Chief Timipre Sylva Is Always On A Rescue Mission – Wisdom Oniekpar

Chief Timipre Sylva Is Always On A Rescue Mission.

By Senior Comrade Wisdom Oniekpar

For over two decades, the name Timipre Sylva has remained in the lips of many, but loudest within the political cycle where he has successfully institutionalized his lovely name that many parents within and outside the Niger Delta now use to name their children.

Sylva ventured into the murky political waters during the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida transition programme when he contested and won a seat in the old Rivers State House of Assembly just after his National Youth Service.

Sylva served as Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha the first Civilian Governor of Bayelsa State. He was also Personal Assistant to Dr. Edmund Daukoru then Minister of State for Petroleum now His Eminence the Mingi and King of the Ancient Nembe Kingdom. Sylva was elected the third Executive Governor of Bayelsa Sate before his appointment as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources by the present President Muhammadu Buhari APC led administration.

It was during the administration of Sylva that the world experienced the worst Global Economic Recession/Meltdown that grounded many economies all over the world, but surprisingly Bayelsans never felt the negative impacts of the recession. Sylva did not only pay salaries, allowances and pensions promptly, he also paid Bonuses such as Christmas Bonus to all Civil Servants. He treated Civil Servants, Teachers and Lecturers in particular like Kings and Queens.

Sylva placed so much premium on Education. Beside the adequate infrastructures he provided in all the high institutions in Bayelsa State, he ensured the Accreditation of all Courses in the Niger Delta University (NDU) and also paid Bursary Allowances to all Bayelsa Undergraduates nationwide.

He also organised so many Youth Empowerment Programs including several Peace Concerts that promoted social life and well being of Bayelsans and also promoted peace and harmony among our great people.

Sylva patronized so many Local Contractors which made money to circulate within the state against the prevalent Capital Flight. The internal circulation led to a situation where Food Foods alias Mama Put, Transporters, Hoteliers, Artisans, Artistes and most formal and informal sectors in the state felt positive impacts.

Peace And Economic Stability

The patriotic zeal and sacrificial disposition Chief Timipre Sylva manifested fully when Niger Delta Agitators under the auspices of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) grounded crude oil production in the country. Their attacks on crude oil facilities reduced oil production from 2.5million barrels per day to 900,000 barrels per day and in some cases even lesser.

Military actions against the Agitators never arrested the situation, rather it aggravated and even worsened the situation. It got to a point that they successfully grounded the Mono Economy that depended solely on crude oil.

Unfortunately and ironically too, while many stakeholders were scared of the Militants and never wanted to have anything to do with them, others decided to remain silent even though the insecurity was a thing of concern to all.

Chief Timipre Sylva was the only Governor in the Niger Delta that decided to confront and also proffer solution to the challenge that was like a hydra-headed monster.

Sylva left the comfort of the Creek Haven Government House and moved from one militant camp to the other in the creek. He never limited his engagements to Bayelsa State, rather he reached out to agitators in Ondo, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

Sylva was mocked by his colleagues and other critical stakeholders because they felt he was pursuing the impossible. But at the end he was able to persuade the agitators to embrace peace and dialogue with the Federal Government. His immeasurable and invaluable sacrifices finally resulted in the Presidential Amnesty Programme that was proclaimed by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The timely intervention of Sylva salvaged the Nigerian Economy from imminent collapse. That effort led to full crude oil production and Nigeria was able to meet her OPEC production quota.

Under the APC administration we are seeing how Crude Oil Theft is affecting the economy because of the Hundreds of Barrels that are stolen daily. But cheerfully, we are seeing how the efforts of Sylva as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources through the recently awarded Pipeline Surveillance Contract that is handled by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo is helping to reveal and unearth the large quantities of crude oil that is stolen daily. The ongoing operation will minimize crude oil theft and on the other hand maximize production that will meet OPEC QUOTA.

Strangely, Sylva does not make noise about his invaluable sacrifices. He is one Nigerian that believes that the interest of the country should supersede personal interest at all times.

So while I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Chief Timipre Sylva with the honour of the Commander of the Niger (CON), like others who know and also appreciate the high level of patriotism of Sylva, I feel he deserve the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) which is the second highest honour in the country only next to GCFR that is reserved for the President of the Federal Republic.

Finally, I wish to join family, friends, associates, supporters and multitudes of admirers to Congratulate a unique personality and one of the unsung Heroes in the country for this well deserved honour.