Seriake Dickson, the senator for Bayelsa West, has explained why he left the Senate committee looking into Timipre Sylva, the former minister of petroleum resources, for an alleged $14. Fund diversion of $8 million.
He was forced to leave because the investigation was “selective” and not as thorough as he had anticipated, according to a post on his official Meta account on Saturday.
Sylva was wanted on November 10th, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged conspiracy and dishonesty involving a $ 14 transaction. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has a budget of $8 million.
I had a reason to recuse myself yesterday when I learned that there was a summons for an investigation hearing to look into allegations of $14 being diverted at the Senate Committee on Local Content. Chief Timipre Sylva, the former minister of state for petroleum resources, has received $8 million.
I attended because I believed it to be a lively discussion with the Executive Secretary and his team, as I explained. I made objections when I learned that the hearing had been set aside specifically for that purpose; first, I argued against the lack of a selective inquiry. that if there were only one transaction to be investigated, the entire fund’s management, perhaps from its inception.
Although the committee has the authority to decide what to investigate, I believe this approach is too selective, especially given that the EFCC already has steps taken, or at least has reached a certain level. Despite having the authority to do so, I believed the Committee should not look into that particular transaction.
I recused myself because the person impacted was my predecessor in office’s former governor, and I have a policy of not joining to fight or down anyone. I am not like other politicians in my area or the typical Nigerian politicians who celebrate the victory of opponents and those in opposition. Since 2011, the person involved and I have been at different ends of political battles in my state.
We haven’t been in a similar party since 2011 and we haven’t spoken or discussed any common political issues. I don’t engage in politics that involves causing people’s problems or dissention. I have always had a limited political contest in elections, where I outplan, out-campaign, strategize, and win them both on the ground and through legal processes, but never by trying to derail the candidate after the election.
In keeping with this policy, I have reassured all federally engaged businesses regardless of political or partisan differences, knowing that if political interests diverge before elections, these issues will be resolved at the polls.
We are a small group, as I have always said to our people; Everyone is crucial. Leave someone alone and don’t harm them if you can’t help them. That is my practice and method of instruction for a number of years.
I “build, raise, develop, and defend,” as I have always said, “I am in politics for service to God and man.” I don’t destroy or fall.
I am aware of how they treat me. To the glory of God, they have not succeeded so far, and God is still on His throne. When they are in a position to bring me down, they don’t spare anything to accomplish that goal.
I am aware that these are very difficult times, especially for those who have been affected, and I have no plans to worsen anyone’s situation. God has always fought my battles and made sure that my adversaries haven’t been defeated by my tendency to use federal power or might, blackmail or propaganda, or incitements despite all of them.
“My politics is achored on God and the support and prayers of men, not on violence, destruction, and pulling people down, or celebrating their misfortune and downfall,” says one politician who supports me when all the major political figures band together against me, supported by federal might and greater resources.
I explained my position to my committee colleagues, who saw reason with me, and I left because of this.
I feel like I have a lifelong obligation to support and treat all Bayelsans in my capacity as a former governor; which is why I have defended, supported, and encouraged all Nigerians, regardless of party, on all of the issues that have been brought before me.
As the committee moves forward with the investigative hearing, which they have the authority to conduct, I would like the public to know my position as it progresses, Dickson wrote.
Abductions: The Northern Christian Association tries its “Safe Schools Initiative” for more than $20 million in security donations.
