By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Timipre Sylva |
PORT HARCOURT – An aide to former Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, has forcefully denied rumours linking the former Bayelsa State governor to an alleged coup plot, labelling the claims as "false" and "politically motivated."
The denial comes amid confirmation that Sylva's Abuja residence was recently raided by security operatives, an event his office suggests is being weaponized by opponents to tarnish his reputation.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Chief Julius Bokoru, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to Chief Sylva, stated unequivocally that his principal had no connection to any coup-related activity. He affirmed Sylva's longstanding commitment to democratic principles and his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Sylva remains a committed democrat whose political career has been defined by democratic engagement. His support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains firm and unwavering,” Bokoru stated.
Bokoru directly linked the circulating rumours to the upcoming political cycle, suggesting they are the "handiwork of political opponents seeking to tarnish Sylva’s image ahead of the 2027 elections." He urged the public to completely disregard what he termed "unfounded allegations."
To bolster his argument, Bokoru pointed to the Defence Headquarters itself, which had previously refuted any claims of a coup plot in Nigeria.
While dismissing the coup narrative, Bokoru confirmed a significant development: a raid on Chief Sylva's Abuja home. He revealed that the property was recently subjected to an operation by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters.
“During the operation, considerable damage was inflicted on the property,” Bokoru said, adding that the reason for the raid was not communicated by the security operatives.
He also clarified that Chief Sylva and his wife were out of the country at the time of the incident. “As of my last communication with His Excellency, he was undergoing routine medical checks in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to attend a professional conference in Malaysia,” the aide stated.