November Polls: Gboribiogha Accuses Sylva Of Diverting Bayelsa Oil Field Licence

As campaign for the Bayelsa State governorship election heats up, accusations and counter accusations are going on as the immediate past deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd) has accused Timipre Sylva, the APC governorship candidate of allowing the state-owned oil field licence to be revoked and then diverting the oil field it to a private firm when he was minister of state for Petroleum Resources.
Speaking on Wednesday, when the PDP Campaign trail visited the Nembe axis, Gboribiogha stated that with that and other things, Governor Diri stood a better chance to win in Nembe because of the love he has demonstrated during his first tenure.
Rear Admiral John-Jonah asserted that unlike Diri, Chief Sylva had severally exhibited a penchant for working against the progress of the Nembe people from his time as governor of the state when he said the Ogbia-Nembe road project was not “economically viable.”
A statement by the chief press secretary to Douye Diri, Daniel Alabrah stated that the former deputy governor, who is also chairman of the Bayelsa State Elders Council noted that if the APC candidate could resist development to his own local government area, then he cannot lead the state again.
“The adage, ‘blood is thicker than water,’ is not applicable in all circumstances. Sometimes, it is your own brother that would harm you while somebody from another blood might be the one to save you. That is what we are seeing today in Governor Diri.”
Also, Governor Diri while speaking at the King Koko Square in Ogbolomabiri, told the large crowd of party members and supporters that he was glad to return to campaign peacefully in the community where he was denied access in 2019 by gunmen who attacked and killed scores of his supporters even though there has been calls to withdraw the police team from Nembe.
He called for a minute silence in honour of the departed just as he thanked the people for voting massively for the PDP during the last National Assembly elections that ensured victory for all the party’s candidates.
The governor restated his position that, traditional rulers must ensure peace and prevent electoral violence in their domain, as his administration would wield the big stick and dethrone any of them found wanting.
He narrated the effort made towards accomplishing the gigantic project and how he met stiff opposition particularly from the former minister of state for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, who is his main contender in the November 11 contest.