Unease In Bayelsa That Sylva Could Ditch Ministerial Nomination

By Asolo Eyedoude

There is increasing apprehension in the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC over claims that Chief Timipire Sylva could dump the ministerial position to contest the governorship ticket of the party.

The apprehension is founded on claims that the immediate past governor of the state could dump the ministerial appointment if he is not satisfied with the portfolio given to him.

The possibility of that, it was gathered, is now putting the four major aspirants in the race for the APC ticket on their toes especially given the fact that Sylva has the structure of the party in his firm grip.

Sylva will not be the first ministerial nominee who scaled a Senate screening to walk away.

Senator Udoma Udoma after his clearance by the Senate in 1999 walked away after he was announced as a minister of state to take up his Senate seat.

The Sylva camp believes that the ticket belongs to the former governor for the taking.

Supporters also believe that he also has a good chance in the main election especially given the increasing chaos in the camp of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with Governor Serikae Dickson pitched in battle with the forces backing Mr. Timi Alaibe.

Sylva’s nomination as a minister had been welcomed in the camp of his rivals, especially the immediate past minister of state for agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

Within an hour of the news of the nomination, last month, Lokpobiri had congratulated Sylva saying:

Lokpobiri said as much in his congratulatory message to Sylva.

“Congratulations Your Excellency on your appointment and I wish you the best of luck in your new position as Minister of the Federal Republic,” he said in a statement as he added that the appointment was well deserved.

Besides Lokpobiri others in the contest include Mr. Preye Agbanaba who is reportedly backed by Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, a female former commissioner of police, Diseye Nsirim-Poweigha; former Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River State, Mr. Frank Biriyai and Mr. Ebinimi Amgbare.

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