“Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has ordered the prosecution of Timipre Sylva for his alleged involvement in the death of George Sibo during the last governorship election. Sylva has denied the allegations, calling the move a desperate distraction.”
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has ordered the prosecution of former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, over the death of George Sibo during the recent governorship election. This directive was issued during the burial of the deceased in Twon-Brass on Thursday, where Diri instructed the state Attorney-General to commence legal action against Sylva and others involved.
Governor Diri accused Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 governorship election, of leading his supporters to invade the collation centre, resulting in the death of the 31-year-old George Sibo. Diri expressed deep sadness over the young man’s killing and vowed that the state government would ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
In response, Sylva released a statement through his Special Assistant on Media, Julius Bokoru, criticizing Governor Diri’s directive as a desperate attempt to divert attention from his case at the Appeal Court. Sylva firmly denied any involvement in Sibo’s death, stating that he was not on the island when the incident occurred.
The statement alleged that Governor Diri is using taxpayer money to fund a campaign of heavy propaganda against Sylva. It suggested that Diri’s actions are driven by fear and anxiety over Sylva’s legal challenge to the governorship election results.
“Chief Sylva is curious at what Diri’s apparent desperation can push him to,” the statement read. “It is clear this recent effort is a symptom of fear, shortly after Diri tried to conjure some phantom EFCC case against Sylva he devised a new method of distraction which, of course, is dead on arrival.”
The statement further emphasized that the APC and concerned Bayelsans are committed to reclaiming what they believe is a stolen mandate. Until justice is achieved, Sylva’s supporters consider Diri’s governorship illegitimate.
This development has added to the tension and political drama surrounding the recent Bayelsa State governorship election, highlighting the ongoing disputes and legal battles among the state’s political elite.
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