Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Shut to 3 weeks after the Minister of State, Petroleum Sources, Chief Timipre Sylva left the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the federal authorities yesterday lastly publicly confirmed the junior minister’s resignation from the federal government.

Historically, when senior authorities officers depart authorities positions, the administration ordinarily pronounces their exit. Nevertheless, it was unclear why the resignation of the minister, who has gone to vie for the governorship seat in Bayelsa state, was handled as prime secret earlier than yesterday.

Nevertheless, in an obvious last-minute effort to douse the controversy generated by the refusal of the authorities to make the announcement, a Particular Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed through his  Twitter deal with, that Sylva resigned to pursue his gubernatorial ambition.

“Minister of State for Petroleum Sources, and former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, has resigned his appointment to contest within the subsequent Bayelsa governorship election,” Ahmad confirmed.

Sylva, who was but to finish his constitutionally assured two phrases as governor of Bayelsa State earlier than he was compelled out on the time,  is in search of a brand new time period as governor of the oil-producing state.

However THISDAY gathered that Sylva handed his resignation letter to Buhari on March 14 and had stopped coming to the workplace since then. The All Progressives Congress (APC)  celebration primaries in Bayelsa is scheduled to happen on April 14.

On Tuesday, March 28, in the course of the official inauguration of oil exploration in Nasarawa State, Sylva was absent, however the Chief Government of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, introduced that he was standing in for him on the event.

As well as, in contrast to the same old apply of formally notifying or assembly with aides for formal goodbyes finished by senior  authorities officers, it was understood that nothing of such had taken place on the time of this report, leaving virtually all his appointees in the dead of night.

Within the resignation letter to Buhari obtained by THISDAY, Sylva advised the president that he had delivered on all of the precedence areas he set for himself when he was picked as minister by the present administration.

Within the official communication addressed to the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Sylva recalled that the Nigerian structure and the APC pointers required that he stepped down from his ministerial place earlier than contesting for any political submit.

“Mr. President and Honourable Minister of Petroleum Sources (HMPR) is respectfully invited to recall the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 in addition to the rules for the conduct of primaries issued by our nice celebration, the APC, regarding political appointees aspiring to take part in its major elections at al ranges.

“By the provisions of Part 3 of the rules: “No political appointee at any stage shall be a voting delegate or be voted for the aim of the nomination of candidates.

“Any political workplace holder serious about contesting for an elective workplace shall depart workplace 30 days previous to the date of election or celebration major for the workplace sought.”

“I’m serious about contesting elections for the place of governor of Bayelsa State and in collaborating within the upcoming celebration primaries. On this regard, I hereby tender my resignation as Honourable Minister of State with impact from 15 March 2023.

“In keeping with extant Laws and Insurance policies of the civil service, I shall hand over to the Everlasting Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Sources, pending the appointment of a brand new Minister of State by Mr President,” the minister wrote.

Describing it as an honour to serve the president and the nation generally, and to assist in actualising Buhari’s imaginative and prescient for the Nigerian petroleum sector, Sylva added that he was leaving workplace fulfilled.

“I’ve served with diligence and integrity because of which I’ve delivered on my ministerial mandates alongside the 9 precedence areas of the administration. I’m leaving workplace with a way of fulfilment figuring out that I’ve left the Nigerian petroleum trade higher than I met it underneath your steering and along with your unflinching help .

“I’m prepared as soon as once more, for the following problem of elective workplace and take with me the added expertise from serving as  Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I’ve little question in my thoughts that this may enrich the content material and context of my governance once I do get elected into workplace and stay grateful for the privilege you granted me to serve,” Sylva advised the president.

Looking back, in the course of the minister’s practically 4 years in workplace, quite a lot of reforms within the oil sector, together with the long-awaited passing of the Petroleum Business Act (PIA) that overhauled the sector’s fiscal regime in a bid to spur funding, lastly grew to become successful.  The invoice had been within the works for practically 20 years.

Nevertheless, on the draw back, it was additionally throughout his time period that Nigeria had the longest interval of petrol shortage.  Nigeria’s oil output additionally fell to its lowest in a long time because of crude theft and pipeline vandalism in the course of the interval.