By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa
Former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has warned members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to stop criticising the Douye Diri-led government.
The warning came amid allegations by an ardent supporter of Dickson and strong member of the PDP, Dr John Idumange, publicly criticising Diri’s administration of diverting the loan it obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to private pockets of individuals instead of using it for the good of Bayelsans.
Dickson, the immediate past governor of the state and Senator representing Bayelsa West, advised that no one who is supportive of him, a member of the PDP (or who claims to be), should publicly be critical of the government.
The former governor, who expressed his position in a statement on Thursday, said he was aware that some of party stalwarts and members that he led in the unprecedented battles and victories, had one complaint of non-inclusion or the other which is normal.
He said: “The Governor (Douye Diri) and the party are available to address these issues and as such does not call for a public attack on our government because an attack on the governor and his government is an attack on our party and I do not approve of such.
“My role and my duty as former Governor and the first Governor to have done eight years, who midwifed the process of reelection, is to advice, support and pray for the success of this administration.
“My take is that every person in the current administration at all levels, beginning with the Governor is part of our team. And that is why my prayers are with all of them. That is also why I will not support anybody among my supporters to do anything to attack this government. Whoever is doing it is doing a great disservice to me, the state, and the party.
“Having played the roles I have played in the state over the years, I know the penchant of some of our people for divisive, rumour mongering, character assassination blackmail and unnecessary political propaganda and positioning.
“I also know that a number of those who promote this division are not usually available during critical battle. Their mission is to pull down dependable and loyal party members and undermine critical stakeholders just for their selfish personal political agenda. I believe the Governor knows this too.”
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He called on Diri, members of his team and the party leadership to take steps to unify and create an atmosphere of inclusiveness and togetherness of the political family and the party with the Governor as the new leader.
He said the Governor is head of both the party and the government and he had his support, urging all stakeholders to stop the divisive politics and give him their support.
Idumange had raised the dust when he accused Diri of not utilising the loan for the purpose it was it was got, rationalising that it was too early for his government to “defraud Bayelsans.”
He had claimed that the N3b CBN agricultural loan earlier obtained by Diri was a fraud, alleging that the loan had been diverted to private pockets of individuals instead of Bayelsans.
He said: “Sometime in 2019, the immediate past administration applied to the Central Bank of Nigeria for a N3b agricultural loan. The Douye Diri administration received the loan. The first tranche of N1.5b was paid in March, 2020 to the administration. The money was squandered.
“The last tranche of the loan N1.5b has been paid in February, 2021 via Access Bank Plc. A paltry sum of money is what the administration is using to clear some hectares of land. I am sure the Commissioner for Agriculture was not aware.
“Plans have been concluded by the government to give N50, 000 to select farmers in Bayelsa State. It is too early for the Prosperity Administration to defraud Bayelsans then shift the blame to the immediate past administration. So far, we have documented 17 cases of fraud. When we get 25 clear cases of fraud, EFCC and the law courts will handle the matter.
“Bayelsans should not be duped in the interest of a tiny cabal of power holders. Let me warn that anyone who challenges me on the agricultural loan issue will appear in court in 14 days. All documents of payment of the agricultural loan are at my disposal. This is a warning shot. Be warned!”
But a media aide of the governor, Timipa Dufegha, took Idumange to the cleaners, describing him as a known blackmailer.
He said: “It is on record that Bayelsa State government accessed the Federal Government agriculture loan through the CBN to support farmers in the state.
“It is a loan to support the CBN’s Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme for small scale farmers. Available reports indicate that the loan is performing very well as there is no cause for alarm.
“The fund that is being disbursed in strict compliance with CBN guidelines couldn’t have been diverted as being alleged by Dr. John Idumange. There are laid down guidelines by CBN in the management of the non-interest loan.
“This is a well-thought out programme that has provided jobs to over 3,500 beneficiaries, but people like Idumange are beclouded by greed for political appointment.”
He said the allegations were baseless and maliciously sponsored to attract the attention of the Governor for political patronage.
He said Governor Douye Diri had not in any way interfered with the process of disbursement to the almost 3,500 beneficiaries in the eight local government areas of the state.
“Idumange has consistently dished out falsehood and lies about the loan. This is a case of cheap blackmail. The government shall wait for Idumange’s EFCC challenge but he should know that the onus is on him to prove the allegations,” he said.
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