The
occasion was the public wedding reception of a daughter of another
former governor, Peter Odili. A security source told Sahara Reporters
both the security and protocol of the President were taken aback by Mr.
Sylva’s action, as he approached the high table while the president was
already seated with other guests, however, they claimed they knew the
president was not in any danger.
A source close to Mr. Sylva said
he only went to greet his next-door neighbor and celebrant, Mr. Odili
and that he (Sylva) used that opportunity to say ” hello ” to the
President as a form of courtesy. ” It was a chance meeting between the
two, there is no reason to impute any motive, when Mr. President asked
Sylva how he was doing he said he was still alive and left to his seat
afterwards, ” said the source that witnessed the incident.
Sylva,
the former governor of Bayelsa State, is facing corruption charges
initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Mr.
Sylva has repeatedly stated that his trial was motivated by his
political disagreements with Mr. Jonathan. He was prevented from running
for a second term in office by Mr. Jonathan, who then imposed upon the
state as governor, his protege, Seriake Dickson.
Political
observers say that today’s event also reflects the intricate connections
between power and corruption in Nigeria. Odili is widely-known to have
looted the resources of Rivers State during his tenure as governor, but
has never been prosecuted because of a perpetual injunction he obtained
for self-protection.
Although all of that information must be in
the hands of President Jonathan, who claims to be fighting corruption,
he chose to publicly take a seat at a wedding funded by proceeds of
corruption
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