Sylva, Diri trade words over violence

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, have traded words over the recent violence in the state. Sylva accused Diri of being responsible for the violence, saying that the governor was using thugs to intimidate and harass his opponents. Diri denied the allegations, saying that Sylva was being sponsored by his political opponents to destabilize the state. The violence in Bayelsa began in August when Sylva's supporters clashed with Diri's supporters at a rally in Yenagoa, the state capital. The clash left several people injured, including some police officers. Since then, there have been several other clashes between the two groups, leading to the death of at least five people. Sylva and Diri have both condemned the violence, but they have also accused each other of being responsible for it. Sylva said that Diri was using the violence to divert attention from his poor performance as governor. Diri said that Sylva was using the violence to create chaos and instability in the state, so that he could impose a state of emergency. The violence in Bayelsa has raised concerns about the security situation in the state, ahead of the 2023 general elections. The police have deployed heavily to the state to maintain peace and order. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also said that it is monitoring the situation closely and will take necessary measures to ensure that the elections are conducted peacefully. It is important to note that the allegations against Sylva and Diri have not been proven. Both men have denied any involvement in the violence. The police are still investigating the matter and have not made any arrests yet. The public is advised to remain calm and avoid spreading false information.