Murder charges are to be brought against the immediate past minister of state for petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, by the Bayelsa State government, over the killing in November last year, of a PDP supporter, George Sibo, at a collation centre in Brass Local Government.
This is coming weeks after a group in the state announced plans to drag Sylva and the state chairman of the APC, Dr Dennis Otiotio to court for alleged criminal forgery of election results as was disclosed at the election petition tribunal.
The Bayelsa election in which Sylva contested as governorship candidate of the APC was won by Senator Douye Diri of the PDP. But at the tribunal, Sylva was said to have presented forged election results, an action that attracted the condemnation of the tribunal members.
It was on the strength of what transpired at the tribunal that some concerned Bayelsans announced their readiness to drag Sylva and Otiotio to court to be tried for forgery.
With the intention of the Bayelsa State government to drag Sylva to court over the murder of the PDP chieftain, matters are getting worse for the former governor.
Sibo, 31, was killed when some supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) invaded the collation centre and held INEC officials hostage. Sylva was accused of leading the APC supporters, as he was personally sighted at the collation centre.
At the burial of the deceased in Twon-Brass on Thursday, Diri directed the state Attorney-General to commence legal action against Chief Sylva, a former governor of the state, and those who stormed the collation centre.
The governor expressed sadness over the dastardly killing of the young man and promised that the state government will bring the culprits to book.
He stated that as chief security officer of the state, he declined using his powers in the face of provocation against the main opposition party candidate in the election, who prevented the PDP from campaigning in his community, Nembe-Bassambiri.
Diri emphasised that as governor he deliberately did not challenge the excesses of the APC candidate as it would have resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
In describing Sibo as a hero who died defending democracy, Diri said: “There are a lot of questions to answer. What was the candidate of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva, doing at the collation centre in Twon-Brass a day after the election? Why did he go there with the large crowd that led to the killing of this young man?
“I am pained and that was why I directed that autopsy be carried out, which has been done. I have further directed the Attorney-General to institute a case against Timipre Sylva and all those that invaded the collation centre that led to the killing of George Sibo.
“The Attorney-General of Bayelsa State will institute the legal action to unravel his killers. The government of Bayelsa State is there to protect the lives of our people. I came here to mourn with you as we inter a promising young man of our state and of Brass kingdom.”
The governor also directed the immediate employment of the deceased’s two wives in the state civil service to enable them take care of their children.
In her remarks, member representing Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Marie Ebikake, explained that the people of Twon-Brass do not usually delay the interment of a young adult but they had to wait because of the governor’s interest to honour the deceased with his presence and thanked him for being true to his words.
Also, the Brass PDP Caucus Chairman, Chief Sam Ateke, stated that although the people of the area were saddened by the sudden death of their son, they were consoled by the esteemed presence of the governor and his entourage to sympathise with them.
