The former Governor of Bayelsa State and Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva, has called on Sahara Reporters to retract what he described as a false and misleading publication linking him to a violent incident in Bayelsa.
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A video circulated by the online platform alleged that a thuggish attack on a meeting of traditional chiefs in the state was instigated by Chief Sylva. His media office has, however, strongly refuted the claim, describing it as baseless and malicious.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Julius Bokoru, Sylva emphasized that he has always abhorred violence. As a former Governor of Bayelsa and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, he noted that his record speaks for itself.
“Even those attempting to connect this act to the former Governor know it is false. Nothing could be further from the truth. Chief Sylva has consistently eschewed violence in all its forms,” the statement read.
The former Governor recalled his pivotal role in the implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which successfully disarmed militants and restored peace to the Niger Delta, securing stable oil revenues for the country. According to him, his tenure remains one of the most peaceful periods in Bayelsa’s political history.
The statement further pointed out that the video in question provides no evidence linking Sylva to the incident. At the time of the attack, he was reportedly in Abuja, and the alleged perpetrators have no known association with him or his supporters.
Criticizing Sahara Reporters, the statement accused the platform of engaging in “hatchet journalism” and serving the interests of faceless sponsors rather than upholding professional media standards.
“Other reputable media houses in Nigeria would reject such a publication. Unfortunately, Sahara Reporters has devolved into a rogue outfit scavenging for scraps and clients with ulterior motives. The Nigerian Union of Journalists should address this anomaly masquerading as a media unit,” the statement added.
Chief Sylva has therefore given Sahara Reporters seven working days to issue a public apology, retract the publication, or be prepared to defend the report in court.
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