Ex-Gov. Timipre Sylva
In what was considered the biggest political coup ahead of the December 5 governorship election, elders in Bayelsa State, under the aegis of Bayelsa Council of Elders, on Saturday formally endorsed and gave their blessing to the candidature of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva for governor of the state.
The endorsement of Sylva by the elders took most people by surprise as the council was put in place by Governor Seriake Dickson, and it is led by a staunch Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Chief Francis Doukpola.
The Bayelsa Elders’ endorsement was however secured after a promise by Sylva not to bear any grudge against any politician and individuals for their role in the incidents that led to his disqualification to run for the second term in 2012 by the PDP and his travail under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The endorsement was coming barely one week after the council allegedly gave their blessing to the incumbent governor, Dickson, who is the candidate of the PDP.
Present at the meeting were Chairman of the BCE, Chief Francis Doukpola and Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, HRH, King Agara Mozi, King Joshua Igbugburu, Dr. Amba Ambaowei, Chief Douglas Naingba, among others.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Diete-Spiff, a former Military Administrator of old Rivers State confirmed they had given Sylva their blessing, even as he was silent on a similar endorsement of Dickson.
Diete-Spiff, who called for voice vote from the elders in front of newsmen to confirm that the endorsement was freely given, with an affirmative “aye” given, stated, “We have told him what we want and as one of our members; we like to give him our blessing. We would like to appeal to all contestants to ensure that there is fair and violence free election.
“For Sylva, we will like to say God be with you. Goodluck! We all rejoice with you in your aspiration and we want to ask that all that you promised us here today are kept.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the council, Francis Doukpola had clarified that though some members were partisan politicians, the BCE as an institution was not partisan.
“Irrespective of the party you belong, Bayelsa is one. We are brothers and sisters. The group is made up of special people. As an institution, we are not partisan - we are a father figure to all.”
Few of the elders known to be loyal to the administration of Dickson, including Chief Thompson Okorotie, were noticeably absent from the meeting.
Earlier in his speech before the Traditional Rulers and Elders of the State, Sylva said though he was pained by the refusal of the Elders from the State to reach out to him during the political processes that led to the exit of the former President from office, the decision to meet with them is based on the conviction that his governorship aspiration is based on true justice.
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. If our elders believe in justice, they must start with me.”
On the issue of alleged deployment of troops by the APC led Federal Government to rig the coming election for him, Sylva described the claim as a show of cowardice by the incumbent Governor, Dickson.
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