A Niger Delta group, Patriots of Ijaw Nation (PIN), on Sunday advised Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers to drop the idea of inking Ex-Gov Timipe Sylva to protests against the sacking of erstwhile Governor-Elect.

Wike had in a press statement alleged the Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Recourses of being behind the protest targeted at Dr Peter and Mary Odili’s residences, an allegation Sylva also denied in another statement.

PIN said it has discovered a fresh plot for another protest and advised Wike, to stop a planned protest against the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

PIN said in a statement in Yenagoa that information at its disposal indicated that Governor Wike was using Rivers resources to mobilise people from the state and beyond to stage a protest in front of the Abuja house of the Minister. 

The alleged protest to be tagged, “Leave Justice Mary Odili Alone,” is scheduled to take place in the run up to the Supreme Court hearing of the appeal for a review of the Bayelsa  governorship election judgment of February 13, 2020.

Justice Odili had presided over the apex court’s panel that quashed the victory of Chief David Lyon of All Progressives Congress (APC) on account  that Lyon’s running mate submitted forged documents.

Following the judgment, some persons protested in front of the residence of Justice Odili last week. Wike accused Sylva and APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, of being the brains behind the protests.

The duo, however, denied the allegations. Sylva had dissociated himself, disclaimed and denounced the protests at the jurist’s house.

The statement was signed on behalf of PIN by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kesiye Newman.

“We wish to alert the public to the credible information available to our organisation indicating that River State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, is moblising widely to stage a protest.

“It is planned in front of the Abuja residence of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.

“Chief Sylva is a former governor of Bayelsa State and Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“ His protégé, Chief David Lyon, won the November 16, 2019 Bayelsa Governorship Election.

“The Supreme Court voided the APC victory on February 13, 2020, less than 24 hours to the inauguration.  The judgment has been widely condemned, and there have been protests in Yenagoa and Abuja.

“Last week, Governor Nyesom Wike accused Sylva and the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, of being responsible for the Abuja protests in front of the residence of Justice Mary Odili.

“He did not support his accusation with any facts. Thankfully, both Sylva and Oshiomhole have denied the allegations. 

“Not satisfied with the maligning of the APC National Chairman and the Minister, Governor Wike is sponsoring people from his state and beyond with public funds to protest against Sylva.

“His argument is that he has a duty to protect Rivers State indigenes, including Justice Odili, who is married to a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili. We consider this a joke taken too far.

“We would like to advise Governor Wike to stop this irresponsible mischief forthwith. If he does not know, Chief Timipre Sylva has people in his system who can always rise up to protect their own. No one has a monopoly of mischief in politics. 

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“We find it difficult to understand why Governor Wike is buying a problem that ordinarily should not be his own matter.

“Or is it the case that former Bayelsa Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, whom he mercilessly pilloried towards the end of his tenure, has used the disputed oil wells to ‘settle’ him?

“We are by this statement offering Governor Wike the generous and wise counsel to call his foot soldiers to order, to save a lot of extra work he may have to do later. 

“A word is enough for the wise!” the group stated.