\u2026why Bayelsans don\u2019t want him return<\/p>\n
It was a bizarre tale at a recent mega rally in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State
\ncapital, when it was revealed how the All Progressives Congress (APC)
\ncandidate, Timipre Sylva, ruined the state economy through massive
\ncorruption and abuse of power as governor between 2007 and 2011.<\/p>\n
The revelation came from the Secretary of Bayelsa Solidarity Forum,
\nComrade James Ebipade, who led the forum to the rally where over 400 other
\nnon-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) gathered to raise awareness on why
\nSylva\u2019s bid to return to power should be rejected by the people.<\/p>\n
The rally, tagged \u201cOperation Reject Sylva and APC\u201d, was staged under the
\nbanner of the Save Bayelsa Movement.<\/p>\n
In a statement released at the end of the rally, Ebipade revealed that
\nbetween 2007 and 2011 when Sylva was governor, he received a total of
\nN708, 895, 925 as allocations from the Federation Account.<\/p>\n
This amount, he stated, was not inclusive of the bond and several loans
\nhis administration got but never utilized as expected.<\/p>\n
In the statement, Ebipade also revealed that in the period under review,
\nthe Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state stood at N22,02
\nbillion, raising the total accruals to the Sylva administration to a
\nstaggering N780,915, 925.<\/p>\n
Out of this amount, it was further revealed, only N68 billion was spent on
\ncapital expenditure just as it was claimed by the forum that in spite of
\nthe huge resources, there was nothing to show for the allocations received
\nas well as the bonds and loans.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was absolutely no accountability\u201d, he stated.<\/p>\n
The forum bemoaned the financial recklessness of Sylva, noting that
\nrecurrent expenditure under him as governor was N648,512, 509, which it
\nclaimed indicated that the former governor spent less than N60 billion for
\ncapital projects.<\/p>\n
In the light of the revelations, the forum said it would be a disaster if
\nSylva was allowed to return to the Government House and why the various
\nNGOs had to come together to sensitize the general public on the inherent
\nevils of the APC\u2019s candidate\u2019s agenda which must not be allowed to hold in
\nthe state.<\/p>\n
\u201cBayelsans naturally have the right to wonder and ask whether this is the
\nkind of change Sylva and APC want to bring back into government in the
\nstate. And if not, whether the welfare of Bayelsans is of no consequence
\nto them? Otherwise, why must Sylva now seek to return Bayelsa to the days
\nof the locust?\u201d, the forum asked.<\/p>\n
Ebipade opined that the situation was so bad that when the incumbent
\ngovernor, Seriake Dickson, took over the mantle of leadership, the state
\nappeared like a waste land with the added burden of having to spend a huge
\npart of the state resources to service inherited debts.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo why does Sylva still want to come back? Why does a man who was not
\nthought fit to be a minister think he is fit to be governor of Bayelsa
\nState? Does he think Bayelsans are such gluttons for punishment or are
\npossessed of such short memories that they will allow him to further
\ninflict on them those regrettable wasted years?\u201d, the forum stated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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