Former governor of Bayelsa State and Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has called on the people of Bayelsa State to be law abiding in the face of the recent decision of the Supreme Court over the last gubernatorial polls in the state.
Sylva assured the people to remain steadfast and hopeful as steps are being taken to ensure that the mandate of the APC would be restored.
There has been discomfort in Bayelsa State following the recent Supreme Court ruling which ousted the winner of the gubernatorial election, David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and ordered the swearing in of the runner up, Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Since the delivery of the shocking judgement, there has been uneasy calm in the riverine state fueling speculations that there may be a fight back from the visibly aggrieved people.
But stepping in into the matter, Sylva in a press release, appealed for calm and urged the people to accept the court judgement and eschew any form of violence that may cause disquiet in the state.
“No doubt the events of the last few days are as provocative as they are regrettable. But however tempting it might be for anyone to take the law into their hands, such temptation must be resisted in the greater interest of our state and the political stability of the country at large,” he said.
He assured the people that they should remain calm and be of faith that the mandate they gave the APC shall be restored
The full text:
I want to use this moment to call on all the people of our dear state, Bayelsa, to kindly shun all acts of violence and lawlessness.
Also of great importance to me is to extend my profound apology to our President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, over the avoidable disruption to his busy schedule which was caused by the events of the moment.
I am aware that Mr. President and his lovely wife Her Excellency Aisha Buhari had concluded arrangements to travel to Bayelsa to witness the inauguration of the APC Governorship candidate as Governor of Bayelsa State. I therefore extend my apology to Mr. President and members of his entourage.
To the good people of Bayelsa state, I would like to emphasize the need for restraint at all times. No doubt the events of the last few days are as provocative as they are regrettable. But however tempting it might be for anyone to take the law into their hands, such temptation must be resisted in the greater interest of our state and the political stability of the country at large.
The leadership of our great party the All Progresives Congress (APC) has directed its team of legal experts to study the situation critically and proffer legal options available to the party accordingly. We should therefore all remain faithful to, and have confidence in, the wisdom and ability of the party leadership to provide direction at this very sensitive time.
Once again I call on all people of Bayelsa state irrespective of whatever differences there may be to eschew violence and respect the security measures put in place by appropriate authorities. Let me conclude by assuring Mr. President and our party hierarchy that despite this temporary setback, APC in Bayelsa remains strong and its members resolute in our support for the ideals of a greater and prosperous Nigeria as envisioned by our President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari.
The mandate will be restored and that dream of a better, greater Bayelsa State will be actualized
Thank you and God bless Bayelsa State and the Federal Republic if Nigeria.
