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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, has slammed the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who is his party’s governorship candidate for the November 11 polls in Bayelsa State, over claims of his alleged involvement in an attempt to blackmail the chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu.
Hon. Sunny Goli described the claim as “baseless and nonsensical,” cautioning Sylva’s “media aide and his principal not to draw me into the fray of their unwarranted and imaginary squabbles with Gov. Douye Diri, who is busy consolidating on his gains while you are chasing shadows.”
Recall that Julius Bokoru, media assistant to the APC governorship candidate, had in a publication alleged that Sylva attempted to blackmail the chief of staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
But Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, in a statement issued on Monday via electronic mail, stated that “My attention has been drawn to a publication authored by one Julius Bokoru, the media assistant to the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and the governorship candidate of the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress, H.E. Chief Timipre Sylva, wherein I was mentioned in his response to a publication alleging that Sylva attempted to blackmail the chief of staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).”
“In the said publication by Bokoru, I was alleged to have prompted the Bayelsa State governor, H.E Douye Diri into using tax payers’ monies to sponsor propaganda aimed at creating disaffection between the president’s chief of staff and Timipre Sylva.
“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have accorded such a baseless and nonsensical allegation any attention, but for the purpose of setting the records straight.
“Let me state it emphatically and unambiguously, that I am not a coward and have never been. I therefore do not need to hide under anyone’s shadows, or under any cover to express my views on any subject matter. Gov. Douye Diri also does not need any prompting from me to carry out any function he deems necessary in accelerating his electoral victory in the November 11th governorship election.
“I find it curious and cringeworthy that my estranged principal, H.E Timipre Sylva would give approval to his media assistant to associate my name with something as devious as the publication in question, knowing I am audacious enough to freely hold an opinion, and express same as I have done in the recent past, wherein I expressed my grievances against his leadership style by addressing a press conference in person.
“I have made my position known about the November 11th governorship election in a widely covered press briefing, without having to hide under any shadowy medium, and I’d like to reiterate that my position hasn’t changed, as I remain convinced that Douye Diri will emerge victorious at the polls.
“Should I have any opinion to express, I shall not shy away from expressing same, as it is my fundamental right to hold an opinion, and express same without the need of hiding under any false identity.
“I kindly advise Bokoru and his principal not to draw me into the fray of their unwarranted and imaginary squabbles with Gov. Douye Diri, who is busy consolidating on his gains while you are chasing shadows.
“I shall not hesitate to respond to any untoward remark made about my person,” he stated
