The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Dialysis centre berths in Bayelsa Government Hospital

    Persons suffering from kidney and renal problems in Bayelsa State can now heave a sigh of relief. They will no longer travel outside the state to seek solutions in medical facilities with dialysis equipment. The state can now boast of having the best dialysis machine in the world in an equipped cozy medical facility.

    In fact, the dialysis centre in the Government House Hospital is the first of its kind. hitherto, the hospital was merely a clinic. It was established to cater for political appointees and Government House employees. Members of the public were denied access to it.

    But Dickson has changed all that. He upgraded it to a hospital status and opened it to members of the public. Indeed, it is a different kind of hospital. The wards and walls are built with comfort and architectural beauty.

    Though it is in Government House, its proximity to the Bayelsa State Diagnostic Centre, one of the best facilities for medical diagnosis in the country, gives the state the confidence of having a complete medical solution. Combined with the diagnostics centre, the hospital has been saving lives.

    The capacity of the hospital to respond to emergencies was tested recently. The management of the facility deployed the state-of-the-art equipment to save the life of Joshia, who was hit by a Pathfinder SUV on the Children’s Day.

    Joshia’s parents and members of the public poured encomiums on the hospital for quickly rising to the occasion by deploying its expertise to salvage a bad situation.

    The four-year-old, who hails from Ekeremor Local Government Area, was on his way to attend one of the parties organised in the state capital for children when his world came crashing at the popular Julius Berger axis of the Sani Abacha Expressway.

    The driver of the vehicle quickly rushed the dying Joshia to the new medical facility. Ebi, an eye-witness gave an account of how the two facilities combined to save the kid.

    Ebi said: “When we got to the Government House Hospital, the CEO, Dr. Hobbot Preye confirmed the receipt of the patient but said, he had a damaged left leg and was referred to the Bayelsa State Diagnostics Center, Imgbi Road for femur X-ray.

    “We quickly contacted the father of the victim, who happens to be a traditional bone doctor. On his arrival, he insisted that he will handle the treatment in the traditional way under his care, but we discouraged him and he later agreed with us.

    “When the X-ray was done, it showed fractured left femur (a broken bone) and total shift of the knee joint. The hospital management contacted an Indian-trained Nigerian Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Amefula, to head other white specialists from the United States of America to conduct an orthopedic surgery on baby Joshia.

    “The surgery, which lasted for about three hours, was successful and that the victim was in a stable condition”. With such facilities, Dickson, observers say, is scoring high marks in healthcare.

    Just recently, some medical experts from the U.S. came to tour Dickson’s health facilities. The governor was in ground to conduct them around the Government House hospital and the diagnostic centre. They were all impressed to see medical equipment they thought only existed in their country in Bayelsa.

    Some of them joined the tour in real time through Skype. They had healthy conversation with Dickson who embarked on the tour in the company of some of his cabinet members and members of the House of Assembly led by the Speaker Kombowei Benson.

    The visitors were elated with the dialysis centre. Dickson told them it was part of his revolution in the health sector. He said his state was leading the country to stop traveling to US and other foreign countries to seek medical help.

    Dickson said: “This is a statement we are making that Bayelsa has changed and we are waging a silent revolution for change, development and posterity. And this is one of the health care investment the state has made.

    “This is the first time we are having dialysis facilities in the state? and we are glad that our partners, a team of experts from the US are here to oversee these facilities. So with what you are seeing, the diagnostic center and the referral hospitals in the eight local government, you will agree with me that Bayelsa is set for quality health-care delivery”.

    The governor also disclosed that very soon the facilities would be formally opened but in the meantime it could be accessed by patients. He called on Bayelsans who are professionals in the health sector and are currently abroad to return home and contribute their own quota to the growing health system in the state, assuring that they would be fully accommodated.

    He also advised residents in the state to avail themselves of the medical services in the facilities. According to him his administration would continue to advance its strides in the health sector.

  • DPR to commence online licensing of fuel dealers in Bayelsa

    DPR to commence online licensing of fuel dealers in Bayelsa

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it has concluded plans to commence online licensing and renewal of operating licences for fuel dealers in Bayelsa.

    Mr Asuquo Antai, Operations Controller, DPR in Bayelsa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the “platform would be unveiled in the coming days.”

    Antai said the platform would run concurrently with the manual system for eight weeks after which it would be suspended.

    He said the public would soon be sensitised on the platform.

    According to him, the application module has been integrated into the DPR website to enable potential licence seekers upload required documents for verification.

    Antai explained that the aim was to reduce human interface, eliminate corruption in the licensing process for fuel outlets.

    “The online application process is part of efforts to fully automate operations in the downstream sector of the oil industry for improved efficiency and faster service delivery and transparency.

    “Applicants for issuance and renewal of operating licences do not need to visit DPR office or meet anyone.

    “They can in the comfort of their locations visit the DPR website, create a profile and upload the required documents.

    “We have also emphasized to the stakeholders that all communication with DPR is by email and the need to have functional email addresses.

    “Immediately the application and documents are uploaded, they are verified by our staff and a site visit is scheduled immediately.

    “If the application is successful, the licence is sent online back to the applicant to print out,” Antai said.

  • Dickson moves to expand Bayelsa’s economic profile

    Dickson moves to expand Bayelsa’s economic profile

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, has inaugurated a 22 member Bayelsa Business Council (BBC) to formulate policies aimed at attracting local and foreign investors to the state and to shore up her revenue base.

    Members of the council are: Chief Ephraim Faloughi (Chairman); Mr Harcourt Aduke (Deputy Chairman), Ambassador Godknows Igali (Vice Chairman, public sector), Gesiye Asamowei  (Vice Chairman, private sector), Mr Tam Alazigha (secretary), Idikio Warmate (Assistant Secretary).

    Others are Ken Etete, Mrs Ebi Fumudor, Dr Eruani, Prof. Steve Azaiki, Mr Didi Ndiomu, Mr Guy Murray Bruce, Mr Elvis Donkemizuo, Mr Moses Siasia, Mr Joe Penewou, Chief Fumudoh, Chief Timi Alaibe, Mr Denzel Kentebe, Mrs. Funkazi Koroye Crooks, Ms. Patience Abbah, King A.J.K.Turner and Dr Daru Owei.

    Dickson said the council had as part of its responsibilities the laying of solid economic foundation and formulation of economic policy that will be private sector driven.

    He said the mentality of total dependence on the government had to change and the only way to achieve this is to formulate economic policy that will have direct impact on the people.

    According to him, the present administration carefully selected this set of our leaders to lay foundation for a private sector driven development of the economy of our state.

    Dickson said: “The state heavily relies on government and her resources, this mentality has to change. Our state is a land of opportunities, our state has potentials to grow its economy.

    “In order to change the age long mentality of our people and reposition the economy of the state and make it private sector driven, we need our business leaders who have done well in their private businesses to come together to explore and exploit the abundance business opportunities in the state.

    “We need your inputs, your professional advice on how to change our story, We expect you to organise Bayelsa in such a way that her story will be told everywhere as a place that is investment friendly, a place that is ready for investment and as a place that understand the roles of a private sector.”

    Governor Dickson assured the council of his administration’s support, especially in the provision of an enabling environment to enable it function at optimal level.

    He said the present administration has invested a lot in all the sectors of the economy, especially in security, education, Health, human and capacity building to mention but few.

    “We have made a lot of investment in security such that our state by all rating has been adjudged rated as one of the most peaceful states in the region. If we create peaceful environment, then next thing is to see how businesses can be developed and grow. How we can attract people from all sectors to come and live here and do business”, Dickson emphasised.

    The governor also called on the people in the region to embrace peace and work together for the economic development of the region.

    According to him, the region is fast losing businesses, while our businesses are closing down, other areas are smiling to the banks. We need to work for peace and create peace in our states.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Kemela Okara (Esq), said the inauguration of the council would attract investment to the state and encourage young entrepreneurs.

    Faloughi thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to serve and reposition the state’s economy.

  • Support swells for education in Bayelsa

    Stakeholders in Bayelsa State, at the weekend, declared support for a bill in the state’s House of Assembly seeking to make primary and secondary education compulsory in the state.

    The bill came as a reinforcement to the state of emergency in education declared by Governor Seriake Dickson in 2012 when he took his first oath of office.

    The stakeholders spoke at a public hearing organised by the State House of Assembly Committee on Education on the ‘Compulsory Primary and Secondary Education Bill, 2017, sponsored by the leader of the House, Mr. Peter Akpe.

    They advised the government to ensure proper funding of the scheme.

    The Chairman of the Post-Primary School Board, Mr. Dein Benadoumene and Chairperson, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs. Flora Williams-Ebi, said adequate funding should cover provision of free school bus service to pupils.

    “The government has done it before. Free school bus should be provided to support the free education policy. And all teaching aids be supplied so that the head teachers and principals will not fall into charging any kind of fees,” Benadoumene said.

    Also, the President, All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCPSS), Mr. Abbey Ayebaemi River, said  government must also provide funds for sports and examinations.

  • Dialysis centre berths in Bayelsa Government Hospital

    Persons suffering from kidney and renal problems in Bayelsa State can now heave a sigh of relief. They will no longer travel outside the state to seek solutions in medical facilities with dialysis equipment. The state can now boast of having the best dialysis machine in the world in an equipped cozy medical facility.

    In fact, the dialysis centre in the Government House Hospital is the first of its kind. hitherto, the hospital was merely a clinic. It was established to cater for political appointees and Government House employees. Members of the public were denied access to it.

    But Dickson has changed all that. He upgraded it to a hospital status and opened it to members of the public. Indeed, it is a different kind of hospital. The wards and walls are built with comfort and architectural beauty.

    Though it is in Government House, its proximity to the Bayelsa State Diagnostic Centre, one of the best facilities for medical diagnosis in the country, gives the state the confidence of having a complete medical solution. Combined with the diagnostics centre, the hospital has been saving lives.

    The capacity of the hospital to respond to emergencies was tested recently. The management of the facility deployed the state-of-the-art equipment to save the life of Joshia, who was hit by a Pathfinder SUV on the Children’s Day.

    Joshia’s parents and members of the public poured encomiums on the hospital for quickly rising to the occasion by deploying its expertise to salvage a bad situation.

    The four-year-old, who hails from Ekeremor Local Government Area, was on his way to attend one of the parties organised in the state capital for children when his world came crashing at the popular Julius Berger axis of the Sani Abacha Expressway.

    The driver of the vehicle quickly rushed the dying Joshia to the new medical facility. Ebi, an eye-witness gave an account of how the two facilities combined to save the kid.

    Ebi said: “When we got to the Government House Hospital, the CEO, Dr. Hobbot Preye confirmed the receipt of the patient but said, he had a damaged left leg and was referred to the Bayelsa State Diagnostics Center, Imgbi Road for femur X-ray.

    “We quickly contacted the father of the victim, who happens to be a traditional bone doctor. On his arrival, he insisted that he will handle the treatment in the traditional way under his care, but we discouraged him and he later agreed with us.

    “When the X-ray was done, it showed fractured left femur (a broken bone) and total shift of the knee joint. The hospital management contacted an Indian-trained Nigerian Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Amefula, to head other white specialists from the United States of America to conduct an orthopedic surgery on baby Joshia.

    “The surgery, which lasted for about three hours, was successful and that the victim was in a stable condition”. With such facilities, Dickson, observers say, is scoring high marks in healthcare.

    Just recently, some medical experts from the U.S. came to tour Dickson’s health facilities. The governor was in ground to conduct them around the Government House hospital and the diagnostic centre. They were all impressed to see medical equipment they thought only existed in their country in Bayelsa.

    Some of them joined the tour in real time through Skype. They had healthy conversation with Dickson who embarked on the tour in the company of some of his cabinet members and members of the House of Assembly led by the Speaker Kombowei Benson.

    The visitors were elated with the dialysis centre. Dickson told them it was part of his revolution in the health sector. He said his state was leading the country to stop traveling to US and other foreign countries to seek medical help.

    Dickson said: “This is a statement we are making that Bayelsa has changed and we are waging a silent revolution for change, development and posterity. And this is one of the health care investment the state has made.

    “This is the first time we are having dialysis facilities in the state? and we are glad that our partners, a team of experts from the US are here to oversee these facilities. So with what you are seeing, the diagnostic center and the referral hospitals in the eight local government, you will agree with me that Bayelsa is set for quality health-care delivery”.

    The governor also disclosed that very soon the facilities would be formally opened but in the meantime it could be accessed by patients. He called on Bayelsans who are professionals in the health sector and are currently abroad to return home and contribute their own quota to the growing health system in the state, assuring that they would be fully accommodated.

    He also advised residents in the state to avail themselves of the medical services in the facilities. According to him his administration would continue to advance its strides in the health sector.

  • Bayelsa royal author reconstructs Iduma Kingdom’s history

    Bayelsa royal author reconstructs Iduma Kingdom’s history

    The Niger Delta region has a cream of intellectuals as traditional rulers. Most of them are accomplished in their various chosen fields. They are experienced in the traditional of their domains and versatile in history.

    In fact, some of the Monarchs in the region are trailblazers. King Collins Daniel, for example has blazed a trail. Daniel, the Olila Ebhugh (traditional ruler) of Abureni Kingdom, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is perhaps, the first occupier of a traditional stool in Bayelsa to have written a book.

    The book is borne out of his love for straightening matters. Irked by the distortion of the history of his people, the Idumas, Daniel’s passion to salvage the situation led him to author a book, ‘A History of Iduma; from Ancient Times’.

    Daniel, a historian, carried out extensive research before presenting the proper perspective of the history of his people from the ancient to the modern times. He invested much of his time in correcting identified distortions.

    In his account, Iduma, in the Abureni clan of Bayelsa State, came from Ke in Kalabari Kingdom, known as the oldest community in the Eastern Niger Delta.

    King Daniel is a first-class monarch in Bayelsa State, a retired Permanent Secretary, an arbitrator, a barrister at law, solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court, among others.

    The 57-year-old king, who rules over the entire Abureni Kingdom, comprising 15 towns and villages criss-crossing Rivers and Bayelsa states, has built bridges across the country and his popularity was evident recently when he presented the book to the public.

    The event was a gathering of creme-de-la-creme. Notable politicians, captains of industries, accomplished academics, traditional rulers and religious leaders gathered in Port Harcourt to celebrate the royal author and his book.

    A former Military Administrator of old Rivers State and Amayanabo Twon-Brass, His Royal Majesty Alfred Diete-Spiff, was the chairman of the occasion; Founder and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola, was the chief launcher/pressenter and a prolific writer and journalist, Prince Nengi Owei-Ilagha, reviewed the book.

    The former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega was among the personalities who delivered goodwill messages at the event. The king in the book, proved that he could tell the story of his people better than strangers.

    The king said no previous works had given people a detailed treatment of Iduma general history. According to him the book was an attempt to reconstruct the history of Iduma from their own tradition.

    He said: ”After leaving the civil service as a Permanent Secretary, I felt there was a hole I needed to fill. That hole was to cement the history of my people by doing a story of a people like the Iduma.

    ”There was the need to do an enormous research. During my graduate days, my project was partly on the history of the Iduma. So, I did a lot of research which entailed me travelling many places such as Enugu several times.

    ”I also travelled to London to her Majesty’s office to get colonial records, family diaries and again I was also lucky, by 1896, it was my grandfather that brought a church to Iduma, so he had family records.”

    He said that Iduma, under the Abureni clan in the Niger Delta, has a unique history of being of combining three cultures of Kalabari-Ijo, Ogbia and Odual. It occupies a strategic location as a buffer zone between two hitherto powerful coastal city states of Kalabari (New Calabar) and Brass.

    He said: “Iduma shares a wonderful location of both fresh and salt water geographical vegetation. There is the need for the people to know about that fact and to appreciate the strategic location of the Idumas.

    “The creation of Bayelsa state in October 1996 has led to some political, economic and social developments in Iduma. But the activities of multi-national oil companies operating in the area have not helped the community, rather it has brought misery occasioned by pollution, and general environmental degradation.

    ”This development has affected both the economic and social life of Iduma. The oil prospecting and exploitation companies do not seem to be genuine in their promise to develop the community, so is the Federal Government also, as both are engaged in a blamek game with each other.

    ”Therefore, no meaningful development project has been embarked upon byu either of the two, despite the contribution of the community to national development. The few projects executed are not of priority to the community and have no bearing on the economic emancipation of the people.

    ”The resultant harmful effects of the activities of the multi-national companies have wrecked the environment, and national resources have been depleted. This has given rise to agitation for resource ownership and control and eventually militancy in Iduma.”

  • Bayelsa opens dialysis centre in Yenagoa

    Bayelsa opens dialysis centre in Yenagoa

    The Bayelsa Government has established a dialysis centre in the state to bring relief to people with kidney and other related health challenges.

    Gov. Seriake Dickson said the facility was part of his revolution in the health sector.

    Dickson made the remark while inspecting the centre in the Government House Specialist Hospital on Wednesday in Yenagoa.

    He said with the state of the art facilities and medical personnel deployed to various hospitals and health institutions across the state, the era of traveling to other states and countries to seek quality healthcare services were gone for good.

    “This is a statement we are making that Bayelsa has changed and we are waging a silent revolution for change, development and posterity. And this is one of the healthcare investments the state has made.

    “This is the first time we are having dialysis facilities by the state ‎government and we are glad that our partners, a team of experts from the United States are here to oversee these facilities.

    “So with what we have, the diagnostic centre and the referral hospitals in the eight local governments, you will agree with me that Bayelsa is set for quality healthcare delivery,” Dickson said.

    The governor assured that the facilities would be formally inaugurated very soon, saying it can be accessed as full services are being rendered on a daily basis.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre will complement the existing dialysis centre at the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, which was opened to the public since 2013.

    Dickson called on professionals in the health sector who hail from Bayelsa currently abroad to return home and contribute their own quota in addressing the challenges in the health system in the state.

    He assured them of government support and readiness to work with all Bayelsans in diaspora toward the development of the state.

  • Bayelsa commends FG for citing new fertilizer, petrochemical plant in Brass

    Bayelsa commends FG for citing new fertilizer, petrochemical plant in Brass

    The Bayelsa Government has commended the Federal Government for citing a multi-billion dollar private sector-driven fertilizer and petrochemical plant in Brass.

    The state Governor, Seriake Dickson gave the commendation when he led the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Commodore Alfred Diete-Spiff (rtd), and a team of private investors on a thank you visit to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    According to Dickson, we are also here to discuss other issues concerning the take-off of the project.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Brass is a Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, with headquarters in the town of Twon-Brass on Brass Island along the coast.

    It has a coastline of approximately 90 km on the Bight of Bonny.

    Dickson told state House Correspondents on Tuesday that the project would create enormous jobs and transform the economy of the state and the country at large.

    The governor assured investors of adequate security.

    “We came to discuss issues on the Brass Fertilizer Project billed to take off in Bayelsa. That is a big ticket investment running into billions of dollars.

    “The government team is here, the traditional ruler is here because the project is taking place in his domain.

    “We are here to assure the Federal Government and investors that Bayelsa as they all know is one of the safest states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We have worked hard in the last five years I have been governor to bring that about.’’

    The governor also commended the Federal Government for its new approach in pursuing integrated development in the country based on partnership and collaboration evidenced by the fertilizer plant.

    Dickson noted that the Acting President’s dialogue on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari with  Niger Delta stakeholders, saying that a new understanding was emerging for the stability, security and development of the region.

    “It is when we bring big ticket investments, create jobs and we affect the economy and create other legitimate options through which young people can survive that some of the crises that we see here will be addressed.

    “This is a good way to begin to address that and that is why I am here to assure the Federal Government and investors for the steps so far taken.’’

    The governor also commended the Federal Government for directing oil producing companies that did not have offices in Bayelsa to open offices in the state.

    He recalled that the story of oil exploration began in Bayelsa but lamented that it was shocking that no oil company had an office in the state.

    Dickson expressed concern that the state had been denied the economic benefits of oil production.

    “There are no jobs, no employment, they don’t even pay much tax, and a number of them don’t even pay tax at all.

    “The Federal Government has said that they should go back.

    “So we expect to work with the Federal Government and engage with all the oil producing companies to see how they can begin to have respectable presence.’’

    Dickson also commended the Federal Government forits decision to establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.

    Citing the NLNG as one of the plants in the region, Dickson said it was yielding a lot of revenue for the country as one of the most profitable partnerships the Federal Government had gone into.

    “You have other big ones like the Gbarain/Obie gas plant project in Bayelsa owned by Shell, there are other ones.

    “But this one is a fertilizer petrochemical company, And they will do a lot of skills development and skills transfer, a lot of jobs will be created and there will be a boom in the local economy, state economy and ultimately affect the national economy positively.’’

    He said the Bayelsa government would engage the oil companies to ensure that they did their businesses without inhibitions.

  • ‘How Dickson tackled militancy in Bayelsa’

    David Serene is the Secretary to the Government of Bayelsa State. Recently he spoke to journalists in Yenogoa, the state capital, on the state of affairs in the state since 2012 when Governor Henry Seriake Dickson assumed office. Excerpts 

    CAN you give us an overview of what Governor Seriake Dickson has achieved in the last five years?

    Henry Seriake Dickson is actually a positive phenomenon. He ascended to power in 2012 when the situation in the state was horrendous. First, in the education sector, we had no single boarding institution in the state. Then, the service culture of the people or lack of it – the civil service was peopled by non-people. What Governor Dickson faced when he came was unimaginable, so much that the wage bill was over N6 billion every month. We had agriculture which was in comatose; we had a health sector that was virtually moribund. We had the abysmal lack of or failure of infrastructure.  No suitable road or bridges, no proper public facility or building. That was the profile of the state at the time he came on board.

    The very first thing the governor did was to declare a state of emergency on education and he went on to attack the problem by building schools and schools in virtually every community in the state. The evidence is there for all to see today. He also embarked on an elaborate programme of scholarship awards and sent several of Bayelsan students overseas for good education. He also embarked on ambitious infrastructure development  building roads and roads and in that connection, he build the Toru Ebeni Bridge, which is the longest bridge in the whole of Niger Delta that links Yenogoa to Southern Ijaw and all that.

    Now, the terrain in the state is so inhospitable, completely different from the people who are very hospitable; in Bayelsa, in order to build a road or a house, first, you have to create the land upon which you have to build the house or the road on.

    How did the present administration contain the militancy and other forms of criminalities which the state was known for?

    We did that by singularly committing ourselves to the task and we shut our eyes to constitutional impediment. Under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, law and order are the responsibility of the federal government but in practice, the country is so vast that the federal government cannot police the nation. And so, Bayelsa State decided to embark on programmes that have helped in getting our youths off the streets.

    Bayelsa till now is still one of the educationally disadvantaged states in the country, was this the reason for the massive investment in education by the governor?

    Before 2012 when the governor came in, we knew about the level of militancy and criminality in the state. The governor did his research and found out that these children of ours who are into these activities are misguided and they are pushed into it because of lack of education and after education, lack of job opportunity. That explains why he embarked on massive educational infrastructure development.

    Why is it so difficult for the government to address this recurring issue of non-payment of teachers’ salary, especially that of primary school teachers?

    Primary school teachers’ salary is the responsibility of the local government. If you recall, there was this problem that state governors were tampering with local government fund, that is wrong and they should stop. And Governor Dickson said, ‘I will not touch your money but uitilise it responsibly’. But because they are a veritable tier under the constitution and there is a limit to what you want to do regarding fiscal issue, that will not be misinterpreted. As a matter of fact and by way of positive intervention, Governor Dickson has been bearing a lot of the responsibility of primary school teachers that is not state responsibility under the law. But things became so bad as a result of the crash of oil price which resulted in low inflow to the state from the Federation Account and we are no longer able to cope with primary schools teachers’ salary. Having said that let it be made explicitly clear, categorical that Bayelsa State is not in default of salary of primary school teachers. Local government is in default; having said that, but because they are our people all the same, discussions are ongoing to see how the state can assist further in resolving the issue.

  • Plot to truncate democracy will fail, says Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has said any plan to abort democracy in the country would fail and asked persons behind the move to have a rethink.

    Dickson, who said democracy had come to stay, insisted that it was no longer fashionable to have a non-democratic society because democracy remained the best system of government.

    The governor in his goodwill message to mark the 2017 Democracy Day signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the country’s democracy would continue to grow amidst various anti-democratic forces.

    The governor said democratic institutions were monitoring and checking some of the developmental challenges in the country.

    ‎He paid tributes to all those who had contributed immensely to the sustenance of democracy in the country, saying they had a confirmed place in the good books of history.

    He charged critical stakeholders such as members of the National Assembly, civil society organizations and the media not to abandon their roles to defend and promote the noble ideals of democracy even in the face of constant threats and intimidation.

    Dickson used the opportunity to congratulate Bayelsans and Nigerians generally on this year’s anniversary of Nigeria’s Democracy Day and prayed God to continue to guide and preserve democracy.