By Oyin Ebikake
In a time of disaster, leaders must watch their public conduct and utterances.
Such a period of calamity and agony should be devoid of partisanship and political campaigns.
Sadly, that is not the case with the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, who surreptitiously came into Bayelsa State after 4 weeks of the ravaging flooding.
Many had waited for him to visit the State to show solidarity with the Chief Executive being the governor and in turn identify with the flood victims but he missed the point; Chief Sylva, started acting up since he arrived at the Bayelsa State -owned airport.
If the airport was flooded as the APC claimed in previous reports, Sylva and his crew would not have been able to land there.
Upon arrival in Yenagoa, courtesy demands of Chief Sylva to have paid a visit to the Chief Security Officer being the Governor to officially sympathize with his State, the government and the people.
Even Sylva himself knows the Governor is a true democrat and would have received him as one of the leaders of the State.
Governor Diri, is very receptive and he is not known for political bitterness as he has repeatedly said that this flood does not know who is “PDP, APC or Labour Party but Bayelsans.”
The governor never failed to chide his officials to distribute relief items to every affected Bayelsans irrespective of party affiliations.
Regrettably, Sylva rushed to the radio stations to announce to Bayelsans his arrival in Yenagoa.
Should we call the act clear insensitivity or is it pride? Maybe Chief Sylva expected the Governor to have come to the airport to receive him.
He should know better as a former governor what protocol demands and at least, appreciate the efforts of the governor so far in giving succour to the people.
Such a meeting would have ensured they both speak in one voice on the impact of the flood and chart a better post-flood era.
But for Chief Sylva, it was politics and sadly, he misfired on his radio appearance. Instead of showing great empathy at this period, it was a blame game by reducing the matter to what “the PDP- led State Government” had not done.
Everywhere he went, Sylva promoted his party, by adorning APC branded Shirts and face caps.
As insensitive as he was on radio, he was canvassing for votes for his party particularly their Presidential candidate, ahead of the forthcoming general election.
Very sad commentary indeed for such a man who should be discerning enough to know that this period does not demand political activities but purely humanitarian support.
The least Bayelsans expect of him was to come to the State as a worthy son representing Bayelsa in the federal cabinet as Minister and not for a hatchet job as campaign manager.
Leaders must be sensitive but Sylva lost it!
Oyin Ebikake, writes from Yenagoa.
About Author
