Sylva Criticizes Diri’s Claims About Protest Support

A former Petroleum Minister (State), Chief Timipre Sylva, has strongly criticized the claims made by the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, that Sylva is supporting the planned nationwide hardship protests.

Sylva described Diri’s allegations as “shocking, insensitive and divisive.” The former minister noted that just a day before Diri’s statements, Sylva had issued a statement urging youths in Bayelsa, the Niger Delta, and other parts of the country to shelve the planned protest and give more time to President Bola Tinubu to address the challenges.

Sylva expressed his disbelief that instead of joining hands with him to prevent the protest, Diri decided to accuse him falsely of supporting the demonstrations. Sylva argued that if anyone were to protest against bad governance in Bayelsa, it would be against Governor Diri’s administration, not President Tinubu’s.

The former minister also questioned Diri’s decision to link him to one Ebidek Atuwo, someone Sylva said his investigations revealed came from the same local government area as Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Sylva suggested that the state government’s attempt to associate him with this individual was politically motivated.

Sylva called on Diri to join him in giving the youths hope and encouraging them to shelve the protest, rather than trading accusations and “rocking the boat” at this critical time. He emphasized the need for sincere dialogue to guarantee peace and progress.

The dispute between the former minister and the Bayelsa governor highlights the tensions and political dynamics surrounding the planned nationwide protests, as various stakeholders seek to shape the narrative and influence the outcome.