Timipre Sylva Rallies Bayelsans For Second Term

Source: huhuonline.com

Undaunted that his party, the PDP is unrelenting in withholding his clearance for the Bayelsa state gubernatorial primaries, Timipre Marlin Sylva, incumbent governor of Bayelsa state, Saturday, officially declared his intention to contest the 2012

 governorship election, insisting that only registered voters in the state can decide who will govern them. Chief Timipre Sylva, said, he is seeking re-election to consolidate on 

the gains of the last four and a half years. Sylva stated this at a grand rally at the Samson Siasia Sports Stadium, Yenagoa, where he declared his intention to contest the 2012 governorship election in the state.

The governor said between 2007, when the people of the state gave him their mandate and now, he has worked tirelessly to expand on the infrastructural base of the state, build structures for sustainable development and generally improve on the lot of the people.

 
Sylva, who said he entered into a covenant with the people of the state to take the state to the next, said he kept faith with that covenant adding that the time had come to renew the covenant.

'My dear Bayelsans, some years ago, you gave me your mandate to govern this state and I promised to do everything to take the state to the next level. I have done everything to keep faith with that promise. That tenure is about coming to an end. Today, we come before you to ask for a re-validation of that mandate and I want to state unequivocally that I seek your mandate so we can together, consolidate on the modest gains we have made in the last four and a half years', the governor declared.

Sylva, who displayed the clearance certificate issued him by the Gubernatorial Screening Committee in Port Harcourt on October 27, 2011, said it was gratifying to note that seven out of the eight members of the Bayelsa Caucus of the National Assembly, the entire members of the State House of Assembly, ALGON in the state, the Forum of Councillors in the state, elders, students, youths, market men and women, the non-indigenous population in the state were all supporting him.

Noting that such broad-based support could only be as a result of the performance score card of his administration, Sylva thanked the people for their support and show of solidarity as evidenced from the large turnout of people and pledged to re-dedicate himself to the service of the people of the state.         

Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu thanked the people for their support, noting that their support has been the strength of the administration.

He said Chief Timipre Sylva-led administration signifies peace, security   and development, adding that the people should continue to be steadfast.

Speaking on behalf of the Bayelsa caucus of the National Assembly, the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri expressed total support for the candidature of Chief Timipre Sylva in the 2012 governorship election in the state.

Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Nestor Binabo said Sylva has performed well in the last five years, adding that with such performance rating, the people owed him a duty to reciprocate the good gesture by re-validating his mandate.

In his goodwill message, former National President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko said he has always been a supporter of Chief Sylva because of his sterling qualities.

Okoko who highlighted some of Governor Sylva's achievements, stressed that the governor deserved to be given another mandate.

In their separate speeches, former Environment commissioner in the state, Chief Jonathan Lionel-Omo, leader of market women in the state, Mrs Julia Omele, chairman, Councillors Forum, Mr. Godswill Agaga, all said they were supporting Chief Timipre Sylva because of his modest performances.

They all said they will mobilize and vote massively for Governor Sylva.  

The National Working Committee of the PDP has continued to withhold his clearance for the Bayelsa state gubernatorial primaries, scheduled for November 19 th .But Gov. Sylva has vowed to remain in PDP.

However, huhuonline.com has learnt that the   opposition is determined to woo Gov. Sylva to contest under their party platform, if the PDP refuses to grant him clearance. Specifically, All Progressive Grand alliance (APGA) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN ) may have indicated interest.