Former
governor of Bayelsa State Timipre Sylva, has told President Goodluck
Jonathan to forget his 2015 re-election ambition because Nigerians will
send him packing from Aso Rock.
According to Sylva, people of the South-South will lead the struggle
against Jonathan’s re-election because he has divided the region with
his anti-people policies.
“Today, we in the Niger Delta have the Presidency of this country.
But what has the Presidency of this country brought to us? It has
brought divisions, in fact, put a crack in the unity of the Niger
Delta,” he said.
Sylva spoke on Monday when he visited Governor Rotimi Amaechi of
Rivers State. The former governor, who is now a staunch member of the
All Progressives Congress (APC), assured Amaechi that Bayelsa APC would
work with him to flush out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led
Federal Government at the next election.
With Sylva during the visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, were
Bayelsa APC executives and supporters. Sylva said they came to show
their solidarity with Amaechi. He said most Bayelsans were frustrated
with the Jonathan administration and wanted a change, though the
President is an indigene of the state.
“We, of APC in Bayelsa State decided to come to you (Amaechi) to
solidarise with you, to tell you that not everybody in Bayelsa State is
against progress; not everybody in Bayelsa State is an enemy of
progress; that you also have a family in Bayelsa State that identifies
with you all the way and we will stand by you all the way.
“When the time comes for us to sweep away the government of the day
at the national level, Bayelsans will stand with you and be in the
vanguard of sweeping away this government that has brought only misery
to the Niger Delta.
“APC is the platform for progress. You (Amaechi) are an epitome of
progress not only in the Niger Delta but in Nigeria. Everybody that
comes to Rivers State will bear witness to what you have done, to your
commitment and we will stand with you and we will continue to support
you.”
He noted that APC is a better alternative to the PDP and would
provide good leadership. “APC has provided a very credible platform for
progressives to come together and sweep away the corruption and
ineptitude of the government of the day,” the former Bayelsa State
governor stated.
He decried the fact that Jonathan’s Presidency brought shame and
opened cracks in the unity of the people of the South-South. Sylva
recalled that Amaechi ran into trouble with the Federal Government when
he told the Jonathan administration to complete the all-important
East-West Road in the Niger Delta.
“I know that one of the things that brought problems between yourself
and the Federal Government was that you were able to point to the fact
that even the East-West Road, which is a major link in the South- South,
has been neglected by this government and, of course, there were lots
of shouts. Instead of the Federal Government coming to you to learn from
you, to take what is good from you, they have decided to fight you and
everyone knows about this. Very unfortunately,” he chided.
He applauded the Rivers governor for the laudable achievements in the
state, confessing that so much has changed during the last few years
that testify to Amaechi’s credibility and good leadership.
“I must say Mr. Governor that I was so impressed when I came into
Rivers State. Many times I missed my way in Port Harcourt today because a
lot of things have changed during your time. A lot of things have
changed for the better. Port Harcourt is wearing a different look; even
the air over Port Harcourt is different and sometimes, I wish that this
change and development we see in Rivers State is also replicated
nationwide.
“We have our brother as President today. Unfortunately, we cannot say
the same thing is happening nationally,” he said. Responding, Amaechi
thanked Sylva and the APC team from Bayelsa for the visit and solidarity
and he used the opportunity to call on Nigerians to vote for only
credible leaders.
“It’s important we realise that character is an essential element to
good governance – you can’t see a man who has betrayed his friends and
you say make him governor or make him deputy. What have you done? You
have empowered him to betray more persons, including betraying the money
you have left behind in the coffers. So, character should be an
essential element in selecting our leaders,” he said.
Amaechi congratulated those who, despite Sylva’s travails, remained
true and loyal to him, recalling that as a leader, he had been severally
betrayed, even abandoned by those he trusted most and urged APC in
Bayelsa State to close ranks and work together for electoral victory in
the elections ahead.
Taiwo
Awoniyi, Alhassan Ibrahim and Musa Yahaya will lead the Flying Eagles
20-man squad to a series of tune-up matches in Morocco this weekend.
