GOV. SYLVA SCREENED IN

We have read with horror a report that the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief
Timipre Sylva, has been screened out by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for
the 2012 Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Election. The report claims the
Gubernatorial Screening Appeal Committee of the PDP headed by former Ekiti
State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi, considered Sylva ineligible
to fly the party’s flag “for operating foreign accounts”.

Whatever the quality of the sources, this report is completely false. It
is low quality fiction. It is a cheap lie sponsored by those who are
afraid to meet Governor Sylva in the political field of contest, and their
paid and unpaid agents, working collectively or severally.

But then, we are not surprised as it follows a familiar pattern of a
structured campaign of serial untruths about Governor Sylva, a fact we
alerted the world about last weekend.

For the avoidance of doubt, there is no basis whatsoever for the PDP to
exclude Governor Sylva from the 2012 Bayelsa governorship race. He is the
man to beat. Ownership and operation of a foreign account by a serving
public officer is a criminal offence. No competent court of law has
indicted Governor Sylva for operating a foreign account. He has no such
charge pending anywhere in the world. God fobid!

The PDP Gubernatorial Screening Committee for Bayelsa last Friday issued
Governor Sylva a clearance certificate to participate in the party
primaries slated for 19 November. That clearance certificate remains
valid. It is true that the governor was at the National Headquarters of
the PDP Sunday afternoon at the instance of the Gubernatorial Screening
Appeal Committee. But as Sylva himself confidently told reporters after
meeting with the committee, “the deliberations were fruitful”.

In the face of continuous lies against Governor Sylva, we appeal to our
numerous supporters to continue to remain clam, peaceful and law-abiding.
Governor Sylva remains confident that the will of the Bayelsa people,
guided by God, shall prevail.
God bless Bayelsa!

DOIFIE OLA
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Bayelsa State
31 October 2011