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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Beware of politicians’ empty promises, monarch tells Bayelsa voters

    Beware of politicians’ empty promises, monarch tells Bayelsa voters

    The King of Nembe Kingdom, Dr. Edmond Daukoru, Mingi XIII, has urged the electorate in Bayelsa State to be wary of politicians who make empty promises during election seasons.

    The revered monarch gave the counsel in his palace in Ogbolomabiri when Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign trail visited him to seek royal blessings ahead of the November 11 governorship election.

    The king, who is a former Nigerian Minister for Energy and Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), also said his people would resist politicians whose stock-in-trade was to deceive the electorate with vague promises.

    He commended Governor Diri’s passion towards the ongoing Nembe-Brass road project through his frequent inspection of the project, which he said has given the people of Nembe the assurance that the government and the kingdom are in safe hands.

    Daukoru equally implored his subjects to be guided in their choice of who to vote on November 11 by the visible projects they can see in their domain and not by sweet talks and fancy stories of politicians.

    He said: “Campaign time is when you have to explain to all that you mean well; that you need their mandate so that you can carry out your programme to the fullest. Nembe is going to vote and the people would not be bought over.

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    “We have to be guided by what we see. They can fool the people some of the time but cannot fool all the people all the time. Seeing is believing. People should be guided by what they see not by fancy stories or expectations.

    “Nembe is only an island rearing to become a city. So, we cannot afford any bloodletting if we are to grow in cooperation, in skills and in our contribution to the state.

    “I’m very happy that early in your campaign you found time to visit us. I do know that you come very often to see your beloved projects, to see things for yourself. That is the way it should be. It is an assurance that the government and the community are under your view altogether as one unit and not in opposition to one another.

    “Let us live to inaugurate projects. Let us live to celebrate progress and not to be settling disputes and violence.”

    In his remarks, Governor Diri thanked the monarch for his kind words and support, saying he is a statesman who believes in the wellbeing of his people and the state.

    The governor restated his position that traditional rulers must ensure peace and prevent electoral violence in their domain as his administration would wield the big stick and dethrone any of them found wanting.

    At the King Koko Square in Ogbolomabiri, Diri told the large crowd of party members and supporters that he was glad to return to campaign peacefully in the community where he was denied access in 2019 by gunmen who attacked and killed scores of his supporters.

    He called for a minute silence in honour of the departed just as thanked the people for voting massively for the PDP during the last National Assembly elections that ensured victory for all the party’s candidates.

    The governor reeled out some of the projects of his administration in the Nembe Local Government Area, including the Nembe Unity Bridge, internal roads and the Nembe-Brass road.

    Also, the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), said Governor Diri stood a better chance to win in Nembe because of the love he had demonstrated during his first tenure.

    Also speaking, Prince Gabriel Jonah pledged the total support of his ‘Otita Force’ for Diri, noting that no opposition would withstand their movement and support for the governor’s reelection.

  • Bayelsa LP candidate promises improved welfare for teachers

    Bayelsa LP candidate promises improved welfare for teachers

    The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, an engineer, has promised to improve the welfare of teachers, if they support him.

    Eradiri, in a statement to mark the 2023 Teachers Day, vowed to wipe away the tears of all the teachers .

    The LP candidate, who described teachers as the pillar and backbone of all the sectors, said under his People, Education, Agriculture and Power (PEAP) agenda, teachers would occupy a special place in his government.

    Eradiri said with the humongous resources accruing to the state every month, Bayelsa teachers had no business complaining about non-payment of promotional arrears, minimum wage, paltry salary scale, non-implementation of increase in retirement age, lack of adequate training and retraining among other challenges.

    Eradiri said while some states had implemented the Federal Government approved retirement age from 60 to 65 years and from 35 to 40 years, the current Bayelsa government had refused to do so.

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    The LP candidate observed that many teachers were working under poor environmental conditions characterized by decaying infrastructures, dearth of teaching materials and poor welfare especially in the rural areas where he said some children were still learning under the trees and market squares.

    “Our teachers deserve more. They are supposed to be the happiest in the country following the huge resources accruing to the state. Unfortunately, the state government has denied teachers their pride of place in the state,” he said.

    Eradiri said the current administration of Douye Diri did not have any deliberate policy document on the educational development of the state, insisting that the state was in dire need of a clear direction, roadmap and actionable plan to develop the educational sector and improve teachers welfare.

    Addressing the teachers, he said: “Whatever they are promising to do for you now is fake. It is because they want to deceive you again to vote for them. You have been crying over your challenges but they turned deaf ears to your demands. Suddenly, they are coming to make fake promises to you.

    “Don’t allow them to deceive you again. Whatever they couldn’t do for you three years ago and they are making promises to do them now; it is because another election is around the corner and they need your votes. If you mistakenly return them, they will surely abandon you again.

    “But I am offering you a better alternative, an opportunity for us to build our education on a solid foundation. I have signed a pact with you to make your welfare our priority, to address all your challenges and make you work under an environment with globally accepted standards.”

  • Bayelsa govt explains cause of prolonged darkness in Yenagoa

    Bayelsa govt explains cause of prolonged darkness in Yenagoa

    Bayelsa State Government has said the current blackout in parts of Yenagoa and its environs is as a result of a vehicle that crashed into and damaged electric poles in Opolo area of the capital.

    It made this known yesterday through a statement by the Managing Director, Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited (BECL), Olice Kemenanabo, an engineer.

    Kemenanabo, who is also the chairman, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Board of Directors, said two persons died due to the crash, which occurred a few weeks ago.

    He said: “The accident was caused by a fault that cascaded into the 132/33kV transmission substation at Gbarain, with a heavy bang that caused an inferno and gutted the 33kV feeder switchgears, the protection and control systems and other sensitive electrical equipment. 

    “This huge damage has thrown the state into darkness, which is regrettable.

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    “Although the incident at the transmission substation is not within the purview of the state, Governor Douye Diri has directed that the Ministry of Power and Bayelsa Electricity Company interface with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), owners of the asset and other related agencies, to evaluate the situation with a view to restoring supply as soon as possible.

    “Accordingly, we urge the good people of Bayelsa to keep calm as we continue to work in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, TCN and other relevant agencies to ensure the restoration of power supply to the affected areas.”

    Kemenanabo urged the public to be vigilant and report any unscrupulous activity, as vandals could take advantage of the situation.

    He said the government would update the state on the progress of the situation until power was fully restored.

  • Bayelsa ex-acting governor  Seibarugu, supporters join PDP

    Bayelsa ex-acting governor  Seibarugu, supporters join PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has suffered a huge blow following the defection of the Seibarugu Political Dynasty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The influential group in the APC, comprising thousands of members across the state, is led by a former Acting Governor and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu.

    At a  declaration during a meeting with Governor Douye Diri in Government House, Yenagoa, the Coordinator of the Seibarugu Dynasty, Mr. Ebiye Waripamo, said they were attracted to the PDP by the governor’s leadership style that is peaceful and development-oriented.

    Waripamo said after assessing Diri’s performance in almost four years, particularly the prevailing peace and security as well as the ongoing developmental projects across the state, they were left with no choice but to join hands with him to move Bayelsa forward.

    He assured the governor and members of the PDP of their unalloyed commitment to the governor’s re-election on November 11, 2023.

    He said: “We left Jerusalem and went to Egypt but now we are back in Jerusalem and this is where we will stay. We are not going back again.”

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    “Your Excellency, we have seen your developmental strides in the state and we are impressed. We came back to PDP because of your leadership style.”

    Also speaking, the PDP National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikuro, said he led members of the party in the Gbarain-Ekpetiama axis of Yenagoa Local Government Area to formally introduce the Seibarugu Dynasty to the governor.

    Responding, Governor Douye Diri expressed appreciation to the leader of the Seibarugu Dynasty and described Chief Seibarugu as a man of conviction and integrity.

    He commended his decision to return to the PDP with thousands of his supporters.

  • Bayelsa explains cause of prolonged darkness in Yenagoa, environs

    Bayelsa explains cause of prolonged darkness in Yenagoa, environs

    The Bayelsa state government clarified that the ongoing power outages in certain areas of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa state, and its surroundings, are due to a vehicle collision that resulted in severe damage to multiple electric poles in the Opolo area of the Yenagoa metropolis.

    The government made this known on Tuesday, October 3, through a statement signed by the Managing Director of Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited (BECL), Olice Kemenanabo.

    Kemenanabo, who is also the chairman of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Board of Directors, said two lives were lost due to the crash a few weeks ago.

    He said: “The effect of the accident was a fault that cascaded into the 132/33kV Transmission Substation at Gbarain, with a heavy bang that caused an inferno and gutted the 33kV feeder switch gears, the protection and control systems and other sensitive electrical equipment. This huge damage has thrown the state into darkness, which is highly regrettable.

    “Although the incident at the Transmission Substation is not within the purview of the state, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri has directed that the Ministry of Power and the Bayelsa Electricity Company interface with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), owners of the asset and other related agencies, to quickly evaluate the situation with a view to restoring supply as soon as practically possible.

    Read Also: Bayelsa poll: Sylva loses more loyalists as Seibarugu, supporters dump APC

    “Accordingly, we urge the good people of Bayelsa to keep calm as we continue to work in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, TCN, and other relevant agencies to ensure the restoration of power supply to the affected areas.”

    Kemenanabo urged the general public to be vigilant and report any unscrupulous activity as vandals could take advantage of the situation, stressing that the government would continue to regularly update the state on the progress of the situation until power is fully restored.

  • PIA: Bayelsa community leaders reject calls for separate development trust

    PIA: Bayelsa community leaders reject calls for separate development trust

    Some leaders and chiefs of Amatu II community in Ekeremor Local Government of Bayelsa State have rejected purported demands by some communities under the Estuaries Area (EA) oil field operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), for a separate Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

    The PIA provides for the incorporation of HCDT in oil and gas-producing communities where oil/gas companies are mandated to make an annual contribution to the HCDT of an amount equal to three per cent of the company’s actual annual operating expenditures of the preceding financial year for developmental projects in the host communities.

    Recall that some community leaders have reportedly informed SPDC that they would not want to be clustered alongside other communities of the EA oil field under one HCDT, a demand that has been rejected by a section of chiefs and elders of Amatu II community.

    In a statement in Yenagoa yesterday by some chiefs and elders of Amatu II community led by Chief Paul Oweipade, they said the purported request for a separate HCDT came as a surprise to the people of the EA host communities, particularly Amatu II community.

    Oweipade said: “Amatu I, Amatu II, Besangbene, Letugbene, Azamabiri, Orobiri and Ogbeintu communities seeking a separate HCDT should be ignored because the people of Amatu II have never sat in a meeting to deliberate and agree to go into a separate HCDT with the aforementioned communities.

    “Amatu II community is not a ghost community, neither a fishing camp that her leaders can sit in a hotel room or drinking bars to take decisions and expect such decisions to be binding on every person.

    “To this purpose, the good people of Amatu II are stating it categorically that they are not a party to any separation, so SPDC and the public should take note.”

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    “You cannot shift the goal post in the middle of a game because the said advocates of separation were those who have already recommended their BoT members to the 16-member community HCDT board, where elections of chairman was conducted and concluded.

    “But because their unpopular candidates lost out and instead of accepting defeat, they are opting for separation, which is childish, anti-development, un-educative and unprofessional, but to crown it all, for selfish aggrandisement which we the people of Amatu II will not sit down and watch.”

    He stated that even if the good people of Amatu II deemed it fit to seek a separation, it would not be with community like Azamabiri, whose existence is questionable.

    Oweipade added: “Interestingly, if truly the people of Amatu II community want to seek a separate PIA, it will be an Iduwini all-inclusive PIA, where the following communities and others of Iduwini origin are to be host.

    “They are Amatu I, Amatu II, Amatu-agoliyo, Ikeka-ama, Ingodiama, Igunugbene, Lagos-ama, Besangbene, Letughene 1, Letughene 2, Aghoro 1, Aghoro 2, Bakiri-ama, Iyapregha-zion and others of Iduwini origin, not those other communities like Azamabiri.”

  • Shell’s host communities in Bayelsa reject clustering

    Shell’s host communities in Bayelsa reject clustering

    Seven communities at Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Estuary Area (EA) in Bayelsa State have insisted on their autonomy in development matters.

    The communities in Ekeremor Local Government said they would continue to resist plans by SPDC to join them with five others in the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT)

    The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 mandates oil firms to set aside three per cent of their operational expenses for community development to be managed by HCDTs.

    Leaders of the communities: Bisangbene, Amatu 1, Amatu II, Letugbene, Orobiri, Ogbintu, Azamabiri, said they would not hesitate to shut down the company’s operations if their demand was ignored.

    The Chairman of Bisangbene community, Mr Timothy Geregere, and Mr Ebis Rames, his counterpart in Amatu II community, spoke in interviews yesterday.

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    They maintained their stand that they would not want to be clustered alongside other communities, adding that they had made the position clear in several letters to the company.

    Geregere said: “We want to be treated separately in the EA oil field and we have written several letters to SPDC. We have also demonstrated that we need separation.”

    “We will not allow divide and rule in our communities, so we are telling the world that we should be allowed to operate a separate trust.

    “The separation is necessary because we are about 12 communities in the EA and the 12 communities cannot live together.

    “We were initially about four different clans operating the GMoU, when the PIA came they invited us for a meeting, where they told us about it.

    “Right in the meeting we told Shell that we needed separation but they wanted to force the 12 communities together and we said no.”

    He listed the 12 communities as Amatu 1, Amatu 2, Bisangbene, Letugbene, Bilabiri 1, Bilabiri 2, Ikeni, Izetu, Orobiri, Azamagbene, Agge and Ogbintu.

    However, Bisangbene, Amatu 1, Amatu 11, Letugbene, Orobiri, Ogbintu and Azamabiri, are the seven communities that have agreed to work together.

    On his part, Rames said if there is no separation in the PIA, there will be no operation in the EA field.

    He stated: “For the past years, we have been making peace, giving them enabling environment to operate and we have already built peace to almost 89 per cent but they are the ones now causing problem.

    “We will shut down their operations, because I think for the past two years, even the GMOU has not been operating properly. The communities are not benefiting anything for the past three years.”

    He also said they were facing challenge on community content plan policy, which the SPDC is yet to sign after the communities endorsed the draft and have been awaiting its implementation.

    Rames said: “SPDC brought community content plan to us, I think precisely last year, that communities should sign and the communities have signed and SPDC refused to sign its own part.

    “Up till this minute, we are saying they should sign that documents and we also want the GMoU, the remaining part of the GMOU to be paid to the communities.”

    The communities also bemoaned the refusal of the oil firm to redeem its promises to employ indigenes of the areas, saying they should be paid their peace bonus for being peaceful communities.

    The Media Relations Manager of SPDC, Mrs. Bola Essien-Nelson, declined to respond to the development when contacted.

  • Bayelsa governor, LP candidate clash over cost of road construction

    Bayelsa governor, LP candidate clash over cost of road construction

    • Eradiri is a pathetic liar, says governor’s spokesman
    • Diri dancing around accountability, transparency issues – Eradiri

    Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

    Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Mr. Udengs Eradiri, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State have clashed over the construction of N30bn road in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The LP governorship candidate was quoted in a report as querying how the road project, which former Governor Seriake Dickson almost completed, could cost N30 billion.

    But Governor Diri, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, described the LP candidate, Udengs Eradiri, as an unrepentant liar.

    The Bayelsa governor’s spokesman said in a reaction to Eradiri’s claim that Diri spent N30b on a 10.2km road that he only asphalted, as an outright falsehood and a terrible lie that should be completely disregarded.

    Alabrah stated: “He (Eradiri) recalled that while former Governor Timipre Sylva completed the clearing component of the project, Dickson carried out the sand-filling aspect, and Diri was expected to asphalt the road.”

    Diri’s spokesman berated the LP candidate for frequently making mendacious statements and churning out inaccurate statistics in a bid to grandstand and attract attention to himself.

    He noted: “To place the issue in context, the Douye Diri administration re-commenced the second phase of the 10.2km Glory Drive project in 2021 more than 10 years after it was started by the Chief Timipre Sylva administration.

    “The Sylva administration paid the ‘contractor’ the sum of N9bn for a project that was less than 5% done. So, his successor, Senator Seriake Dickson, queried the amount paid, which his predecessor claimed was for 50% of the job done. The disagreement resulted in a litigation by the contractor that eventually stalled the project throughout the eight-year duration of the Dickson administration.

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    “For emphasis, the legal action prevented the Dickson government from touching the project. So, it is actually ridiculous that Eradiri, who was a Commissioner and member of the state executive council in that administration, could concoct such a blatant lie.

    “By the time the Diri administration assumed office in 2020, the 10.2km stretch of the project had become a huge forest. The administration had to start afresh with clearing, excavation of the soil, sand-filling, asphalt-laying and installation of solar-powered lights on the dual carriageway.

    “It is therefore pathetic for Eradiri to engage in revisionism just to score cheap political points.

    “It is also clear that the LP candidate lacks understanding of what it takes to govern Bayelsa. Often, he displays crass ignorance on issues bordering on development of the state.

    “If Eradiri thinks spewing falsehood would bolster his chances in the Bayelsa governorship race, he needs to be reminded that the Bayelsa electorate does not reckon with him due to his unenviable record from his days as Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) president.”

    But in response to the brickbats, Mr. Udengs Eradiri asked Governor Diri to stop dancing around critical issues of accountability and transparency in governance.

    Eradiri spoke in Yenagoa in reaction to Diri’s statement attacking him for disclosing to the public that he used whopping N30bn to construct 10.2km phase two Glory Drive Road in Yenagoa amounting to N3bn per kilometre.

    Eradiri said: “The people of Bayelsa expected Governor Douye Diri to provide a contrary cost for the project, something lower than the N30bn. The inflated and outrageous cost is the issue not the history that Governor Douye Diri is dissipating his energy telling the people.

  • Bayelsa guber: Diri is our choice, say Southern Ijaw monarchs

    Bayelsa guber: Diri is our choice, say Southern Ijaw monarchs

    Traditional rulers representing the four constituencies of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have passed a vote of confidence in Governor Douye Diri as their preferred candidate in the November 11 governorship election in the state.

    The monarchs said their decision was premised on the governor’s manifest love for Southern Ijaw by bringing development to their area.

    They added that it was time to reciprocate his gesture to the people of the area.

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers at Angiama shortly after inspecting the ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma road, the paramount ruler of the Enewari community and chairman of Southern Ijaw Paramount Rulers Council, Chief Job Dairus, said the Southern Ijaw people were particularly pleased with the governor for the road project, which has reached advanced stages of construction.

    He described the road as a big-ticket project and lauded Governor Douye Diri for the courage to carry on with it despite the project being on the drawing board for over 60 years.

    He stated: “Speakers after speakers have praised the governor and the reason is simple. With Constituency 1-4 having spoken, the Southern Ijaw Traditional Rulers have passed a vote of confidence in Senator Douye Diri.

    “We thank all those who have supported this project, from paramount rulers to government officials. I think everybody wants the progress of Southern Ijaw. This vote of confidence is for him to continue his good work and for the road to get to other communities he has promised.”

    Read Also: Bayelsa govt ‘pledges peaceful, credible  poll’

    Also speaking, the council spokesman, Koko Sample, said they were overwhelmed by the progress of work on the Yenagoa-Oporoma road, saying it is a testament to the fact that Diri was committed to the development of the area.

    Sample said contrary to propaganda, the road project was going on well and that soon vehicles would get to the local government headquarters, Oporoma, and other communities.

    Other traditional rulers, who spoke from the different constituencies, equally commended the governor.

    Notable Southern Ijaw leaders who inspected the project were the senator representing Bayelsa Central, Dr. Konbowei Benson, former Chief of Staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo, Chief Douyi Douglas-Naingba, a former Commissioner for Works and one-time Acting President,  Ijaw National Congress, Charles Ambaiowei as well as a former Commissioner for Environment, Ebipatei Apaingolo among others.

  • Bayelsa govt ‘pledges peaceful, credible  poll’

    Bayelsa govt ‘pledges peaceful, credible  poll’

    Bayelsa State government has reiterated its commitment towards peaceful, free, fair and election on November 11.

    The government said it is working closely with relevant authorities and institutions to protect the credibility of the election.

    Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo stated this when the Bayelsa Elite Women Support Group visited him in his office in  Yenagoa yesterday.

    Ewhrudjakpo urged the people  to come out and exercise their franchise on November 11 without any fear of molestation or harassment.

    He urged women, youths and other support groups of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vote and defend their votes during the election.

    The deputy governor promised that there was nothing to worry about as government is working in partnership with lovers of democracy within and outside the country to ensure a violence-free governorship contest.

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    Speaking on the prospect of the PDP, he said the party would coast to victory because of the impressive performance of its standard bearer, Governor Douye Diri, stressing that no right thinking Bayelsans would ever vote for a candidate that recklessly betrayed their trust in the past.

    Ewhrudjakpo, however, emphasized the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other electoral duty officials to be above board in carrying out their assignments.

    While thanking the women for supporting the PDP, he urged them to caution their children not to allow any politician to use them for thuggery and violence. He said government would not fold its hands and watch such happen in the state.

    He said: “We really appreciate the support you are giving to your government and our party. We believe you have the capacity to mobilize not only the women but also your husbands and children.

    “But one other thing I want you people to do is to talk to your children for them to resist the temptation of being used as thugs or play any role that will negatively affect the forthcoming election. Remember nobody who brings out his head to break coconut eats that coconut.

    “Those contesting with us know they can’t stand us because all right thinking Bayelsans see and appreciate what we are doing as a government to develop this state.”

    Earlier, in their separate remarks, leaders of the Bayelsa Elite Women Support Group, Mrs. Ebikaboere Pela and Ashanti Bekewari, expressed delight at the level of performance of the administration under Senator Douye Diri.

    They specifically commended the current state government in the areas of economic empowerment programmes, peace and security as well as building of critical infrastructures such as the three senatorial roads, among others.