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Polls: Bayelsa Panel Invites Sylva, Lokpobiri, NDDC Boss, Others
Former Governor Timipre Sylva, leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, has been invited by the state’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the violence that marred the 2019 general elections in parts of the state to appear before the commission to answer to allegations levelled against him.
The six-member panel chaired by Justice IneikadeEradiri was inaugurated by Governor Seriake Dickson on February 27, 2019.
Apart from Sylva, other APC chieftains invited by the commission are Israel Sunny-Goli, a current member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly representing Brass Constituency 1; Professor Nelson Brambaifa, the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development; and Famous Daunemigha, candidate of the APC for the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the polls.
The names of the APC chieftains had come up prominently during the sittings and the commission was inviting them to clear their names of sundry allegations.
Their invitation followed an order granted the police by Justice OkonAbang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to arrest Sunny-Goli; one Sam Kodjo, an oil surveillance contractor, and others for alleged complicity in the February 23, 2019 attack and abduction of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Okunlola in Brass.
The commission of inquiry, which has received written and oral testimonies on the roles played by politicians since it commenced sitting in Yenagoa, heard the testimonies of eight fresh witnesses, during its sitting yesterday.
Mr. DaupirimoIkuromo, the Commissioner for Transport, who was led in evidence by the commission’s counsel, Professor Festus Emiri, said despite the peace accord signed, thugs allegedly loyal to Sylva forced the leadership of Okpoama and Ewoama communities to compel their people to vote only in favour of the APC.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his resolve to remain steadfast in delivering development projects across the state, declaring that political distractions will not derail his administration’s commitment to the people.
The governor gave the assurance last Wednesday, while inspecting the ongoing rehabilitation of major roads within the old Port Harcourt Township, including the Creek Road Market project.
Apparently reacting to the prevailing political atmosphere, Fubara insisted that his priority remains governance and service delivery, not political pressures.
“I have promised our people that no matter the situation, we will not lose focus on governance,” he said.
“They entrusted us with leadership, and the least we owe them is confidence, stability and the assurance that governance will continue strongly.” he added.
Accompanied by Engineer Michel Issa of Setraco Nigeria Limited, Fubara toured several completed and ongoing roadworks, inspecting rehabilitated streets around Moore House before concluding the exercise at the Creek Road Market.
Speaking on the market redevelopment, the governor described the project as central to the revival of the old Port Harcourt township, noting that the modernisation of the facility would restore its lost glory and improve commercial activities in the area.
He explained that the new market was designed to accommodate traders currently operating on the roads, a situation he said contributes to traffic congestion and the rapid deterioration of road infrastructure along Creek Road.
“What are we trying to do? You can see the difficulty in driving through Creek Road because we don’t have proper settlement for marketers,” Fubara said, adding, “If we fix this market, those trading on the streets will move inside.”
According to him, relocating traders into the market will make it easier to properly rehabilitate the roads and preserve their structural integrity, while also enhancing the aesthetics of the township
On the road network, the governor disclosed that the rehabilitation works span from Borokiri through all major streets in the old township, stressing that the approach is holistic and aimed at delivering lasting infrastructure upgrade.
