By Helen Udoh-Abuja
The attention of H.E Timipre Sylva, Honourable Minister of State For Petroleum Resources, leader of the APC in Bayelsa State and former Governor is drawn to a statement credited to the Bayelsa State government in response to the Honourable Minister’s radio appearance of 12 February 2022 in Yenagoa.
The Honourable Minister is amused at a totally unnecessary loose piece of writing from the Ministry of Information, Orientation and strategy, and there could be doubts if at all Senator Douye Diri, executive Governor of Bayelsa State actually approved of that statement or it was merely the enthusiasm of the commissioner trying too desperately to justify his earnings.
This was contained in a statement signed by Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to H.E Timipre Sylva, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in Abuja.
The radio interview was straightforward. The Minister talked about the highpoints of the current government and, inevitably, some of its low points (all governments do have low points) The minister also harped on some of the brighter sides of the current governor.
The interview was far from a caustic, combative one. It was a honest, intellectual analysis of Bayelsa State, the Minister’s genuine appraisal of his home state.
The Minister’s chief concern was that this administration has not fully weaned itself off the previous one which was a complete circus, though Diri is significantly more human compared to his predecessor.
As a Bayelsan, a former governor, a major stakeholder of the state, Sylva has the right, like everyone else, to comment, analyse and profer solutions to aspects of governance in the state that can be improved upon.
That interview was an act of patriotism and critical appraisal hence the avalanche of applauds from all parts of the state and beyond.
The development of Bayelsa state is a continuum, it doesn’t begin and end with one individual, any single government or a group of people. It is a journey that will require every single Bayelsan, every day of his/her life to work towards that very divine project. Serving Nigeria through the Federal Government is not a licence to ignore one’s home state.
Sylva will keep on working for the development of Bayelsa state in any capacity he finds himself, as Minister, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, inspired and partnered with Rungas Prime Industries Limited to establish a 1,000,000 per annum Type 3 LPG composite Cylinder Manufacturing plant in Polaku, Bayelsa State.
Sylva also Sighted an infectious Disease Hospital in the state through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and one of its agency, the NNPC
There was the Signing of the Final Investment Decision (FID) on gas processing and methanol plant project by Brass Fertilizer and Petro-Chemical company which will create 30,000 jobs.
Commencement of the Oil and Gas Museum at Oloibiri, Ogbia LGA and commissioning, along with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Content Tower which vastly improved the aesthetics of Yenagoa and also created jobs.
So, national service does not collide with service for one’s home state. There will be more of such interviews and more acts of patriotism and critical appraisal from Sylva.
Sylva also congratulates Gov. Diri on his two year anniversary as governor, and notes that while the former Senator seems to have the will to want to perform well, the momentum still has to be increased until the next polls where Bayelsans will seek alternatives.
