S/Court judgment: Sylva reacts, says ruling is temporary setback

By Samuel Oyandogha

Governor Timipre Sylva, Friday, said as a democrat and firm believer in the rule of law, he has taken the ruling of the Supreme Court terminating his tenure in good faith.

The governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola said, “what has happened is only a temporary setback. The implication of this judgement is that the  January 2011 primary election which Sylva won as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) subsists.

“Sylva enjoins his supporters to remain calm, as they have always been, and avoid taking laws into their hands. He thanks the people of Bayelsa State for the opportunity given him to serve.

“As governor for the past four years, the Sylva-led government has touched the lives of the people and changed the state for the better.

“In his first tenure, Sylva has prioritised education, health, agriculture, human capital development, and infrastructural advancement.

“He has tried to lay the foundation for a post-oil economy by developing the infrastructure to harness the skills and resources of our environment. We trust that he would be given another chance to complete the good work, which the Good Lord has used him to undertake for the people of Bayelsa State.

“His second term, if re-elected, will be devoted to consolidation of these efforts, with the ultimate aim of building a Bayelsa State where all will have the opportunity to develop their full potentials. Sylva wishes the Acting Governor the best of luck and enjoins the people of the state to cooperate with him.”

Former chairman of the state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association, Stanley Damabide in his reaction said, ” the judges were right in their action that it was illegal for the governors to have stayed beyond the constitutionally required tenure of office.”