A clarion call has gone to President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to allow
former governor of Bayelsa State and now candidate of the All progressives
Congress (APC) in the state, Timipre Sylva, face prosecution for his cases
before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Sylva, who was
governor of the state for five years between 2007 to 2011 had been in and
out of the EFCC over financial offences allegedly committed while in
office.
However, the EFCC had been unable to prosecute Sylva on the said offences
because of what is believed to be his “solid connection” with some
influential government officials in the Presidency.
Some moral questions are up for answers, it was learnt.
Indications to this were contained in a public letter (petition) sent to
President Muhammadu Buhari by a leading member of the APC in Bayelsa
State, Chief Perekeme Kpodo.
In the letter dated 16th October 2015, Kpodo raised a lot of questions on
Sylva’s case and implications on the image and integrity of President
Buhari and his administration in the war against corruption.
Kpodo, who claimed that about N1.4trilion accrued to the state coffers
during a five-year period under Sylva but without anything to show for
such huge expenditure, said inability to prosecute Sylva based on “clear
cases of corruption” will invariably justify the accusation that the
Buhari administration is biased in its fight against corruption.
According to him, while leading figures in the immediate past
administration of President Goodluck Jonathan were being prosecuted like
the case of former Petroleum Minister, Diezeani Allison-Maduake in
Britain, others like Sylva were being covered, stating further that the
impression was being created that it is only the enemies or opponents of
the APC-led federal government that could only be prosecuted for financial
crimes offences.
He stated: “It is a known fact that Chief Timipre Sylva, who has been
charged with barrage of criminal charges by the Economic and Financial
Crime Commission (EFCC) is allowed, as usual, to walk with the flag of the
party for the December 5 election despite protests. He was even accorded
the position of Deputy Chairman of the Transition Committee of the present
administration. Are we now robbing Peter to pay Paul? Is this not a game
plan to discredit the hard work of your administration and the APC?
“How can a man that had over N1.4trillion accrued to his administration in
five years and fail to justify the spending? Sylva had all the State
monies from the Ecological fund, the Federal Allocation and many others,
but yet left the state with huge debt profile. The issue of
non-prosecution of Chief Timipre Sylva is being counted against your
administration and the APC by the people.
“Many asked if the Anti-corruption posture of your administration is
targeted to fight the enemies and the opposition under the last
administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan or to protect friends hiding under
the progressive status of the All Progressive Congress (APC).? And we
agreed that though the fight against corruption is total as promised by
you, the Sylva’s issue must be allowed to be thoroughly investigated and
prosecuted by the EFCC”.
The party leader drew Buhari’s attention to a disturbing accusation that
a powerful cabal was already existing in the Aso Villa which he said had
been deciding those to face prosecution or otherwise. These power
brokers, he noted, included the National Security Adviser to the
President, the Secretary to the government of the federation, the
Nigerian military and others he said were behind the covering of Timipre
Sylva over prosecution.
He was emphatic that Sylva has a “strong relationship” with these listed
individuals or bodies and prosecuting him won’t be in their strategic
interest.
“A cabal has been formed within the Presidency and providing embarrassing
cover to some selected persons, including Chief Timipre Sylva. We are
worried that they are deep in the corridors of your Presidency and have
become known to the people.
What we have continued to ask is why is this cabal protecting Timipre
Sylva? Why are they not allowing him to be prosecuted? Why are they out
to rubbishing you and the APC? Why did they rubbish the hard earned
reputation of the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiohmole and the National
Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for the advancement of Chief Sylva? Is
it meant to get power in Bayelsa and advance their shady oil interest? he
asked.
“It is laughable that the cabal has arrogated power to themselves and
playing “God” with the future of the APC and your administration”, he
further noted.
Kpodo also accused the alleged cabal of plotting to rig the December 5
governorship election in the state, warning of the consequences as he
said the people will resist any imposition of Sylva on them as governor
“by
force.”
“It’s to the greatest interest on President Buhari, his administration and
history that the Niger Delta must not be allowed to be thrown into chaos
again over any selfish and irresponsible action. The president must be a
statesman”, he said.
He stated that in furtherance of their agenda to rig the election, they
have also resorted to dropping names of key security operatives and
strategic leaders of national institutions to deceive the people and
security apparatus in Bayelsa State.
“They claimed to have your National Security Adviser (NSA), Secretary to
the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Nigerian Military and others
in their list of “contingency support” for the election. Today, our
party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is making progress with the
coming December 5 Governorship election in Bayelsa State. But the
progress made by the party, so far, is worrisome because it is tainted
with fraud.
“How is he (Sylva) expected to carry out change in Bayelsa under the APC?
Sylva is a name synonymous with death, blood and violence”, he asserted.
According to Kpodo, Sylva represented the old way in Bayelsa, adding that
if the APC, Sylva and his alleged cabal in Abuja believed they could
deploy the federal might against the people of the State to rig the
election, they were wrong.
“We, the APC members, will “sidon look” and allow the people to decide”,
he stated.