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By, Emeka Echewodor There are calls by well meaning Nigerians and pals of His Excellency Timipre Sylva, to personally come out clearly on the Coup d’etat matter making rounds. The media aide to former governor and minister, His Excellency Timipre Sylva had confirmed the raid of the homes of his principal. Julius Bokoru, Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to H.E. Timipre Sylva, CON on 29 October 2025 said, “In the past forty-eight hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has “fled” the country in connection with certain purported matters. For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property. Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. “To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently. It is important to state unequivocally that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, and his esteemed wife, Her Excellency, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country at the time of the incident. As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference. The next development I was made aware of, regrettably, were reports circulating across social media and other platforms concerning the raid on his residence. While the Defence Headquarters has already debunked the swirling rumours of a coup in Nigeria, 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. Chief Sylva is a thoroughbred democrat, whose entire political journey has been defined by his faith in democratic processes and institutions. “From the 1990s, when he was first elected into the Old Rivers State House of Assembly, to his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State, Sylva has achieved every milestone through transparent, democratic engagement and the will of the people. His unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a matter of public record. ” It remains fresh in memory how he mobilized the entire Bayelsa APC structure to unanimously endorse President Tinubu at the APC Bayelsa Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting. These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027, who see Sylva as their last real obstacle—a man whose political presence and credibility continue to expose their dark, self-serving ambitions. Public Affairs analyst, Desmond Ekwueme posits thatthe press statement which may have been issued on the orders of the former governor will not and does not douse the curiosity of Nigerians who hold the rights to their individual opinion until the ex-minister speaks. “Yes, it could be agreed technically that Sylva has spoken through his aide but the weight or magnitude of this allegation (coup) is beyond a mere press statement from.an aide particularly as he isn’t in the country. “More so, not when the press statement totally failed to do justice to the matter. In fact, it heightened the curiosity of Nigerians. The only thing that can fix the whole mess is for the former governor to book the next available flight back home and provide answers to the begging questions thrown by Nigerians especially his supporters. This will provide the best opportunity for him to defend himself and put things in proper perspective. Like they say, a clear conscience fears no accusation. Until proven guilty, Timipre Sylva is innocent. But he must not delay the process of clearing his name.
