Sylva’s Aide Denies Rumours of Ex-Governor’s Flight, Clarifies Defence Headquarters Raid on Residence
By Passman Akpos
The Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to former Bayelsa State Governor and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, Mr. Julius Bokoru, has dismissed reports alleging that the former governor has “fled” the country over alleged involvement in purported political matters.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Bokoru confirmed that Sylva’s residence was indeed raided in recent days by individuals believed to be operatives from the Defence Headquarters, leading to significant damage to the property. However, he maintained that neither Sylva nor his wife, Her Excellency, Alanyingi Sylva, was in Nigeria at the time of the incident.
> “Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid,” Bokoru said. “The officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently.”
He clarified that Chief Sylva was in the United Kingdom for a routine medical check-up and was scheduled to travel to Malaysia for a professional conference when the raid occurred.
Bokoru described as “baseless and malicious” the reports circulating on social media alleging Sylva’s involvement in any anti-government activities, including rumours linking him to a supposed coup plot recently debunked by the Defence Headquarters.
> “It is important to state emphatically that Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, has no involvement whatsoever—either in planning or in logistics—with any such plot,” the statement read. “Chief Sylva is a thoroughbred democrat whose political journey has always been rooted in faith in democratic processes and institutions.”
The media aide emphasized Sylva’s long-standing record of democratic participation—from his election into the Old Rivers State House of Assembly in the 1990s to his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State—as proof of his commitment to constitutional governance.
He also underscored Sylva’s unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recalling how the former governor rallied the entire Bayelsa APC structure to unanimously endorse Tinubu during the party’s Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting.
Bokoru concluded that the false reports were the handiwork of “desperate and narcissistic politicians” eyeing the 2027 elections, who perceive Sylva as “their last real obstacle” due to his enduring political influence and credibility.
> “These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027,” he said.
The Defence Headquarters has yet to issue an official statement addressing the reported raid on Sylva’s residence.
