Former Bayelsa governor, Chief Timiprieye Silva, has joined the race forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, barely four years he was denied the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in a messy power-play.
Sylva who has enjoyed political resurgence since he switched to the All Progressive Congress (APC) made a last minute entrance into the governorship race when he submitted his nomination and expression of interest forms at the party national secretariat in Abuja on Monday.
Addressing journalists after submitting his form, Sylva blamed former president, Goodluck Jonathan for his turbulent reign at the Creek Haven in Yenagoa, claiming that the ex-president and his cohorts constituted a cog in the wheel of his government.
According to hum, despite the battles with the Jonathan forces, he was able to deliver some quality projects to the people of the state, which unfortunately were not consummated before he was ousted by “impunity and wickedness in high places.”
The ex-governor narrated his ordeal to pressmen: “I went into Bayelsa government house in 2007 under very difficult circumstances, having a central government that was interested in ousting me from day one.
“If you noticed, from day one when I entered government house in 2007, the vice president as he then was, was the head of my opposition. When all the state apparatus is summoned to run you out of office, it was a very uphill task. But despite that, we were undaunted and we carried on.”
He recounted his administration’s efforts to turn-around the states amidst political storms.
“I went into Bayelsa State at the height of the militancy problem and a few years into my government, I was able to design a strategy which I called the triple e- strategy that led to the end of militancy in the Niger Delta and I can single handedly take credit for that and even my opponents will not begrudge me on that.
“I also went ahead to do a lot of roads. No other governor in the history of the state can say he has done more roads in Yenogoa city than I did. The senatorial roads leading to Okporoma, I started it and also started the road leading to Brass. In the area of power, what we did in power was seen by all.
“As at 2012, we were poised to celebrate in 2013 one year of uninterrupted power supply in Yenogoa city, I had installed turbans and there is a turban that was 93 percent completed when I was ousted.
“The outgoing government refused to commission it because they did not want me to take credit for it. I built a hospital that would have been one of the best in Nigeria and was to be commissioned in May 2012. The outgoing government has refused to go near that hospital since I was ousted.”
Sylva is expected to square-up against the incumbent Governor, Seriake Dickson, who incidentally benefitted from the political crisis that ousted him from power, for the epic guber poll.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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