It was announced that Timipre Sylva had stepped down as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum in order to run for a second term as Governor of oil-rich Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta. Sylva’s resignation came amidst political transitions in Nigeria, with Muhammadu Buhari finishing his tenure as President and Bola Tinubu set to take office on May 29.
Sylva’s decision to step down from his ministerial position was not unexpected. Last week, he submitted his resignation letter to Buhari, who is also the petroleum minister. According to two anonymous sources, he has since refrained from attending the office. It was reported that he had plans to obtain the ticket of the All Progressives Congress in order to compete in the primaries for the governorship position of Bayelsa that are set to occur on April 14.
An attempt to contact Sylva for a statement was unsuccessful and the ministry of petroleum refrained from giving any remarks. However, sources close to Sylva stated that his decision to run for the governorship position of Bayelsa was driven by his desire to serve his people once again. Sylva had previously served as the governor of Bayelsa from 2008 to 2012, during which time he was a member of the People’s Democratic Party, which held power in the federal government. However, the PDP is now an opposition party.
Since his appointment as the Minister of Oil in August 2019, Sylva has taken charge of reforms in the oil industry, such as passing a law that restructured the sector’s financial regulations in an effort to attract investors. Nigeria’s oil production declined drastically during the tenure of the former minister, mostly due to the prevalence of crude theft and pipeline vandalism. Angola assumed the role of Africa’s top oil exporter and producer for a few months in the past year, surpassing Nigeria.
Sylva’s decision to run for the governorship position of Bayelsa has been met with mixed reactions. Some analysts have expressed concern that his departure could disrupt the ongoing reforms in the oil industry, while others believe that his experience as a former governor of Bayelsa will be beneficial to the state.
The Niger Delta region, where Bayelsa is located, has long been plagued by conflict and violence related to oil production. In recent years, the Nigerian government has attempted to address some of the issues facing the region through initiatives such as the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Presidential Amnesty Program. However, progress has been slow, and many residents of the region continue to live in poverty.
Sylva’s candidacy for the governorship position of Bayelsa comes at a time when the region is in dire need of strong leadership. The state has been hit hard by the decline in oil prices, which has led to a decrease in government revenue and increased poverty. Additionally, the region has been affected by environmental degradation and pollution, which has had a devastating impact on the health and well-being of residents.
As Sylva prepares for the upcoming primaries, he will need to navigate a complex political landscape. The All Progressives Congress, the party he hopes to represent, has been plagued by internal divisions and power struggles in recent years. Additionally, there are concerns about the conduct of the elections, with allegations of vote rigging and intimidation.
Despite these challenges, Sylva remains optimistic about his chances. In a recent interview, he stated that he was confident that he would win the primaries and go on to win the governorship position of Bayelsa. He emphasized his commitment to serving his people and addressing the issues facing the region, including poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation.
Image Credit: Timipre Sylva/Twitter
