There is rising outrage against the alleged treacherous activities of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva against his own community, Okpoama Kingdom in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
According to a section of the angry community youths and elders, Sylva’s failure to use his political and economic influence to benefit the people is causing disaffection among the people of Okpoama Kingdom.
The community has finally found its voice against a son whose political trajectory has no significant impact on the people.
Among Sylva’s charges is the alleged attempt to force the Amanyanabo of Okpoama Kingdom in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, His Royal Majesty, King Ebitimi Banigo, Okpo XXI, to relinquish his throne.
The Okpoama people insisted that Sylva has betrayed the support he enjoyed since he gained political relevance with no physical or developmental projects to benefit the people.
“Should we say we are proud of our son whom we have always supported. Governor for five years, and then Minister of Petroleum for four years, come and see Okpoama like a glorified village. We are disappointed.
“No single or serious investment attracted to the community that is blessed with oil and gas and beautiful sea side by the Atlantic. Nobody will believe that the refinery they allegedly collected huge sums of money is non-existence”, a youth, who did not want his name mentioned, stated.
Also listed among the many sins of Sylva against the Okpoama people were the non-completion of multi-million dollars private projects sited in the area, including the Brass Fertiliser Plant and the Atlantic Refinery.
He is also fingered in the controversy surrounding the moribund Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (BLNG) project. All his promises made while he was the Minister of Petroleum Resources failed due to his alleged attempts to input sinister clauses that will benefit him and his cronies without considering the larger benefit to the Brass LGA, Bayelsa and the Federal Government.
Recent investigations into alleged activities against Okpoama Kingdom showed that a coalition of youth leaders and politicians have declared readiness to submit a strong worded petition to President Bola Tinubu and the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Agency (EFCC) over Sylva’s culpable sins.
The EFCC would also be requested to investigate some other alleged shady deals associated with Sylva as Minister. But such efforts seem to be resisted by some powerful pro-Buhari agents around President Tinubu.
A top management staff in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources said Sylva was being allegedly fingered in some shady deals in certain Agencies and Departments under his supervision including the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
At the home front in Okpoama Kingdom, Sylva’s attempt to ascend the thrown through the back door with anticipated resignation of King Banigo, a former boardroom guru and banker of note, has been thwarted.
The community has, however, rejected the purported resignation of the King believed to have been masterminded by Sylva, insisting that there is no vacancy at the throne.
“Sylva wants to turn our peaceful Okpoama community into theatre of war like he did in Bassambiri. Now, he is using money to divide the Okpoama Council of Chiefs. The same man who failed to attract any good thing to the community. It’s very sad”, one of the elders in the community had said.
