Mr Doifie Ola, chief press secretary to former Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa state has raised alarm over the invasion of his residence in Yenagoa by “men (who) introduced themselves as members of a certain taskforce set up by Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson to recover vehicles belonging to the Government of Bayelsa State.”The men harassed those they met in the house.
“My personal aides told the said task force team that there were no such vehicles in the compound. Nor was there any in my possession anywhere. They then inquired about my whereabouts, insisting that they needed to meet me in person.
“Now there were three cars parked at the residence. Since my aides refused to disclose my whereabouts, the team insisted on leaving with two of the vehicles. My aides refused, and the invading team threatened to remove the cars forcefully. After a shouting bout, my House Manager then brought out the keys of one of the cars and the documentation showing the name of the owner, who is a serving member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. The House Manager explained that he did not have any other key apart from the one he brought.
Speaking further Ola said “The government team forcefully left with the car and my house manager, with a threat to come back to tow another car. My aide and the car were taken to Government House, Yenagoa, and detained illegally for about three hours. The Honourable member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly has
gone to Government House to retrieve the car and my house manager has since returned to the residence.
My house manager tells me that during his brief detention, he was told that the team had specific orders to recover from me four vehicles belonging to the Government of Bayelsa State. The vehicles were given as two Passat cars; one Toyota Hilux and one bus.
Ola in his statement today explained that he has chosen to raise alarm for fear of the unknown “I bring this incident to the public domain because I do not know the next steps of Dickson’s unsympathetic setup. If they think that by invading my residence I will abandon my principal and the pursuit of justice, they are gravely mistaken. Before I was invited by Sylva to work with him, I earned my living and moved freely in Nigeria and the world, including Yenagoa. I intend to continue in that regard as a free Nigerian citizen from Bayelsa State.If any harm befalls me, the world should know where to place the blame.
Read the full text of his statement below:
INVASION OF MY RESIDENCE BY DICKSON’S MEN: BEFORE I AM HARMED
About 10.00 a.m. this Monday, 19 March, about 10 men, including four armed policemen, invaded my private residence at Edepie-Yenagoa. On inquiry, the men introduced themselves as members of a certain taskforce set up by Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson to recover vehicles belonging to the Government of Bayelsa State. My personal aides told the said task force team that there were no such vehicles in the compound. Nor was there any in my possession anywhere. They then inquired about my whereabouts, insisting that they needed to meet me in person.
Now there were three cars parked at the residence. Since my aides refused to disclose my whereabouts, the team insisted on leaving with two of the vehicles. My aides refused, and the invading team threatened to remove the cars forcefully. After a shouting bout, my House Manager then brought out the keys of one of the cars and the documentation showing the name of the owner, who is a serving member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. The House Manager explained that he did not have any other key apart from the one he brought.
The government team forcefully left with the car and my house manager, with a threat to come back to tow another car. My aide and the car were taken to Government House, Yenagoa, and detained illegally for about three hours. The Honourable member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly has
gone to Government House to retrieve the car and my house manager has since returned to the residence.
My house manager tells me that during his brief detention, he was told that the team had specific orders to recover from me four vehicles belonging to the Government of Bayelsa State. The vehicles were given as two Passat cars; one Toyota Hilux and one bus.
I find the invasion of my private residence by agents of Governor Dickson completely preposterous, unwarranted and illegal. I do not have any vehicle belonging to the Government of Bayelsa State in my possession. My training, background and ethical orientation do not permit me to keep what does not belong to me. A day after the Supreme Court ruling removing Chief Timipre Sylva as
Governor of Bayelsa State, I returned to Yenagoa and handed over all government property, including identity card, in my possession as Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. Even if Hon. Dickson and his agents want to recover government property, as the invading team claims, it needs to be done properly, with proper notification. I have neither been notified nor accused of being in possession of any property belonging to the Bayelsa State Government.
I bring this incident to the public domain because I do not know the next steps of Dickson’s unsympathetic setup. If they think that by invading my residence I will abandon my principal and the pursuit of justice, they are gravely mistaken. Before I was invited by Sylva to work with him, I earned my living and moved freely in Nigeria and the world, including Yenagoa. I intend to continue in that regard as a free Nigerian citizen from Bayelsa State.
If any harm befalls me, the world should know where to place the blame.
DOIFIE OLA
19 March 2012
