Date Published: 02/06/10

Who’s Blackmailing Governor Timipre Sylva? By Richard Omagbemi

In Nigeria, politics is an intriguing vocation. In some quarters, politics thrives on conspiracy, mudslinging, and blackmail. This explains why some people believe that politics is a ‘dirty game’ because the rules of power struggle and the allocation of scarce resources is usually not guided by sound ethical principles. By reason of this fact, Nigeria is inundated with a docile intelligentsia and a naive political class, some over-ambitious politicians rule by the grapevine especially when such rumours are well-orchestrated by political factions to score political points. In fact, dirty politics thrives on godfatherism and patronage especially when the electoral system is flawed and the party in power is devoid of internal democracy. That is why rumours and blackmail flourish in Nigerian politics.

It has been alleged in some quarters that Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State has been sponsoring campaigns against his elder brother and mentor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan - Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Political pundits who understand the cordial relationship between them would have dismissed it with a wave of the hand, but in the words of Gobbels, when you repeat a lie often, society may be compelled to accept it as the truth. It is against this background that I seize the opportunity of this article to demonstrate that such vicious propaganda are not only false and unfounded but orchestrated by a section of Bayelsans – mostly political jobbers who want to cause acrimony and mutual distrust between the two leaders.

It is proper to place on record that Governor Timipre Sylva’s ascendancy to power was made possible by the VP, in spite of the political intrigues that followed the endorsement of the Governor. Ever since, Governor Timipre Sylva has not made any pretence that the VP is not only a mentor but a godfather as far as the politics of Bayelsa State is concerned. It is therefore surprising to that the same godsonis campaigning against his highly respected  political mentor. What kind of political points do the workers of mischief hope to achieve?

When In read the story in the TELL Magazine and the rumours making the rounds, I was perturbed beyond imagination hence I conducted an independent investigation to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of such rumours. My investigations showed that the campaign of calumny seems to have been sponsored by a former boss of a popular development Commission in the Niger Delta, who is now Special Adviser to the President. Further investigations revealed that the person has spent lots of resources in this campaign to create bad blood because his inordinate ambition of becoming the next Governor of Bayelsa State. Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong in someone aspiring to become Governor of Bayelsa State, but why must such ambitions be laced with toxic propaganda and character assassination?  Why would such an over-ambitious politician deliberately concoct such plans to discredit the incumbent Governor of the State? I implore Governor Timipre Sylva to take consolation in what Martin Luther King Jnr. said sometime ago. He said, ‘the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy’.  

In politics, even Siamese twins can have differing political opinions on issues, depending on which side of the ideological spectrum they belong. Even though Governor Timipre Sylva and the Vice President have had political differences in the past, it does not translate to such an open fight such as the sponsorship of people against the political interest of his master. In fact, the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan would be to the advantage of Governor Sylva, as it would add robust political capital for Governor Timipre Sylva to have his elder brother and mentor as President of the Country. In fact, in the court of public opinion, a Jonathan Presidency would attract enormous federal presence to Bayelsa State and turn around her marginalized status. This is why opinion leaders in Bayelsa State and even the youths clamour for handing over power to the Vice President to act on behalf of the ailing President Yar’Adua.

It is essential to note that Governor Timipre Sylva and the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan come from the same Senatorial District – the Bayelsa East Senatorial District. This would be the first time the Governor and the Vice-President are from the same Senatorial District. It would be a thing of pride for the people to produce the first South-South President and this has been the aspiration of the Niger Delta People as least to compensate for their enormous contributions to the economic viability of the Nigerian State. It is those who envy this political calculation that try to throw in their spanners to do violence to the cordial relationship existing between them. Why on earth would a patriotic Ijaw man like Governor Timipre Sylva who has been advocating equity and fairness in the distribution of political positions stand on the way of his mentor if the opportunity presents itself so to do.

Investigations also revealed the arrow head of the propaganda is a serving Commissioner and a traditional ruler who is notorious for political back-stabbing. Informed sources states that the serving Commissioner who has been AWOL for some time now is also a traditional ruler spread the propaganda that Governor Timipre Sylva is campaigning against the Vice Presidents’ bid to be President. There are confirmed reports that since the said Commissioner travelled out without handing over to anyone in the Ministry, thereby leaving the Ministry like a rudderless ship, and this unsavoury situation has not created room for the management of information. It is against this background that the propaganda and blackmail against the Governor Sylva seems to be ragging on like wild fire. But this is all false, vicious propaganda and well orchestrated to vilify political power holders at the highest levels of government.

What irks this writer is that the same Commissioner benefitting from the Sylva administration could turn round to assassinate the character of the Government at whose pleasure he enjoys his office and its attendant perquisites. What is indeed irksome is that Governor Timipre Sylva has not served out his tenure and cannot be said to be have the ambition to become President; he has made an avowed commitment to support the political ambition of his brother Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, which is legitimately pursued within the confines of the constitution.

What is being published in the print media is a campaign of calumny against an innocent man who holds his senior partner in high esteem. If one may ask, why would Governor Sylva campaign against his kinsman when they belong to the same party, and the VP even fought for his re-election after the Appeal Court nullified the April Gubernatorial elections? What is more, the two brother belong to the same Party. If Dr. Goodluck Jonathan becomes President, It will be to the advantage of Bayelsa people and the whole of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. In fact, if there is anyone that would wish the VP to become President, It is Timipre Sylva, because of the inherent advantages of the position to Bayelsa people and the long –suffering Ijaw nation.

Throughout his political career, he has never been known to be a dissident neither has he manifested anti-establishment tendencies. Governor Timipre Sylva is a man who obeys the commandment and honours his elder brother. Already, Government Timipre Sylva is making consultations at the highest level of government to collaborate with stakeholders in the State to attract industries through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Governor Sylva cannot achieve these lofty objectives without enlisting the support of Bayelsa people at the Presidency. Timipre Sylva has always reiterated that power belongs to God. Upon this philosophy, he has endeavoured to build bridges of friendship and camaraderie even when if it requires compromises and trade-offs to his personal disadvantage

Recognizing that the VP is instrumental in the diversification of the economy of Bayelsa State, most people including the leadership see Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as an indispensable asset of the State. This explains why Bayelsan and indeed all Ijaw leaders such as Chief (Dr). E.K.Clark, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, King Edmund Daukoru, Chief Pere Ajuwa, Dr. (Sir) Lambert Eradiri, Dr. Amabo Ambaowei, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; Professors Lawrence Ekpebu, Turner Isoun, Clifford Odu-Cameroon, Emeritus Professor, E.J. Alagoa,  Chief Frank Opigo, and all traditional rulers in the Niger Delta are praying that one of their own should be the President some day to compensate for the horrendous neglect and marginalization they have suffered as a people.. To those who have titrated the meaning of Democracy to mean witch-hunting and Pulling Down their leaders, it is time to stop such unholy vocations. Governor Timipre Sylva is absolutely in support of his mentor- the Vice President. The Governor has never reneged in his allegiance to the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (GCON).

For those who are critical of the Sylva administration, while it is difficult to downplay the gray areas of the present administration of Bayelsa State, there is no gainsaying the fact that Governor Sylva inherited a system with wobbling structures, contaminated by rent seekers, ghost workers and marauding militants who almost defied his policy of Engagement, Education and Empowerment programme. Indeed, reforming such a system must of necessity look punitive on the periphery but may ultimately pay off if such reforms are well thought-through. It is against this background that Bayelsa people should take the lead in inventing the true Ijaw Spirit of resilience in pursuance of good governance, restraint in agitating for justice and fairness, truth in asserting their rights, courage in pushing the Niger Delta Question and temperance in managing internal conflicts.

The Ijaws have learnt their lessons hence they have decided to settle their internal problems amicably without engaging in a media war or political vendetta. The Ijaw ethnic nationality cannot afford the luxury of implosion and play into the hands of their oppressors. It is time Ijaws at home and in Diaspora reconciled their differences to protect what we genuinely believe is in our best interest.  And the time to rally around the Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Governor Timipre Sylva has remained loyal to the Presidency, and there is no doubt that he will stay the course in the foreseeable future. 

Richard Omagbemi, wrote from Warri