By  Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa & Dapo Akinrefon

In spite of the uncertainty surrounding his clearance for the November 19 Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary in Bayelsa State, Governor Timipre Sylva, Saturday, formally, declared his re-election bid for the 2012 gubernatorial poll in the state, insisting that only the electorate could decide who will govern them.

Sylva spoke against the backdrop of the withholding of his clearance for re-election by the national leadership of the PDP.

Displaying the provisional clearance issued him by the PDP screening committee dated October 28 as the basis of his declaration, the governor said he has the support of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Gov Timipre Sylva formally declaring his intention for reelection for the 2012 guber election in Bayelsa State under the platform of the PDP

Clad in white attire and cream coloured resource control hat carrying the PDP logo, Sylva, who stormed the campaign rally venue at about 1.30 p.m. to a rousing reception from his army of supporters that thronged the Samson Siasia Stadium, said he was one of the few governors to have declared twice for the same election. “It is only the people of Bayelsa state can decide who rules Bayelsa State, he declared.”

The governor went on: “I am privileged to be one of the few governors who have declared twice for the same election. I also have the honour and privilege to be one of the few governors to be cleared twice for the same election. Everything that needs to be said has been said here.

”In the last four years or so, my government have laid solid foundation for the growth of Bayelsa State. Today, all our programmes are coming together. Our programme in the power sector is coming together.

”The agricultural sector is coming together, the road sector is coming together, the education sector is coming together. If you look all, sectors, you will agree with me that basically our achievement is beginning to be seen.

”We have already become the leader in Nigeria in terms of access to power and I want to assure you that this will be perfected before December, 2011. So this Christmas you are going to have no power failure in Bayelsa state.

We have brought peace to Bayelsa state. And we have given a new lease of live to Bayelsa people. All this why we have the courage to come to you again and stand before you and ask you for a second term.”

The governor, who solicited the support of the Bayelsa populace in the wake of the exclusion of his name from the list of cleared aspirants, said, “It is only the people of Bayelsa State can decide who rules Bayelsa State. That is why I have brought my case to you.”

Continuing, he said, “Some people say that they are coming from Abuja but we have all agreed here that the only elected representatives of Bayelsa State in Abuja are the President, Senators and House of Representative members.

”Let me tell you one thing, the President is supporting me. All the members of the Senate are supporting me. All the members of the House of Representatives are supporting me except the one who is contesting is supporting himself.

”All the members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, 24 of them are supporting me. All the local government chairmen elected by you are supporting me.

”All the councilors, 105 elected by you are supporting me. Traditional rulers, chiefs, elders and youths are supporting me. So tell me who is left. The women, market women. You see one with God is majority if you are on the right side you will win.

”It is time to renew covenant with Bayelsa people. We have laid the foundation. It is time for us to renew covenant with you that is why we have come to you. Nobody should tell u anything, everything is alright.”

In his remarks, his deputy, Hon Wenripre Seibarugu, reiterated his commitment to Sylva for his 2012 re-election bid.

‘Why crime is rising in Bayelsa’

Meanwhile, increase in cult clashes and other criminal activities in Yenagoa, the state capital, has been blamed on the disbandment of the state’s security outfit, Operation Famu Tamgbe.

Special adviser on security to the governor, Chief Richard Kpodo, in an interview, said the current wave of crime and attendant killings had been checked by the outfit which, he said, was disbanded on political grounds.

According to him, those who routed for the disbandment did so as part of their moves to unsettle the state government and give it a bad name so that they could have reasons to take over the system.

While commenting on the controversial clearance of the governor for the Bayelsa PDP primary election scheduled for November 19, he said “I am aware that the governor has been cleared. He was in Port Harcourt for the screening and when he came out, he was displaying his certificate.”

”Sylva went for the examination and at the end of the day, he came out with the result. He was given a certificate of clearance. Where in the world have you heard that a screening result would be announced in batches. It has never been done in Nigeria? Who is fighting Sylva?. Let the person come out openly and say this is why I am fighting this boy. Are you afraid?

“Don’t stay behind and pretend. It is time for you to come out and let us know the one who is inside the bush and beating the drum for people to dance on the road. Who are the people that they say they have cleared?”