… SYLVA CRIES FOUL

Governor Timipre Sylva has raised the alarm over reports that there are plans to arrest him over what he called trumped -up charges of treasonable felony.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was said to be investigating a petition that borders on national security against Sylva.

The Governor reacting to his disqualification from participating in the November 19 governorship primaries by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through his Chief Press Secretary in a press statement: 'Bayelsa People Shall Prevail' said the story was that there was a tape where he had threatened to kill President Goodluck Jonathan.

While dismissing the story as entirely false, he said there was no reason to wish President Jonathan or any other person dead, stressing that there was no tape as such contrary to reports making rounds.

On his disqualification by the party, Sylva who said the report was disturbing, disclosed that he and his supporters were reviewing the decision of the NWC.

According to him, it was worrisome that his full membership of the party was being abridged and his fundamental right to vote and be voted for was being trampled upon by a party he contributed to build.

He maintained that the NWC decision did not annul his membership of the party, adding that as a governor elected under the platform of the party; he remained the leader of the party and as a loyal party man, he would participate in all its activities.

Sylva appealed to Bayelsans, his supporters and loyalists to remain calm, law abiding, hopeful.

Investigations in the camp of Sylva revealed that his supporters remain upbeat about the political situation in the state as they were in firm control of the party machinery. After the successful grand rally held on Saturday, his camp has been locked in a series of meeting to review the situation especially with reports that the PDP leadership jittery with the large out of supporters at the formal declaration of Sylva would disqualify him from the governorship primaries.

The camp mulling over several options have decided to remain in the PDP and participate fully in the process that would lead to the emergence of the party's flag bearer. Meanwhile there was a large out of people at a prayer session organized by the campaign team of Dr Godknows Boladei Igali at the Opolo open field to kick-start his governorship ambition.

Igali's name was among the four people the NWC said were not cleared to contest the governorship primary election. The news of his disqualification did not deter his supporters as they waited for him to declare open the prayer session.