E.K CLARK INFLUENCED MY APPOINTMENT -SSA TO GOV SYLVA

The Senior Special Adviser to Governor Timipre Sylva on Ethics and Good Governance, Chief Amba- Ambaiowei Wisdom has revealed that his appointment by the governor was influenced by foremost Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

Ambai-Ambaiowei, who is a retired Army Captain, was until his appointment in January an ardent critic of Governor Sylva's style of governance.

Speaking to journalists in Yenagoa on Thursday, Ambai-Ambaiowei said Clark had approached him while he was engaged in criticizing Governor Sylva for lack of action on development of the state.

Ambai-Ambaiowei, who is a native of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area said he was humbled by Clark's elderly appeal for him to soft-pedal in fighting against Governor Sylva.

He explained that he had to carpet the governor most of the times "to make him sit up and have listening ear" as governance was a serious task which demanded performance.

Ambai-Ambaiowei debunked insinuations in certain quarters that his acceptance of the appointment was for monetary gains, informing that the governor's recognition of his 25-point ethical standards of governance was enough for him to accept to work with him. According to him, he was not fighting Governor Sylva on personal grounds but for the general good of Bayelsa Sate.

He pointed out that the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, in his opinion, had become rubber-stamp in matters of development of the state, which was why he had to take up the fight on good governance in the state.

He said as the Senior Special Assistant on Ethics and Good Governance, it was his duty to advise the governor to shun acts of corruption and bad governance to avoid unnecessary hiccups in the system.

Ambai-Ambaiowei, who declared that "no area or person is more Izon than the other in Bayelsa State," assured that he would instill ethical standards in the state's civil service to make it very efficient and productive.

He expressed gladness that government had embarked upon the opening up of the state capital with the approval of 25 road contracts to ease movement of people and services. He commended the press throughout Nigeria for its vital role of shaping governance for the common good of the governed in the country..