Governor-Elect Seeks Thorough Investigation Of Attack
By Sampson Boroh
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, have linked Tuesday’s attack on the home of former President Goodluck Jonathan by unknown gunmen to politics in the state.
Arms-wielding gunmen had attacked Jonathan’s palatial home in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Tuesday leaving a soldier killed and another criticall injured while repelling the hoodlums.
However, Sylva and Lyon reacting to the attack on Wednesday, said the attack on the home of former President Jonathan was not only in human and barbaric, but showed how low the politics of the state had become.
The minister of State for Petroleum Resources while condemning the incident, stressed that the attack on Jonathan’s home, “ is not just an attack on an elder Statesman but an attack on the fabrics of our compassion as a people.”
According to him, “This, very sadly, scores a new low for the politics of Bayelsa State and, Chief Sylva, unequivocally condemns this deeply disturbing attack.
“This attack reveals how negative emotional investment in politics has continued to drag people to the far edges of desperation, cynicism and total disregard for human life.
“Let me send my warmest solidarity and regards to the family of Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian Army on the loss of their personnel, the people of Otuoke community, and all affected at this very steep and trying moment.”
Sylva, however, urged security agencies to swiftly bring to book the perpetrators and sponsors of the attack.
While the Bayelsa Governor-Elect, Chief David Lyon, condemned the attack in its totality describing it as barbaric, inhuman and senseless.
Similarly, the Governor-elect of Bayelsa, Chief Lyon, while equally condemning the attack, commiserated with the Nigerian army over the killing of its personnel who was gallantly repelling the hoodlums who used dynamites to blow up one of the cottage buildings at the residence.
Lyon in a statement on Wednesday called on the military unmasked those behind the dastardly acts and bring them to justice.
He commended the Soldiers on guard for repelling the attack that would have caused a major setback for the country and the state in particular in this yuletide period.
“We commensurate with Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan over this unfortunate incident and urged them to be steadfast in their belief in God”, the statement added.
