OPINION: Torn Between Jonathan and Sylva By: Robinson Ere

“He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? Let us stand together; who is my adversary? Let him come near me” – Isaiah 50:8 NKJV
By the special grace of God, I was blessed with the vision and mission to work for both men with equal zeal and success. I have spoken vehemently for them on diverse grounds since 2011 when I débuted a unique social media architecture that vigorously campaigned for the continuity of Goodluck Jonathan and Timipre Sylva for President and Governor, respectively.
And I did not work alone. I owe a lot of people gratitude. My groups were actively with Chief Timipre Sylva until May 2013, and continued actively on a new platform for Jonathan’s presidential re-election campaigns. March 28, 2015 is now history. But some people’s perception of my loyalty and personal friendship with these brilliant leaders has changed, regrettably along party lines, even though my social media advocacy and commitments on ground were skillfully woven around the personality of the leader of the moment. So some call me betrayer and traitor for not leaving one completely and follow the other based on their political affiliation. I pray, it should not be so.
Our exploits in Sylva/Seibarugu Continuity Project 2012 equals the obsession that portrayed our loyalty and commitment to YES President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 2015, the later on a massive national scale at different levels. The devotion and sacrifices we had to bear on our trust in God. We’re yet to recover from the trauma of the undeserved defeats of April 20, 2012 and March 28, 2015, respectively. We partook in both battles gallantly with much personal sacrifice; and we thank God for keeping us alive to fight another day as the struggle for better days continue. So, my dear patriots, politics apart, my passion for those great leaders grew with my work over the years being one of their leading campaigners in the field. Both men have affected my political thought and view of life in ways I cannot explain. Although fate played a malicious trick on us through political divides of party doctrine, personally speaking, let me state that my love and appeals for Jonathan and Sylva cannot be sequestered on the altar of political arguments from an alien perspective. Take note that Jonathan’s era of contesting election is over, but Sylva is bouncing back and I cannot hate one for the other; having being opportune to have something with them through devout service and knowledge. I can only balance my stance between them and feel free to support each whenever the need arise, as my Personal Persons of high repute.
Honestly, as the labour of my hands will attest, I’m not living in competition with anyone as we were not sponsored by any party or individual; so I don’t care if I’m left behind, but I feel good doing it. For this cause, a tirade of vilifications and warnings has been launched against me, on account of my contributions and hyped commentaries promoting or defending their Excellencies on separate occasions. And I’m still blogging.
Sequel to my renewed support for the second coming of Chief Timipre Sylva, who incidentally, is the leader of APC in Bayelsa State, critics are tearing me apart in the social media, for standing between the two greatest leaders of our time; they try to make me the post-Jonathan defeat scape-goat as if it was entirely my fault. They conjure up unimaginable phrases that instigate hate against my person, cajole me to denounce one against the other or stay out of the game, not to mention Jonathan or Sylva. My God, I am yet to be given any political appointment or contract from the masters that you gave me to serve diligently and failed, to warrant being labeled betrayer or traitor by people who do not recognize the dignity of our labour. We have only given what we have by virtue of our shared vision; plus absolute confidence and support for their administrations as we had deemed fit, without any bargain of reward. We ought to be appreciated. Poor me!
The fiery fangs of my critics hurt like the venomous sting of a scorpion. But in all these, we give God the glory. Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might is His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and rises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. May His name be praised forever, for associating me with President Goodluck Jonathan and former Governor Timipre Sylva. I take that as part of God’s will in my life. I also pray, that God almighty should bless them with wisdom and understanding to unite from their adversity as Ijaw people and play the game without bitterness; to move us forward in the glory of all lands, irrespective of political persuasions as we all look up to them. It happens in other tribes where, leaders, families and friends disagree to agree in the interest of their people.
Change is coming to Bayelsa from the threshold of pain where Sylva’s shoe pangs from political conflicts of unfulfilled conquest between two brothers in high places. We should know where the shoe pinches as we regroup on new starting blocks with the duo out of office, but nurturing vested interests. I feel quite nostalgic about the event of April 20, 2012, and solemnly wish that Chief Timipre Sylva would be returned by the people as Executive Governor of Bayelsa State. Don’t get this twisted! We’re talking about a changed man. We must be bold to make restitutions one way or another. Our leader knows what to do with the window of possibility open to them, if only it could be utilized wisely. And we the people should understand them. But the array of governorship aspirants sprouting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) stands to prove my theory of change otherwise. I’ve personally spoken to a couple of them, spotlighting their vision, mission and encouraging their scrutiny by the social media community.
However, I see history repeating itself. I’m not clairvoyant, but sense God working through Jonathan and Sylva’s 2016 maneuvers to build an alliance that would proffer an anesthesia to stop the Restoration Agenda in action; to compound a “new change elixir” that would soothe Bayelsans’ crave for a flourishing democracy by 2016. Everything depends on their skillful social and political permutations to enable us understand why 95% of Jonathanians decided to embrace the change mantra in this land flowing with black gold. It behoves them as leaders of the two dominant political parties to prepare our minds in good stead to accept the “God send” that would govern Bayelsa state when the present administration expires. Jonathan himself had urged Nigerians to cooperate with President Muhammad Buhari, since he left office. Nigeria will not go extinct, if he takes a sympathetic decision that favours an APC full of his own people in mutual diplomacy. We even hear with one ear that OBJ may be plotting a comeback to PDP, although, PMB has pacified him with a new engagement as Special Envoy. Do not say I told you. Our concern here is all about Bayelsa State in the months ahead.
Today, a new wind of change is blowing through the air. The core of Jonathan supporters are uniting with Sylva for obvious reasons. Many of them has previous working experience with Jonathan and Sylva from the good old days. So let’s be realistic. A crust of Jonathanized metals heated with Sylva-rated APC elements could produce astounding change solution for a better Bayelsa State. There’s an esoteric whirlwind of re-birth blowing through our atmosphere. Let us trust God that it would bring renewed hope, unity and understanding between our leaders to focus on the teething issues affecting the common people in the glory of all lands.
President Jonathan and Chief Sylva will continue to be a source of inspiration to me. They unconsciously sparked the plug that ignited my foray into social media journalism as a viable instrument for modern political campaigns. It became a very potent tool in my hands. It was all I have to give. I pray God Almighty to intervene in our affairs by bringing them together in a joyful cultural milieu, accompanied by countenances of trustful note and handshakes smiling with confidence in our race of life. We’re Ijaw men, one of the original tribes of the universe.
He, who has understanding, let him interpret the imagery of my political thought in relation to the one I call “Big Daddy” and the other “long lasting friend”, premised on the need to promote peace, unity, and political prosperity in our land. I believe we can certainly get along with each other, despite our perceived and real differences. They’re my great mentors. God bless Bayelsa State!!!

Robinson Ere Wrote From Yenagoa