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Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Father of four drinks poison, dies in Bayelsa

    A 39-year-old man and father of four has committed suicide by drinking poisonous substance at Edepie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
    The deceased was identified as Femi Otura, a truck driver, from Kogi State and married to an indigene of Bayelsa State.
    His wife, Mrs. Ovieizibe Femi, who is nursing their fourth child was reportedly away with the other children when her husband took his own life.
    The neighbours said the deceased was always drunk and came back midnight after drinking himself to stupor.
    He was said to have started screaming compelling his neighbours to forcefully open his door only to find his lifeless body with a bottle of poisonous substance beside it.
    The landlord of the apartment Mr. Philips Akpuzere, confirmed the development saying he led other tenants to open the deceased door.

    Read Also: Bayelsa gets new police commissioner

    He said: “The deceased is a truck driver but recently lost his job and on this fateful day, according to the other tenants he looked very unusual and was wearing a moody countenance all day.
    “He came back around 1:am on Tuesday morning and immediately he entered his apartment we started hearing screamings from his apartment. We were suprised because he was the only one at home as his wife who just put to bed had gone to her mother’s place with the other children.
    “When the screamings persisted I raised the alarm and other tenants came out to join me to forcefully open the door to the apartment where we met him already dead.
    “We saw an empty bottle with some liquid besides him. We immediately call a doctor who lives in the neighborhood who came and confirmed him dead. We contacted the police who took the corpse to the morgue.”

  • ‘How bank cashiers aided armed robbers to steal my N2m’

    A businessman in Bayelsa State on Tuesday narrated how cashiers in a new generation bank in Yenagoa aided armed robbers to steal his N2 million.
    The businessman, Mr. Ololo Okpanra as unpleasant insisting that the cashiers acted as informants to the criminals that he stole his money.
    The victim said he left Nembe Local Government Area for the bank at 8.20 am to withdraw N2million in a new generation bank located at Kpansia area in Yenagoa.
    He said: “The cashier, thereafter, informed me that there is no sufficient fund at that very point and asked me to wait for about 20 minutes before the money could be made available.
    “For that very reason, I waited for about 30 minutes after which I was asked to go behind the counter to pickup the cash which was already made ready at that point.

    Read Also: Two ‘armed robbers’ held in Lagos

    “I quietly picked up the cash and went straight to my house which is about 50 meters away from the bank to pick up something before proceeding back on the journey to Nembe”.
    But he said he never knew that he was already been trailed by some hoodlums.
    He said: “They first missed track of me at a point when I  detour to my house. As I came out to enter my car which was  already parked at the front of my house, a green l Toyota  Camry drove passed me and stopped some few meters away from me.
    “At this point l  had already entered into my  car and about to start the ignition when I  saw them, and they were three in number, and they walked straight to me holding AK47 automatic riffles.
     “As soon as they got to my car, they demanded money, and I told them I didn’t have sufficient cash with me and I tried to trick them by bringing out a smaller amount of cash I already had.
    “Immediately, one of them pointing the gun at me got angry and said to me,  ‘if you want to die, and stop wasting our time’, and asked for the N2 million, I just collected from the bank.
    “There and then it downed on me that I  had been set up. I knew that they were acting on a tip off, so I  pointed towards the money at the back seat, they quickly opened the door and collected the money, ask for my car key and drove off.
    “They later drop the car and the key after some distance and a good Samaritan picked up the key and returned it to mr
    “I immediately went back to the bank and accused the cashiers of complicity and left for SARS office  to make a formal complain for further investigation.”

  • Dickson wades into Bayelsa community crisis

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson,  has intervened to resolve the bloody conflict between Amatolo and Okumbiri communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    The communities have been engulfed in crisis as cultists and hoodlums fought with weapons including guns.

    Many residents were said to have fled the communities to seek protection in other villages and Yenagoa,  the state capital.

    But Dickson on Tuesday ordered thorough investigations into the violence to ensure restoration of the peace in the area.

    He also appealed to residents, who fled the communities to return and vowed to take security measures to ensure their protection and safety.

    The governor expressed concern that the communities, allowed the crisis to deepen despite their long tradition of keeping the peace.

    He said “I strongly condemn reports of violence between Amatolo and Okumbiri communities in the state. I am even more concerned knowing that these communities have been known to have a long tradition of keeping the peace.

    “I have consequently directed the security agencies to ensure law and order is maintained in both communities and to protect the lives and property of every law-abiding indigenes.

    Read Also: Dickson wins award on good governance

    “Those who fled should return to their communities as the security personnel will guarantee their safety. Government will also investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis and seek ways to resolve it.”

    He said preliminary reports indicated that hoodlums and cultists unleashed violence on both communities.

    He however  said that security agents had been directed to fish out the perpetrators.

    The governor stressed that his administration would continue to ensure peaceful co-existence between and among the different communities in the state.

    He thanked the leadership of both communities for their effort to maintain peace and restore order, saying the government will meet with all parties involved, including the chairman of the council and the community leaders.

     

  • Dickson pays fees of 28 stranded law school students

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has paid the fees of 28 indigent law graduates, who were at the verge of missing admissions into the law school.

    The Nation reported that 28 graduates were about losing their admissions into the law school following their inability to beat the school’s deadline for payment of fees.

    The students under the auspices of the Aluzu Ebikebuna-led Bayelsa State Law Graduate Forum (BALAGRAF) appealed to the governor to come to their aide.

    It was gathered that their request got Dickson’s attention through the intervention of the state Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obuebite.

    The President of BALGRAF, Aluzu Ebikebuna, at the weekend confirmed that the governor released N8.3million to offset the fees of the 28 students.

    He said: “The Forum hereby acknowledges receipt of the payment of ₦295,000 in each of the account of the 28 indigent Bayelans in a very transparent process. This has only gone to cement the garguanturn stride the Restoration government have made in the educational sector of the state.

    Read Also: Dickson leads fight against fake drugs in Bayelsa

    “We thank particularly, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite for his fatherly disposition in ensuring Bayelsa state did not miss out on its slot in the 2018/2019 academic session of the Nigerian Law school due to financial constraint”.

    Also, Obuebite, who confirmed the development, said Dickson’s government would not relent in fulfilling the academic dream of every son and daughter of the Ijaw Nation.

    He thanked the governor for putting smiles on the faces of students and their parents.

    He said:  “It takes an education friendly governor to take such a bold step to grant them scholarship into the Law school with such a short notice and in a time when the inflow from the Federal level is little.

    “I, therefore, urge the youths in the State to take maximum advantage of the revolution in the education sector and ensure that you attain an enviable height educationally instead of engaging in social vices that are of no good to you and the State at large”.

     

  • ‘Nigeria’s security challenges are surmountable’

    The Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Napoleon Bali, has stated that Nigeria’s security challenges are surmountable.

    He also insisted that a peaceful country is needed, in order to witness progress and development in Nigeria.

    AVM Bali, who was the special guest of honour, stated these at the Naval College, Onne, in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State in the Niger Delta.

    The colourful event was the ceremonial sunset and awards’ night in honour of the passing out 141 cadets of the Direct Short Service Course 25, who will be passing out today (Saturday) and will be commissioned into the service of the Nigerian Navy as Sub-Lieutenants and Lt.-Commanders, including medical consultants.

    The air officer commanding said: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity. Most likely I would have left the air force without knowing that there is something like this (ceremonial sunset). You have given me something in this neat college that I will discuss with my colleagues, both in the air force and in the army. When we did it in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), maybe because I was a cadet, it was not as interesting as this.

    Read Also: Security award for monarch

    “The Nigerian Navy is very regimental. Keep it up, because that is the only thing that can make us to be very disciplined.

    For the passing out cadets, I implore you, because you know what is happening in the country right now, we have so many security challenges, use this opportunity and the training you are given here to add value to what we, your superiors, have been doing.

    “Do not think you know it all. It is possible that one or two of you may be the ones to bring out the desired strategies. At the end of it all, let us have a peaceful country. So that we can develop our country, where everybody can go about their normal businesses. I implore you all to take it seriously. Maintain the regimentation. The military is a large family, very enjoyable and sociable, but you must always behave yourselves.”

    The Commandant of Naval College, Onne, Commodore Akinga Ayafa, in his welcome address, described the ceremonial sunset as an old-time tradition that is peculiar to navies all over the world.

    Ayafa said: The Naval College, Onne is adding value to the military, especially through intensive training of fresh graduates and others. We are preparing them for the daunting challenges ahead. Nigeria is passing through a lot of security challenges. We look at the contemporary situations and tailor our training towards ensuring that whoever we bring in will help to improve and add value to the system.

    “The training in this college lays a very solid foundation, upon which we expect them to build a solid career in the service of their fatherland, through the Nigerian Navy.

    “The cadets and others being trained in Naval College, Onne are very competent. Service in the Nigerian Navy is full of a wealth of experience. They learn on a daily basis. We have laid a very solid foundation for all of them.”

    The commandant also urged the cadets and others to always be good ambassadors of Naval College, Onne, while assuring that emphasis would always be placed on qualitative training, discipline and hard work.

  • Dickson’s bridge projects excite Jonathan’s kinsmen

    The people of Opume community in Ogbia, the Local Government Area of former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday commended Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson for bridge projects in their area.

    The people were excited that the projects, which would soon be inaugurated, would provide needed linkages between them and other communities.

    They were happy that Dickson and his administration gave attention to such projects in their community and promised to support the governor.

    The commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who hails from the community, said the bridges were in a sorry state for over 20 years.

    But he said the governor out of his love for Ogbia constructed them to ease the movement of motorists and pedestrians. 

     The commissioner urged the people to continue to support the Restoration Government of governor Dickson.

    Iworiso-Markson, while inspecting the projects, said with greater support, the government would do more for the people before the end of its tenure in 2020.

    He praised Governor Dickson for the project and thanked him for his love for Ogbia people which he said was responsible for the numerous project he executed in the area.

    Read Also: Dickson, Clark warn against politicising security

    The commissioner said he took a tour of the project ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities which would see an influx of people to the community. 

    He said: “I came here to see for myself what I have been hearing and I am really impressed. This government has constructed a project that previous administrations couldn’t.

    “This once again underscores the love Governor Dickson has for Ogbia people. This bridge will no doubt improve economic activities and also boost the social life of the people”.

  • Bayelsa receives report of 2015 electoral violence

    Vows to punish perpetrators

     

    The Bayelsa State Executive Council on Friday vowed to ensure that sponsors and perpetrators of the 2015 electoral violence in the state faced the full weight of the law.

    The council at its 100 meetings presided over by Governor Seriake Dickson, said it took the decision following the submission of the report by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the 2015 general elections.

    The council said the mayhem would not be overlooked and called for the white paper on the report to enforce required steps to punish all persons found culpable.

    Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara said the council took time to deliberate on the issue because of its importance.

    He said it was also imperative following elections saying the government was committed to protecting the lives of the people and preventing avoidable deaths that characterized the last elections.

    He said: “We want to underscore the fact that Bayelsa is a state of law and order. The Restoration Government believes in upholding law and order. And so we will not condone any action that will bring violence on our people in the name of seeking for elective offices. We take the lives of our people very serious and we must do all that we can to protect them”.

    Read Also: ‘Security worsening in Bayelsa’

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said it was the duty of the government to protect the lives of the people at all times.

    He said that persons, who feel they could get into power through killings would not go scot-free, stressing that they must pay for the consequences of their action.

    Iworiso-Markson said: “Today council looked at the electoral violence of 2015. The general elections, leading up to the governorship election based on the report of the commission of inquiry. So it was resolved that the white paper on it should be produced.

    “We want those who are engaged in electoral violence to know that there is punishment for their actions. This government cannot fold her hands and allow those who took part in the violence of 2015 to go unpunished. We owe our people a duty to protect them.

    “As we speak, a number of families are still mourning the death of their loved ones, some people are still nursing their injuries arising from the 2015 election. We must not allow a repeat of that. We want politicans to go about their electoral activities with utmost decorum. We want to avoid bloodshed in the coming elections”.

    Iworiso-Markson also urged the media to work with the government ahead of the elections next year to effectively carry out the campaign against electoral violence.

  • Jonathan, Gana, others pay tributes to Dickson’s mother

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and a former  Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana were among very important personalities, who paid glowing tributes to the late Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson.
    Others were Chairman of the Bayelsa State  Council of Traditional  Rulers, King Alfred Diete Spiff and a  former Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lauretta Mallam,
    Jonathan, Gana, Diete Spiff and others said that the late Governor’s mother left behind a legacy of resilience, contentment, uprightness, humility, hard work and selfless service  to mankind and God.
    They extolled the sterling qualities of Madam Goldcoast Dickson on Thursday night while paying tributes during a service  of songs held in her honour at the  state Ecumenical  Centre,  Igbogene, Yenagoa.
    They said Madam Goldcoast stood for the place of education as a veritable  platform for people to succeed in life.
    Jonathan, who said Mama Gogo, as she was fondly called, was diligent in the service of the Lord, and demonstrated exceptional motherly love as captured in the tribute by her daughter-In-law, Dr. Mrs Rachel Dickson.
    He said that only a God-fearing lover of humanity would give the support Mrs. Goldcoast gave to her daughter in-law as captured in the emotional tribute by the Bayelsa First Lady.
    Mrs. Rachael Dickson gave a detailed account of how Ma GoldCoast Dickson prayed with her, encouraged her for the 15 years that she battled infertility before the coming of the quadruplets.
    Mrs.  Dickson, described Mama Goldcoast  as a jewel of inestimable  value, who did not differentiate between her and her biological daughters.
    In his tribute, Prof. Gana said that Mama Goldcoast lived an exemplary  life, worthy of emulation as demonstrated by the achievements and integrity of the children she raised.

    Read Also: Dickson leads fight against fake drugs in Bayelsa

    He described  her as a woman of integrity  and lover of children who had nurtured her children  and all those who came her way to achieve  successes in life.
    Also King Diete Spiff, one time  Military  Administrator of Bayelsa state, Col. Paul Edor Obi (Retd) and former Minister of State for  Environment, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe described Mama Gogo as a “golden Goldcoast” whose inspiration manifested in Governor Dickson’s approach to governance.
    They said Mama Goldcoast fought a good cause, stresssing that, it is not how long but how well one lived that counts and urged people to emulate her lifesyle by living a worthy  Christian life.
    In a brief exhortation, Bishop God-Do-well Avwomakpa said death is an inevitable end for all mortals adding that it was expedient for people to give their lives to God.
    Responding, Governor  Dickson expressed  gratitude  to Bayelsans, various leaders across the country, friends and other sympathisers who had in one way or the other shown concern and support to him and the Dickson family over the demise of his mother.
    Dickson restated that the remains of his mother would lie-in-state in Toru Orua for a traditional  and Christian all night wake after which she would be interred in her hometown,  Toru-Angiama, Delta State.
    Other family  members who paid tributes include, the grand daughter of Mama Goldcoast,  Miss Peikumo Dickson, son-in-law, Mr. Wisdom Fafi, saying that her legacies would remain indelible.
    Former Deputy  Senate President,  Senator Ibrahim Mantu and former Deputy Governor  of  Sokoto state, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari also graced the event.

  • Dickson appoints ex-IYC chair, four others as commissioners

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has appointed a former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, and four others as commissioner nominees in the state.

    Others appointed by the governor were a former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chief Victor Sam-Ateke (Brass); Pius Jonah (Ekeremor), Peter Afagha (Ogbia) and Andrew Arthur (Sagbama).

    Eradiri, who represents Yenagoa Local Government Area, and others were screened and cleared as commissioners by the state House of Assembly.

    The 24-member Assembly confirmed them during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Abraham Ngobere.

    Leader of the House and Member representing Sagbama Constituency I, Peter Akpe, advised the appointees to view their appointments as opportunities to serve the state.

    He urged them to ensure that the interest of the people of the state was paramount in their activities when assigned portfolios by the Governor, Seriake Dickson.

    Read Also: Dickson wins award on good governance

    Also, the Chief Whip of the House and lawmaker representing Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency I, Tonye Isenah, admonished asked them to key into objectives of Dickson’s administration. 

    He also charged the would-be commissioners to be diligent while discharging their duties as members of the state executive council.

    Speaking shortly after his confirmation, Eradiri said the state should expect the best from them and commended the governor for considering them worthy to serve the stage.

    He expressed optimism that following his leadership style, governor Dickson would give them the enabling environment to discharge their duties.

    Eradiri said: “I thank the governor for finding us worthy to serve the state in this capacity. Bayelsa State should expect the best from us. Leadership is about the people and you must carry the people along.

    “I will bring an all-inclusive leadership because I know that the governor following his leadership style will give us the enabling environment to do the job according to the best of our abilities”.

  • Dickson leads fight against fake drugs in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson on Tuesday led a fight against fake drugs to the state-owned drug distribution centre.

    The governor in the company of pharmacists, medical doctors and other health experts inspected pharmaceutical products at the centre shortly after declaring open Yenagoa Trade Fair.

    Dickson’s Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, in a statement said the governor directed the Commissioner for Health and Acting Head of Service to ensure that all public health institutions in the state compulsorily procure their drugs and other pharmaceutical products from the centre.

    Speaking at the event, the governor said the target of his administration was to make Bayelsa a foremost medical tourist destination, where health care seekers could meet their needs at affordable cost.

    He noted that his administration invested on world class health facilities and programmes including the state Health Insurance Scheme adjudged to be one of the best in the country.

    He expressed appreciation to the organizers of the trade fair saying that over 40 pharmaceutical firms were participating at the exhibition.

    According to the governor, the centre was primarily targeted at curbing the circulation of fake drugs in Bayelsa and neighboring states.

    He also called on Nigerians to emulate former President of the Country, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to patronize medical facilities in the state for their health needs.

    He said: This state is ripe for medical business. If you are thinking of doing anything serious in the health sector, this is where you should come because  apart from the several world class health facilities we have built, we also have a health insurance system that is so robust and will get better with time.

    Read Also: Dickson wins award on good governance

    “I call for more support by all and sundry for this drug distribution center. The whole purpose is to have a place where genuine drugs can be obtained in our state and beyond Bayelsa. It is also meant to serve other states around us.

    ” I’m pleased with the reports I have  received and I want to direct that all public healthcare facilities in the state, to compulsorily procure their drugs and other medical products from this center. It will be wrong for any public facility to procure drugs from any place other than this drug center because we want to be sure that they are genuine.

    “And I hereby direct the Acting Head of Service and the Commissioner for Health to ensure that appropriate circulars are issued to all those in charge of public healthcare facilities in the state.”

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Ebitimitula Etebu, explained that the trade fair was being organised to promote interactions among stakeholders in the health sector.

    Etebu. who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the newly established Bayelsa State University of Medical Sciences, commended Dickson for supporting the health ministry to complete the Centre and ensure its commencement of operations.

    In their separate remarks, the Managing Director of the Bayelsa State Drug Distribution Company Limited, Ms Tamaraotare Owota-Johnson and the state Chairperson, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Dr. Bio Joseph, lauded the governor for his efforts at moving the health sector forward.