Jonathan’s Handling Of Security Issues Embarrassing, Poor – Sylva

Sylva3_462273906A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has frowned at President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the security situation in Nigeria.

Sylva, who was purportedly denied a second term in office by the president, lambasted his kinsman, describing his approach to security issues as poor, embarrassing and partisan.

The former governor, who is also the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa, in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Duofie Buokoribo, condemned the bloody attack on the convoy of former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Sylva described “the apparent assassination attempt on Buhari” as “a spineless assault on the voice of conscience in Nigeria by bigoted terrorists and their political sponsors seeking evil attention”.

Noting that Nigerians, by their traditions and religions, are naturally peaceful people, Sylva said persons promoting “this campaign of death and destruction” would surely not escape the punishment of God and men.

He insisted that Nigerians were frustrated with the Federal Government’s handling of the insurgency.

He said: “The terrorists appear to have been left to ride roughshod on the country and its citizens by a federal government that chooses extreme partisanship over proactive measures to secure life and property.

“We are embarrassed by President Jonathan’s poor handling of the security problem and a situation where the government has allowed its sense of partisanship to overshadow the needed political, economic, and social will to tackle the insurgency”.

According to Sylva, in civilised societies, opposition leaders enjoy more protection from the government than even those in government.

“Murder is the worst form of censorship and this government has become increasingly notorious for attempting to permanently silence voices of opposition”, he lamented.

The former governor sympathised with the families of all those that died and those that were injured in the twin bomb blasts targeted at Buhari and prominent Islamic cleric, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, two men, he said had been frankly critical of the Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism in all forms.

Sylva called on the federal government to take “more sincere steps to protect the lives and property of citizens, which is its primary responsibility”.