rotimi, noting that he thinks the popular playbook should have been about a governor who goes mad from time to time.
“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,” Sylva said in the statement.
“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.”
The book, which Sylva says reflects the erratic behaviour of a governor, revolves around a former military major named Lekoja-Brown, who enters politics in contemporary Africa and struggles in the political world, which he doesn’t fully understand while being driven more by vanity than patriotism.
Sylva reiterated his stance against protests, noting that “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 noted that he was shocked that Diri would politicise such a serious matter and openly harass him with “irresponsible, insensitive, and divisive rhetoric.”
He added that he does not understand why the state government would link him to Ebideke Atuwo, an individual Sylva claims not to know, based solely on their shared membership in the APC.
“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, the 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 too.”
Sylva, however, called for unity and collaboration among leaders to provide hope and stability for the people of Bayelsa, urging the governor to avoid trading accusations and rocking the boat.
“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.”
