Sylva: South-South govs fail to convince Jonathan

The hopes of Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State to contest the Peoples Democratic Party primaries dimmed on Friday as efforts by his South-South counterparts to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to make him run failed.An investigation by SATURDAY PUNCH showed that during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, the South-South governors could not persuade President Goodluck Jonathan to change his mind on the embattled governor.On Tuesday, the name of the governor and those of a former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Chief Timi Alaibe and the ex-Chairman of Silverbird Entertainment, Mr. Ben Muray-Bruce, were missing on the list of aspirants cleared by the PDP.But THE PUNCH reported on Thursday that pro-Sylva lobbyists had mounted pressure on Jonathan to support the governor.The lobbyists included some governors, PDP leaders and some associates of the President.On Friday, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; his Cross River State counterpart, Liyel Imoke; and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) met with the President for several hours to plead on behalf of Sylva.But when the governors came out of the meeting, they refused to comment on the outcome.When journalists persisted and followed them into their cars, Sylva turned and asked why he was being trailed with microphones.Why are you following me with microphone now' I dont want to talk.All the governors entered Amaechis sport utility vehicle, which was personally driven by the governor to an unknown destination.It was learnt that the governors were still making moves to assist Sylva and that they had assured him that hope was not lost.On Thursday night, the PDP governors and legislators had met with the President, but their efforts also did not yield any positive results.Our correspondent learnt that the plan by the PDP to release the final list of the aspirants was delayed on Friday because of many meetings being held in connection with the Bayelsa State primaries.A member of the partys National Working Committee, who pleaded anonymity, said, We are still meeting on the issue. The week has not ended.The PDP had on Thursday said it had not shut its doors on the Bayelsa State governor from participating in its November 19 governorship primaries.
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