Former Governor of Bayelsa State and immediate past Petroleum Minister (State), Timipre Sylva, has denied any involvement in any military coup as being rumoured in some quarters.
In a statement on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, Sylva said the coup narrative is the handiwork of “desperate and narcissistic politicians,” plotting to actualise their ambitions in 2027 because of their perception of Sylva as their obstacle.
He said such evil politicians took their desperation to a sickening level, following Sylva’s intimidating political presence and credibility that had continued to expose their dark and self-serving ambitions.
Describing the former governor as an unrepentant and thoroughbred democrat, Bokoru said Sylva had shown unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu and his administration.
He recalled that Sylva recently mobilised the entire structures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State to unanimously endorse Tinubu at the state APC expanded stakeholders meeting.
Bokoru, however, admitted that Sylva’s Abuja home was subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters, saying they inflicted significant damage on the property.
He said the security operatives who raided Sylva’s home did not provide any reason for their action.
He confirmed that Sylva and his wife were already out of the country at the time of the raid.
Explaining their absence, Bokoru said Sylva was in the United Kingdom for a routine medical check and would soon be on his way to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.
Bokoru added: “In the past 48 hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has fled the country in connection with certain purported matters.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters.
“During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property.
“Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid.
“To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently.
“It is important to state unequivocally that Chief Timipre Sylva, and his esteemed wife, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country at the time of the incident.
“As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.
“The next development I was made aware of, regrettably, was reports circulating across social media and other platforms concerning the raid on his residence.
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“While the Defence Headquarters has already debunked the swirling rumours of a coup in Nigeria, it is important to state emphatically that Chief Timipre Sylva has no involvement whatsoever, either in planning or in logistics, with any such plot.
“Chief Sylva is a thoroughbred democrat, whose entire political journey has been defined by his faith in democratic processes and institutions.
“From the 1990s, when he was first elected into the old Rivers State House of Assembly, to his tenure as governor of Bayelsa State, Sylva has achieved every milestone through transparent, democratic engagement and the will of the people.
“His unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu is a matter of public record. It remains fresh in memory how he mobilized the entire Bayelsa APC structure to unanimously endorse President Tinubu for a second term at the APC Bayelsa expanded stakeholders’ meeting.
“These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027, who see Sylva as their last real obstacle—a man whose political presence and credibility continue to expose their dark, self-serving ambitions”.
