Bayelsa Govt – Sylva Not Harbouring Togo

Anayo Okolie and Amaka Eze

19 May 2011

Bayelsa State government Wednesday denied the allegation that the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva , was harbouring the leader of a militant group, John Togo.

The government in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Doifie Ola, described the statement as “unfair, irresponsible and disturbing.”

According to the statement, “it is false in every material, everyone who has followed the history of the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta knows that Bayelsa State represents the poster-child of its success.

“Mr. Ekpein Appah, Obubra Camp Administrator for the Federal Government’s Amnesty Program-me, accused Governor Sylva of shielding fugitive militant leader, John Togo, in the safe confines of Government House, Yenagoa.

“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.”

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

“We understand the desperation of a few of our politicians and their paid and unpaid agents. For us, this report represents one in a series of coming reports by someone who is neurotic about being Governor of Bayelsa State, working covertly and overtly, to create disaffection between President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Governor Timipre Sylva,” it concluded.

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