BY SAMUEL OYADOGHA
Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday, described as laughable allegation that wanted renegade militant leader John Togo is being sheltered in Government House, Yenagoa.

Also, the Joint Task Force on the Niger Delta while reacting to the claims of alleged ‘surrender’, purported death and secret burial and latest alleged sheltering of the renegade militant leader in Bayelsa Government House said it was all part of an intricate web of lies engineered by Togo and his managers to deceive the public with a view to escaping justice.

Gov. Sylva, in a statement  by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, while reacting to a media report that Togo is being quartered in Government House, Yenagoa, said he had no reason to shield him or any wanted person from the law.

“No. The idea that John Togo is in Government House, Yenagoa, when he is not even from Bayelsa State, is simply laughable,” said the governor.

According to Sylva, he indeed,  sold the idea of the amnesty programme to then President Umaru Yar’Adua and as such would not do anything to undermine a programme he has invested inestimable institutional and personal resources.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Chief Timipre Sylva, has been drawn to an irresponsible report in the Wednesday, 18 May 2011 edition of one national newspaper. In the report, Mr. Ekpein Appah, Obubra Camp Administrator, for the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, accused Governor Sylva of shielding fugitive militant leader, John Togo, in the safe confines of Government House, Yenagoa.

Mr. Appah, the statement added went further to insinuate, without proof, that John Togo is being kept in Government House, Yenagoa, so that he can be used to foment trouble, including attacking political opponents of the governor.

“That report is unfair, irresponsible and disturbing. It is false in every material particular. Everyone who has followed the history of the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta knows that Bayelsa State represents the foster-child of its success.

“It was Governor Sylva who sold the idea of the programme to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. It is therefore unthinkable that the governor would want to do anything to undermine a programme he has invested inestimable institutional and personal resources.

“Sylva has no reason whatsoever to shield John Togo or any wanted person from the law. No. The idea that John Togo is in Government House, Yenagoa, when he is not even from Bayelsa State, is simply laughable.