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Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Dickson raises fresh security concerns ahead of polls

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend alleged that some persons were playing politics with the security of the country ahead of the general elections.

    The governor insisted that there was a general concern about the state of law, order and security ahead of the forthcoming elections describing the signs as worrisome.

    A statement signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said Dickson spoke in Lagos after receiving the Silverbird Group’s Extraordinary Achievement Award.

    The governor said people expected fair play and hoped on agencies and institutions of state to have the ability of doing their jobs.

    He said: “On the elections, we have expectations and we also have concerns. Expectation that there should be fair play and fair exercise of public power and authority and that the agencies and institutions of state are able to do their job. That the people are not intimidated and harassed during the elections.

    “Let me however alert that the signs are not too good. There are people playing politics with security – what I call the politics of insecurity and the insecurity of politics. It is unfortunate that sometimes people don’t have the courage to do what is right. We have political leaders who don’t give the right directives.

    “We are concerned about the state of law, order and security during the elections. There is also the general concern about the impartiality of the electoral umpires and their agents.”

    Dickson noted that his administration ensured maintenance of peace in Bayelsa and created an environment for development of the state.

    Read Also: Dickson hails Buhari for IG’s appointment

    He said: “Silverbird is another wonderful Bayelsa brand. We are very proud of what our brothers in the Murray-Bruce family have done for our state, our country, Africa and the world.

    “The way the awards have been coming, I feel great that our sacrifice and modest efforts are being appreciated. Political office is all about service and making impactful changes in the lives of the people. So when one is appreciated, you draw encouragement from it.

    “We will continue to invest in the stability and security of our state. I assure Bayelsans that we will not stop working until the last minutes of our tenure. There is still a lot of work ahead.

    “We have built roads, hospitals, bridges, our children are on scholarship and no fewer than 120,000 Bayelsans have been captured under our health insurance scheme. No state in Nigeria has such a robust scheme. Indeed, there is a revolution going on in Bayelsa,” he said.

    Dickson described the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’ Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who presented  the award plaque to him as the president-in-waiting.

    On his part, Atiku lauded Dickson for building quality infrastructure in Bayelsa and for rendering wonderful service to his people and the country.

    He said: “I have been to Bayelsa where I saw world class university, world class roads and infrastructure. Therefore, this award is a befitting one. For those of you who have not been to Bayelsa, seeing is believing. Governor Dickson has rendered wonderful service to people of his state and Nigeria in general”.

    The Silverbird award is the fourth bestowed on Governor Dickson in the last one month. In January, he was decorated by the Daily Asset Newspapers (Governor of the Year), Daily Independent Newspapers (Man of Year) and The Sun Newspapers (Outstanding Politician of the Year).

     

  • Panic in Bayelsa community over ritual killings

    There was panic in Akenfa community, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, following reported cases of ritual killings in the area.

    It was gathered that one Goodnews Stephen, who hawked meat pie, was found dead on Friday morning with her face mutilated and her brains missing.

    The body of the victim, who was said to have held from Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of the state, was reportedly found at a refuse dump behind the Akenfa community Secondary School.

    A source from the area said the latest incident occurred a few days after a mother of four was murdered the same way in the community.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said the woman identified as Glory Omo-Ohwo, a resident in Akenfa -I Epie Community, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was a fish seller.

    The source said: “She woke up at about 5am on 29th January 2019, to dry some of the fish she had purchased.

    “But when her children were reported to have woken up later, they couldn’t find their mother. They only found one of her footwear.

    “Her lifeless body was later found in an uncompleted building next to the compound she resided, with her skull badly damaged”.

    Some of the residents attributed the new trend in the community to activities of desperate politicians and called on security agencies to stop further killings.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, could not be reached for his comments.

  • Bayelsa to host town hall meetings on peaceful poll

    Bayelsa State Government has initiated town hall meetings in all communities across the state to ensure peace in the state before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

    The state’s Commissioner for Youth Development, Udengs Eradiri, spoke on the plans for the town hall meetings when he visited the Commander of the 16th Brigade, Brig.Gen, Kelvin Aligbe in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Eradiri, who was accompanied by the Executive Chairperson, African Youth Union Commission (AYUC), Mr. Karl Oshodi, told the commander and officers of the brigade that his boss, Governor Seriake Dickson, was desirous of maintaining the existing peace in the state.

    He said his ministry would drive the town hall meetings since the initiative was designed to reach all the youths in various parts of the state.

    He said through the town hall meetings, the government would showcase its achievements to the youths and make them understand the relationship between peace and development.

    Read Also: Bayelsa donates 700 mattresses to corpers lodges

    He said such engagements would further help to develop programmes to keep the youths busy and address pockets of criminalities in communities.

    The commissioner said the government was also interested in eliminating idleness among the youths through training and skill acquisition programmes.

    “The government views the town hall meeting as very important. We will tour all the communities to sensitize the people on the need to maintain the peace before, during and after the election.

    He said: “The Restoration Government of Governor Seriake Dickson has worked hard to enthrone peace in the state and we will not allow agents of destabilization to rubbish the efforts of this government. We want the people to have the government’s disposition that election is not war to enable them resist agents of violence”.

    Eradiri called for collaboration between the government and the brigade to combat crimes especially at the electioneering period.

    In his remarks, Aligbe said the brigade as part of its corporate responsibility to its host communities donated sporting and instructional materials to Elebele Secondary School.

    He said if well-utilized, the materials would help to build the students’ physical and mental growth adding that the command detailed some officers to the school to instruct the students.

    He appealed to persons in positions of authority to ameliorate the suffering of the masses noting that crises in most communities were caused by unfair distribution of resources.

    “I am looking for a day when the visit to the creeks by security agents will not be for combating insecurity and destruction of oil facilities but for fun fare such as picnic and other merry-making programmes.

    He commended the governor for proactively suspending all youth elections in the state until after the 2019 general elections.

     

  • Bayelsans should die working for Atiku, says Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that people from Bayelsa state, should die working for the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Jonathan, who spoke at the PDP presidential campaign rally in Oxbow Lake Pavilion, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, described Atiku as a friend of Bayelsa.

    He said the late former Governor of the state and his former boss, Chief Diepreye Alamieyesigha would have also recognised him as a friend of Bayelsa if he was alive.

    Read Also:I will restore investor confidence in economy — Atiku

    He said: “My message is clear, in politics; you must have your people in mind. Political office is what is used to better the lives of the people, not for punishing people.

    “I can say categorically that Atiku Abubakar has been a friend of Bayelsa. Atiku recognises us and if DSP Alamieyeseigha was alive, you would have heard him clearly say that.

    “Atiku appreciates and loves the Ijaw people. He is the kind of person that we Bayelsans must die to work for. He is the kind of person that will help us. He will bring the whole Nigeria together.

    “He is the kind of person that can look around and say one of your sons can be the Chief of Army Staff, DG DSS or IGP. He is the kind of person that will say your son or daughter can be Chief of Defence Staff or minister of Defence because he has confidence in us just like we have confidence in him.

    “Our eyes must be open. Let’s not play the politics of the stomach. We have looked at all the candidates. All of them are good, but Atiku is the best. He sees the whole Nigeria as his own constituency and he will improve the quality of our lives”.

    Addressing the crowd that came to receive him, Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to fulfill all their campaign promises.

    Atiku insisted that the APC failed to realise their promises on the economy, security and fight against corruption.

    Quoting the Amnesty International, the PDP Presidential candidate said the country is more corrupt now than when the APC took over the mantle of leadership from his party.

    He said: “We thank you all the people of Bayelsa for being loyal to PDP, for being loyal to Nigeria because this election that is coming is about the future of our county.

    “It is about the future of our youths and our women. Since APC came to power, they promised three things. They promised to repair the economy, to make it better than what they took from PDP but they have made it worst.

    “They said they came to fight corruption, today, Transparency International say, we are more corrupt than when PDP was in power. They said they came to secure Nigeria but today there is insecurity in the North East, North Central and North West. I appeal to you to continue voting for PDP”.

    In his remarks, the host Governor, Seriake Dickson, urged the people to vote Atiku describing him as a Nigerian with the desired understanding to restructure the country.

    Dickson said that Atiku had good understanding of the problems of the people and should be trusted with the people’s votes.

    The governor, who said that Atiku would be sworn in come May 29, 2019 described Bayelsa as the headquarters of the PDP in Nigeria.

    He alleged that while the PDP was intensifying campaigns in Bayelsa, the APC was devoting its attention and resources to the procurement of illegal arms.

  • PDP to voters: shun unfit candidates at polls

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend appealed to voters to stay away from misfits parading themselves as candidates of opposition parties.

    The party said the next elections should be about its qualified, tested and trusted candidates against dropouts in opposition parties.

    PDP spoke in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area where it formally launched its campaigns for the Central Senatorial District.

    The event was attended by PDP leaders in the area such as a former Managing Director, NDDC, Chief Timi Alaibe; Secretary to State Government (SSG), Chief Gideon Ekeowe and the Central Senatorial District Director of Campaign, Talford Ongolo.

    The PDP state Chairman, Mr. Cleopas Moses, called on the people to evaluate the qualifications of the candidates to make informed decisions at the poll.

    Read Also: ‘Enough of PDP, APC ‘misrule’

    He said: “We have tested and trusted candidates unlike other parties that have presented misfits and dropouts as candidates. We are ready with the support of the people.

    “Go and check those selected from the pockets of the few. They have been nominated to fail. Leg us tell the people that it is proper to send experienced persons to the state and National Assemblies.”

    In his remarks, Ongolo, who unveiled the party’s Central Senatorial Candidate, Douye Diri to the crowd challenged the opposition parties to bring out their candidates.

    “The Bayelsa people want capable and articulate candidates. These are the people we have in the PDP. We challenge the opposition to bring forward their candidates and let the people judge”, he said.

    Also speaking, Alaibe asked the people to vote the PDP in the forthcoming election to enjoy infrastructural developmemt in the area.

    “All the roads constructed and the electricity projects into Kolokuma and Opokuma was done by the PDP. We are able to access road because of the PDP. Even when we had challenges, the same PDP delivered us. The PDP represent equity and Justice”, he said.

  • Sylva leads protest against intimidation of APC

    A former Bayelsa State Governor and leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, on Friday, led a protest to the state police command against alleged intimidation of his party members in the state.

    Sylva, who spoke at the police command headquarters in Yenagoa after meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Aminu Saleh, behind closed doors, said he was concerned about attacks on members of the APC in the state.

    The former governor, who was accompanied by a former Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu, a former Commissioner for Youths, Ibarakumo Otobo, said he was also worried at the destruction of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign materials by thugs suspected to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the police in the state had been unable to conclusively investigate the killings of APC members especially in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    He said attempts by the police to arrest the Caretaker Chairman of Brass, Victor Isaiah, for interrogation following the recent killings of APC members in the council, was frustrated by agents of the state government.

    Sylva said: “A lot has been happening in Bayelsa State. A lot of unexplained murders. Remember that in Brass Local Government Area, people were killed. The acting local government chairman was directly implicated in the murders of those people. That matter had not been conclusively investigated, unfortunately.

    “When the police came here to arrest the acting chairman, they were obstructed directly by the head of the state security outfit. We believe that the government of Bayelsa state has a direct hand in the murders of those people. Unfortunately, something has not been done.

    “You are all aware that two years ago, people shot into our APC rally and killed two people. Nobody has been arrested. The bus that was arrested at the scene has been released to a known ex-militant. Nothing has happened since then.

    “We came here because recently, the billboard that was erected for our presidential candidate, President Buhari, was brought down by unknown men. We know that these are the kind of things that precipitate problems.

    “If our members begin to react to our billboards being brought down it can lead to crisis. We came to report the incidents to the commissioner of police. What the PDP is trying to do to the APC, our billboards are being brought down illegally”.

    The former governor said the APC leaders were also worried that Governor Seriake Dickson, who hitherto shouted about frequent change of police commissioners in the state, kept quiet despite a new redeployment in the state.

    He said: “There has been a hullabaloo in Bayelsa State about commissioners of police coming and going. Suddenly Governor Seriake Dickson who was always complaining about the change of commissioners of police has not complained again about this new change again. This time he was very quiet.

    The CP has given us assurances. We are going home with those assurances and we will wait to see if those assurances will be carried out”.

    Sylva boasted that the APC was a dominant party with great chances in the forthcoming general elections adding that the candidates of the party were very popular.

    Read Also: Sylva to Dickson: you have no fear of God

    He, however, said his party would not allow any collusion between the police, the state’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP.

    “Our candidates were very carefully selected and we are expecting great results. Above all, we have the best presidential candidate in Nigeria and I know that he has done so much for us and Bayelsa people will vote for him.

    “We are very hopeful that this time without the police joining with the PDP, without INEC joining the PDP like it happened before., we will come out victorious. We ran the last election against INEC, the CP in Bayelsa and that is why we had those issues. But this time, we won’t allow those things to happen again”, he said.

    Sylva further called on INEC to fish out all the bad eggs working in its Bayelsa office and promised to take some of his worries to the Yenagoa office of the commission.

     

  • Lawyers protest insecurity, colleague’s killing in Bayelsa

    Scores of lawyers on Monday protested the killing of one of their colleagues in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, by armed robbers.

    The deceased, Pumokumo Abel Ozi, a member of the Human Right Committee (HRC), in the state, was brutally killed by suspected armed robbers on January 16.

    Ozi was gunned down in broad daylight at Opolo along the Mbiama-Yenagoa road, a few meters from the Police Area Command.

    The assailants were said to have followed him from a bank where he went to withdraw money and opened fire on him when he refused to honour their order to open his car.

    The Marauders were said to have also shot his drive and the two other occupants of the car and snatched N2million he withdrew from the bank.

    Angry at the development, practising lawyers in the state under the aegis of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa and Sagbama branches, marched the streets demanding justice for their colleague.

    Dressed in black attire, the aggrieved lawyers took their complaints to the offices

    of the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of Department of State Services (DSS).

    They bemoaned rising insecurity in Bayelsa especially in Yenagoa, the state capital, saying the security agencies were not doing enough.

    The lawyers urged security agencies to uncover the circumstances that led to the killing of Gberigbe colleagues and bring the hoodlums to justice.

    The Chairman of the NBA, Yenagoa, Branch, Clement Buruboyefe, said the protest was against the general insecurity in the state including the killing of their colleague.

    He said: “As a body we had an emergency meeting and agreed that we would embark on a peaceful solemn protest to register our sadness over the death of our colleague and the state of insecurity in Bayelsa state in general.

    “The purpose is to call on all security agencies, not just the police, but other stakeholders in the security of the state to beef up security, not just Yenagoa, but Bayelsa in general.

    “We have also pointedly called on the police to investigate and apprehend the killer of our colleague and bring them to book”.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of NBA, Sagbama Branch, Dise Ogbise-Erhisere, said the protest was a solemn walk by both branches of the NBA in the state to protest the high rate of insecurity in the state.

    She said: “We are not happy with the insecurity in the state, snatching of phones, snatching of bags and money in broad daylight. People cannot walk free in broad daylight, especially in Yenagoa.

    “Women are being raped in broad daylight. Children are being defiled in broad daylight. Insecurity in the state on the issues I just raised is what brought about the protest. But that aside, the recent one that happened last week Wednesday was a dark Wednesday for the NBA in the Bayelsa state.“

  • Bayelsa donates 700 mattresses to corpers lodges

    Bayelsa State on Monday donated 700 mattresses to lodges accommodating members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across the state.

    The state Governor’s aide on NYSC Matters, Mr. Kelvin Appah, handed over 500 mattresses to the NYSC state Coordinator, Mrs. Loto Bolade, in addition to 200 others he sent to the coordinator last year.

    Appah said that the State Governor, Seriake Dickson, was passionate about the welfare of the corps members in the state.

    Appah, who is a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) confirmed that  last year 200 mattresses were handed over to NYSC for serving corps members.

    He said: “This donation now makes it 700 mattresses released to the Scheme for the comfort of these Patriots. The governor is proud of your quality service to the state and is doing everything possible to make your service year a remarkable one.” 

    He noted that the government was working on the permanent orientation camp, increment of state allowances and many other welfare packages for corps members.

    Read Also: Better deals for Bayelsa youths

    Receiving the mattresses, Bolade commended the government for his support for the security and welfare of the corps members. 

    She charged the corps members to reciprocate the governor’s interest in the scheme by redoubling their services to the state in their places of primary assignments and in community development services.

    Loto said that the mattresses were enough to provide comfort to the corps members in their lodges.

    She commended the governor, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the SSA in charge of the NYSC for the gesture.

  • Policeman killed as cult leader’s death sparks war in Bayelsa

    A police Sergeant was at the weekend gunned down in Bayelsa State following a supremacy war between two notorious secret organisations.

    It was gathered that apart from the killing of the policeman, whose name was kept under wraps, a suspected cultist was also killed in the battle.

    The supremacy battle, which created tension in some parts of Yenagoa, the state capital, was reportedly caused by the killing of a leader of one of the cult groups, the Greenlanders.

    The cult leader, nicknamed Arrow, was said to have been killed at Gwegwe area of Yenagoa by a rival cult group identified as the Icelanders.

    His fellow cult members reportedly vowed to avenge his death, a situation that led to bloody clashes in some parts of the capital city.

    Security sources said the police Seargeant was not on duty when he was killed at Otiotio junction in Yenagoa.

    One of the sources, who spoke in confidence, however, said he was killed by a stray bullet fired by warring cultists.

    “Following the death of Arrow, his members took over the streets of Kpansia, Otiotio and chasing their rival members. They were also raiding and shooting. Their actions created panic and made people to scamper for safety”, he said.

    The source said the Seargeant only came to eat at a canteen located at the junction when he was hit by the bullet.

    “He was immediately rushed to the hospital but he couldn’t survive it. He was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital”, he said.

    He added: “The police and other security agencies including the army are working to arrest the suspected cultists”.

    When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, said he was yet to be briefed on the development.

     

  • APC to PDP: Jonathan not supporting our candidates

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state has denied claims former President Goodluck Jonathan is working for some of its candidates.

    It particularly said it was not true Jonathan was backing its candidate for the Ogbia federal constituency, Chief Samuel Ogbuku.

    In a statement in Abuja, the party said the insinuation the former President and his wife were backing his candidacy were baseless and aimed at creating distractions for the APC.

    The party said while the APC respects the first family, there was nothing to suggest his support for the party, pointing out the PDP was being haunted by its decision to impose candidates on the people the area.

    According to him: “Let it be so expressly stated that we of the APC respect former President Goodluck Jonathan not only as the political leader and father of Ogbia Kingdom, but as a true son of BayeIsa State.

    “We know him to be the leader of PDP. Neither he nor his wife has renounced PDP and none has pledged support for any APC candidate in Ogbia Kingdom since there is no alliance between the two parties at whatever level of contest.

    “That is why we are particularly bemused at the link of the former first family to our House of Representatives candidate.

    “It is repugnant to the APC watching such tirades, vituperations and innuendoes thrown at the person of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his family.

    Read Also: Basil Ejidike is Anambra APC acting chair

    “The APC therefore warns these unholy agents of divisiveness, disaffection and destabilisation to desist from their fabricated propaganda and face reality by engaging in issue based campaign, and find ways of salvaging their fast sinking political ship.

    “Therefore, we are using this medium to urge all APC members in Ogbia not to be distracted by such frivolous publication.

    “We will rather encourage our members to focus on our peaceful campaign so far and work harder towards winning all election at the various levels.

    “We are further urging all Ogbia people to be watchful and vote out all the agents of division and oppression sponsored by the Restoration PDP who have been directed by their paymaster to humiliate the political leaders of Ogbia and denigrate the personage of former President Goodluck Jonathan and further destroy the bond of Brotherhood of the Ogbia people.”