Amidst the controversy surrounding the resignation or non-resignation of Chief Timipre Sylva as minister of state for Petroleum Resources, a leaked letter to President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the speculation.
In a letter to President Buhari through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, dated Match 14, 2023, and sighted by LEADERSHIP, Chief Sylva said his resignation was to enable him contest a new term as governor of Bayelsa State
Recall that LEADERSHIP earlier reported that Sylva handed his resignation letter last week to Buhari, who doubles as petroleum minister, and stopped coming to the office.
The letter read as follows: “Mr. President and Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources (HMPR) is respectfully invited to recall the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 as well as the Guidelines for the Conduct of Primaries issued by our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) relating to political appointees aspiring to participate in its primary elections at all levels (the Guidelines).
“ By the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Guidelines: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for the purpose of the nomination of candidates.
“Any political office holder interested in contesting for an elective office shall leave Office 30 days prior to the date of election or party primary for the office sought.”
“I am interested in contesting elections for the position of Governor of Bayelsa State and in participating in the upcoming Party Primaries. In this regard, l hereby tender my resignation as Honourable Minister of State with effect from 15 March 2023. In line with extant Regulations and Policies of the Civil Service, shall hand over to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources pending the appointment of a new Minister of State by Mr. President” Sylva wrote.
According to him, “It has been an honour to serve you and our great country Nigeria in this capacity, Mr. President, and to help in actualising your vision for the Nigerian Petroleum sector. I have served with diligence and integrity, as a result of which I have delivered on ALL my Ministerial Mandates along the nine Priority Areas of the Administration. I am leaving Office with a sense of fulfilment knowing that I have left the Nigerian Petroleum industry better than met it under your guidance and with your unflinching support,” he said.
Sylva is seeking the ruling All Progressives Congress ticket to run for Bayelsa governor in the party primaries scheduled to take place on April 14.
He served as governor of Bayelsa for one full term between 2008 and 2012. At the time, he was a member of the People’s Democratic Party, which was then in power at the federal level but is now in opposition.
Appointed minister of state petroleum resources in August 2019, Sylva oversaw major reforms in the oil sector, including the passing of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which overhauled the sector’s fiscal regime in a bid to spur investment.
