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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Police confirm death of two in Bayelsa

    THE police in Bayelsa State yesterday confirmed that two persons were killed on Tuesday by gunmen at Swali market in Yenagoa.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt the incident occurred about 4 p.m., forcing traders and their customers to run.

    Police spokesman Asinim Buswat confirmed the incident.

    He said: “Four gunmen attacked people at Swali market.”

    Buswat said the hoodlums killed two persons and snatched N120,000 from one of them.

    “Policemen were sent to the scene and one of the victims was taken to hospital, where he later died.

    “The culprits have been identified and efforts are on to arrest them,” he said.

    Eyewitnesses said the gunmen operated with sophisticated weapons.

    One of the victims, who died on the spot, was reportedly carrying a large amount to the bank.

    The hoodlums stole goods from the shops after the owners fled.

    A team of policemen, which arrived at the market, following a distress call, arrested one suspect.

  • Bayelsa APC to reconcile aggrieved members

    Bayelsa APC to reconcile aggrieved members

    The Bayelsa State  All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a 12-member reconciliation committee to resolve its protracted crisis within its rank ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Crisis erupted in the party following the outcome of the last governorship election, which the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Seriake Dickson, won.

    APC was further polarised after some members of the executive committee, led by its Chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe, publicly disagreed with the defeated candidate of the party, Chief Timipre Sylva, over  federal appointments.

    But, Oruminighe assembled 12 elders at the party secretariat, Yenagoa, and mandated them to take appropriate measures to resolve the problems.

    The chairman relieved the party’s ordeal in the last election and blamed the electoral misfortune of the APC to what he referred to as “small carelessness”.

    He said: “We have been into some serious issues. We came with a platform promising to change Bayelsa State. We are still on that course. We went to the election and from election we went to the court. We are done with the court.

    “We failed the election because of small carelessness because Bayelsans were behind us. We promised Bayelsans that we are going to get it right and I am still promising you that we are going to get it right”.

    The party leader acknowledged that after the election, the party was plunged into an internal crisis, adding that there was need to reconcile all aggrieved members to forge a united front.

  • Houses burnt in Bayelsa as man kills friend over N50 bread

    At least three houses were, on Thursday, set ablaze in Ozizebiri community, Southern Ijaw Bayelsa State, after a man identified as a new military recruit stabbed a 22-year-old man to death over N50 local bread.

    It was gathered that popular bread called madiga in Bayelsa, which is locally made from butter and flour, sparked the row that led to the killing of the youth.

    The 26-year-old newly recruited soldier identified simply as Ayibakare was said to have engaged in an argument with the deceased identified simply as Princewill, an indigene of Opema and furiously stabbed him to death.

    A source, who spoke in confidence said: “The accused Ayibakare was alleged to have beaten up the younger sister of the deceased over N50 madiga he bought on credit.

    “So in anger, the deceased went to him to inquire why his sister was beaten up and a fight ensued and that was how the deceased was stabbed to death.”

    Confirming the development on the floor of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the member representing Southern Ijaw constituency 2, Mr.  Monday Obolo said the killing led to a reprisal and burning of three houses.

    Obolo lamented that angry youths from Opuama invaded the alleged killer’s community and razed three houses.

    He, however, said traditional rulers and elders from the affected communities were making efforts to resolve the crisis.

    Obolo called on security agencies in the state to deployed armed troops in the area to avoid total breakdown of law and order.

  • Otuoke residents urge Bayelsa govt to repair road

    Residents of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have appealed to the state government to repair the Otuoke-Onuebum road, which has been in a deplorable condition.

    The residents spoke yesterday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Otuoke.

    Mr Ologi Damiete told NAN that the road had worsened since the last rainy season started as vehicles found it difficult to pass through.

    Damiete, a worker at the Federal University at Otuoke (FUO), urged the state government to fix the road.

    He added: “The condition of this road has worsened since the flood submerged the community. There has not been any preventive measure to forestall a future occurrence.

    “We expect the government to put necessary measures in place to guard against future occurrence.

    “Students of FUO have resumed for a new semester and they have been finding it difficult to move in and out of the community.

    “I am calling on all the relevant authorities to look into the matter because we have become unbearable. Our vehicles have been damaged because of the road.”

    Another resident, Mr Oweifa Debekeme, urged the state government to accelerate the efforts to check flooding in the state.

    He said floods had destroyed many roads in the state.

    Debekeme said the people were suffering, adding that government had the responsibility to provide roads and other infrastructure.

    A taxi driver plying the road, Mr Babatunde Adeola, said the road was in a bad shape before the flood destroyed it.

    Adeola urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to repair the road to reduce the suffering of the people.

    He implored the Bayelsa State Government to come to the aid of the people of Otuoke and Onuebum communities as well as students and workers of the university.

    He said the youths sand-filled the bad portions, adding: “Commercial drivers now pay them for that.”

  • Otuoke residents appeal to Bayelsa Govt. to repair road

    Otuoke residents appeal to Bayelsa Govt. to repair road

    Residents of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have appealed to the State Government to repair the Otuoke-Onuebum road which has been in a deplorable condition.

    The residents made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Otuoke on Sunday.

    Mr Ologi Damiete, told NAN that the condition of the road had become worse since the last rainy season as vehicles now found it difficult to pass through.

    Damiete, a staff of the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the residents by fixing the road.

    “The condition of this road has become worse since the flood that submerged the whole community and there has not been any preventive measure to forestall future occurrence.

    “We are expecting the government to put necessary measures in place to guard against future occurrence.

    “Students of FUO have resumed for the new semester and they have been finding it difficult moving in and out of the community.

    “I am calling on all the relevant authorities to look into the matter because we has become unbearable. Our vehicles have been damaged because of the road,” he said.

    Another resident, Mr Oweifa Debekeme, urged the state government to make more efforts toward checking flooding in the state, pointing out that flood had destroyed many roads in the state.

    He said that the people were suffering and government had the responsibility to alleviate their agony by providing roads and other infrastructure for them.

    A taxi driver plying the road, Mr Babatunde Adeola, said the road was already in a bad shape before the flood destroyed it completely.

    Adeola called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to also help repair the road to alleviate the plight of the people.

    He implored the Bayelsa Government to come to the aid of the people of Otuoke and Onuebum communities as well as students and staff of the university.

    He said the youths in the communities now help by sand-filling the bad portions on regular basis, adding that “commercial drivers now pay them for that”. (NAN)

  • Bayelsa bacchanalia

    Ardent readers of Hardball must have learnt not to take him too seriously. First is that he takes too much liberty on issues and occasions and he sees his anonymous column as licence to lampoon. Not a few readers, especially those who have been scorched on this page, would think much of Hardball; in fact many would think of him as that rascally fellow called Hardball.

    Well, it may please you dear reader that this assessment of Hardball is largely correct and indeed acknowledged (by the way, did you notice it is a self-assessment?!). But let it be clearly noted in all this, that there is a line between licence and licentiousness and then between liberty and licence.

    This may underscore the needle-eye nuancing of the matter at hand here. Without any attempt to perjure, the emerging tiff between Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and social crusader, Prof Kimse Okoko can only be described in one way by Hardball – bacchanal. Thus, the title, Bayelsa bacchanalia may be misconstrued by constricted minds as suggesting that Bayelsa is a land of booze where Bacchus once threw a wild party which impacted DNAs.

    Far from it. Here is the case that ye might be the judge: Governor Dickson had elected to build a bogus university with an equally bogus name: University of Africa (AU). But Bayelsa is a small strip of land hemmed by water almost all round.

    It has enough space for only eight local governments and it already has two full-fledged universities among other higher institutions. A third university would seem gross wouldn’t it? If there is nothing to it than meets the eye, why would this small patch of land take another state university when larger states like Lagos are still grappling with funding one?

    This is what critics like Prof. Okoko cannot live down. He, therefore, went to court to challenge an obvious gubernatorial rascality. There is also rumour that the so-called AU has dubious ownership. Or shall we say the ownership is so opaque nobody in Bayelsa is sure who really owns it.

    Prof Okoko in his suit claimed that Gov. Dickson was using state’s resources to set up a university he would later claim ownership of.

    But instead of carefully disproving Okoko’s allegations, the governor described them as “most reprehensible, mischievous and highly unpatriotic.” The governor in turn, reached for the critic’s jugular by seeking to look into the activities of Okoko as chairman and pro-chancellor of the Niger Delta University (NDU). Further, the state government has determined to probe the acquisition of the biggest energy plant in the state allegedly built by Okoko’s son.

    Now, there you have it dear reader, isn’t the above scenarios simply bacchanal? Is this anyway to run a state and manage the resources of a people without running the place aground? Hardball in his wisdom, therefore, took liberty and a bit of licence to call the situation Bayelsa bacchanalia, abi?

  • 21 immigration officers promoted in Bayelsa

    21 immigration officers promoted in Bayelsa

    A total of 21 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Bayelsa Command, have been promoted to their next rank following the release of results of a recent promotion examination by the service.

    Addressing the newly-promoted officers on Tuesday in Bayelsa, Mr William Oche, the Comptroller of the Command, urged them to be more dedicated to their duties and brace up for more responsibilities.

    Oche said that the exercise was a motivation and call to greater commitment to duty.

    He said that the service expected more dedication from the officers who were decorated with their new ranks.

    He also said that the exercise was continuous and was aimed at rewarding dedicated service to the country.

    The comptroller, therefore, advised officers who did not pass the last examination to put the past behind them and study hard in preparation for the next one.

    According to him, promotion in the service is based on merit to deserving personnel.

    He announced that the next promotion examination would be computer-based and urged eligible officers to sharpen their computer skills ahead of the test.

    Responding on behalf of the newly-promoted officers, Mrs Ngozi Acholonu, pledged loyalty to the NIS.

    She lauded the support of the comptroller and the command which provided a conducive work atmosphere to earn the promotion.

  • Bayelsa govt condemns Okoko’s suit against new varsity

    Balyesa State yesterday condemned a suit by a former President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko, challenging the new University of Africa at Toru-Ora.

    The professor of Political Science claimed Governor Seriake Dickson was using state’s resources to set up a university he would later convert to his private institution.

    But in a statement by Commissioner of Information and Orientation Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, the government described the suit as “most reprehensible, mischievous and highly unpatriotic”.

    The government said the professor was not aware the institution was a deliberate attempt by the state to invest in education as a strategic means to develop the state.

    The statement said: “The action of Professor Okoko is frivolous and a calculated attempt to peddle falsehood and a clear incitement against the government.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, as we have severally stated, the establishment of the University of Africa at Toru-Orua was facilitated by the instrumentality of the state.

    “It is a fee-paying institution and its operations, not ownership, is based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and strategic collaborations with partnering universities and international institutions that will offer world-class education, which will further attract related investments to the state.

    “Already, the university, which was conceived as a first-rate institution of learning, has attracted so many partners from around the world, based on our high standard and expectation and the need to have such robust resources and intellectual enterprise to run it successfully.

    “Just yesterday (at the weekend), the governor received a new partners who came on a visit to his office.”

    The government averred that Okoko’s action was a fallout of the failure of his candidate in the last governorship election.

    It said: “Obviously, Prof. Okoko is still smarting from the humiliating defeat of his candidate in the governorship election. But this will not, in any way, deter us from cleaning up the terrible mess left behind by him and his ilk.

    “For the record, our government has made more investment in education than any other in the state. It is sad to note that with the benefits and privileges the like of Prof. Okoko got from the state, he was antagonising the state on such frivolous grounds.

    “Indeed, one would have expected that he would play the role of a respected elder statesman to support the development of the state, instead of playing cheap politics…”

  • ERA wants Shell to relocate gas pipeline

    ERA wants Shell to relocate gas pipeline

    Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has criticized Shell for passing gas pipelines across the surface of Kolo Creek at Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA) in Bayelsa.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is running gas pipelines across Kolo Creek at Imiringi in Ogbia LGA.

    In a field report made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa, on Monday, ERA/FoEN noted that running oil and gas pipelines across water surface was an environmental anomaly that runs against best practices.

    The report was signed by Head of Field Operations at ERA/FoEN Mr Alagoa Morris.

    ERA/FoEN described the development as ‘environmental terrorism’ and should not be allowed.

    The NGO urged the relevant agencies of government, especially the federal and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment to wade into the matter urgently, as the pipeline hinders navigation.

    The report quoted residents of Imiringi community as saying that the pipelines across the water surface of the creek affected water transportation as well as obstructed canoes used for fishing and evacuation of farm produce.

    The NGO quoted Mr Naru Emesua an engineer and resident of the community as saying that the gas pipeline ought to have been buried five feet below the water surface.

    “But what we now see is about two feet above the water level. That is why it has affected navigation on the creek.

    “Most of our women use this creek to access their farms, fishing and business connections to some communities in Rivers State.

    “The economic significance of this creek to our people is immense, especially when you consider the fact that we can access the Orashi River through it.

    “And the crude oil slick we have observed on the creek currently is disturbing. This is harmful and that is why we are calling on Shell to come and carry out proper cleanup of the creek it has polluted.” Emesua said

    ERA/FoEN urged Shell to return to the site and correct the environmental anomaly in the interest of environmental and social justice and investigate the source of the oil leak found in the area..

    “The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment should visit the Kolo Creek and ask Shell to take immediate steps to clean up all traces of crude oil slick found between SPDC’s Kolo Creek Logistics Base and Imiringi community and beyond.

    “The people cannot continue to suffer and pay the price of crude oil exploitation simply because the resources were found in their environment.

    “If there are no current oil leaks within the environment, it means Shell is deliberately pouring crude oil into the Kolo Creek; the peoples’ only natural source of drinking water,” the NGO stated.

    Mr Precious Okolobo, SPDC’s Media Relations Manager declined comments on the matter (NAN)

  • ‘I ‘ll not discriminate against opposition’

    ‘I ‘ll not discriminate against opposition’

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has reiterated his commitment to carrying stakeholders along in his administration. The governor spoke at a reception held by his supporters to mark his victory at the Supreme Court. Correspondent MIKE ODIEGWU reports.

    Bayelsa state Governor Seriake Dickson is like the proverbial cat with nine lives. the Supreme Court has upheld his victory in last year’s election. Dickson weathered the storm and the obstacles thrown at him by the opposition. For the first time in the history of the state, the election was hotly contested. The governor was finally declared the winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the supplementary election of January 9.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, rejected the outcome of the elections and commenced a protracted litigation. But, Dickson, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), triumphed. He won at the tribunal, the Court of Appeal and finally the apex court.

    The stakes were high and if the governor had lost at any level, it would have spelted doom, not only for him, but also for the PDP.

    Dickson, fondly called the Ofurumapepe (the great white shark), a sobriquet he adopted throughout the period of the elections and litigations, understood the dangers ahead. He threw everything into the contest. He was focused, dogged and restless, until the victory was stamped, sealed and delivered.

    Dickson’s supporters organised a reception recently. He was celebrated as a hero by his admirers and party supporters.

    Many Bayelsans trooped to the streets to welcome their governor. Women adorned in uniform wrappers and blouses; youths clad in praising-singing t-shirts and elders with their Ijaw attire lined up the roads singing and dancing for the victorious Dickson.

    The crowd was mammoth; the Peace Park, venue of the celebration was filled to the brim. They shouted in joy, jumped in excitement, displaying various placards to congratulate their hero.

    Dickson, who wore Ijaw attire with a feather festooned in his hat, marveled at the crowd that trooped out to welcome him. He dedicated his victory to God, saying that power comes from God.

    The governor said: “If God did not allow it, who would have defeated all these people who are saying and doing all kinds of things? Have you forgotten how we got  here. You know they mobilised all their forces everywhere.

    “In your units you know the people you saw and the people you defeated. In this state, I can’t remember the number of rallies we addressed, the number of meetings we attended. We went round across the length and breadth of this state.

    “They said they had the powers, more money and everything. There was nothing they didn’t boast of but Gd delivered them to us.

    “Even, when they started magomago you people resisted them. Most of them even lost in their polling units. Women and young men in Bayelsa rose up and used their bare bodies to block Armoured Personnel Carriers APC)”.

    He went down memory lane to narrate how he defeated the APC and Sylva at the poll. He said the opposition using its influence constituted a three-man panel for the tribunal and relocated the panel from Bayelsa to Abuja.

    “What they forgot is that power doesn’t come from Abuja. Abuja cannot do anything or say anything, if this Baba up there has not approved it. After everything, their own three-man tribunal unanimously said all of you in this state gave your mandate freely to me, my running mate and our great party”, he said.

    The governor said the APC leaders, instead of joining forces with him, having lost at the tribunal, took the matter to the Court of Appeal and to the Supreme Court. According to him while the case was awaiting the adjudication of the apex court, the opposition was planning the number of people they would kill and chase away from their communities should they win the case.

    He thanked the people of the state for their support and commended the judiciary for being truthful to its calling. Dickson warned against the intimidation of the judiciary, which it described as the foundation of democracy and nation’s stability.

    The governor said: “I want to thank the judiciary for what they have displayed in this case that I know. They refused to be intimidated.

    “They refused to be swayed. I want to call on all political leaders, whoever they are, to continue to support and encourage our judiciary and not to intimidate them because the judiciary remains the foundation of the nation stability.

    “I agree that all may not be well, the few bad eggs here and there. But we should isolate them. While attending to that problem we should not at the same time destroy the institution called the judiciary.

    “Because if we intimidate our judiciary to a level that judges would have to seek clearance before they make rulings, then we can say bye-bye not just to our democracy but also to national stability”.

    Dickson dedicated his administration to what he referred to as the task of consolidating development and security. He promised to finish all projects he initiated and to engage the youths and women in meaningful activities.

    Following his victory, he said the mandate of the Ijaw nation had been protected and could not be stolen adding that the Ijaw could not be put to shame.

    “They did everything to put us to shame. After driving us from the centre, they were not satisfied. They did everything to take this place to humiliate us further. But we thank God that it had not happened. This Bayelsa State, the Jerusalem of Ijaw nation will never be conquered or intimidated”, he said.

    The crowd roared. He said the APC leaders had hoped to get big appointments at the centre but had so far been disappointed.

    He advised them to leave Abuja, return home and join hands with his administration to develop the state. He said some of them thought they would get free money and become billionaires overnight.

    He said: “All the same, they are Bayelsans and I am the governor of all Bayelsans, both those who supported me and those who for one reason or the other did not. I want to reiterate my commitment to running an open-door policy and invite all of them to join us”.

    He warned the youths not to allow them selves to be used for criminal activities against fellow citizens and the state.

    “We know that the opposition will like to buy guns and give to people. We know that they like to do terrible things to create crisis in the communities. Please, desist from that.

    “We don’t want crisis. All these threats of people blowing up facilities should stop. We want to protect the small revenue coming to this state to enable us serve you better”, he said.

    Also speaking, Senator Barigha Amange, said with the electoral disputes over, peace and development would return to the state. He asked the APC and its leaders to join the PDP to develop the state saying that the state belonged to everybody.

    Amange, who represents Bayelsa East in the Senate, said: “The money they wasted in litigation, they should have used it to support their supporters. But now that they have wasted the money, we can contribute money to assist them. They should come and join us to develop the state”, he said.

    Chief Theophilus Okorotie from Bayelsa West said Dickson has provided leadership and made the Ijaw nation proud. He said the people would continue to support the governor. He said the distraction was over, adding that development would  follow. He appealed to the opposition to join the administration of Dickson.

    The Chief of Staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo, urged the people to cooperate with the “wonderful” governor. He said the stage could not ask for more from God adding that the people were blessed to have Dickson as their governor.

    “Dickson has given us cause to rejoice. The way he is managing our resources, our future is in safe hands. Those who are in the opposition camp will be worried but they have no reason to be worried.

    “Dickson believes that everybody must be carried along. He had put to practice the principles of integration and inclusiveness in governance. We call for peace. As party members, let us extend the Olive branch”, he said.

    The Chairman, Southern Ijaw Local Government, Joshua Macaiver, described the governorship election as a battle between light and darkness. He said : “It was a battle between those that believe in the Ijaw nation and those that don’t believe in the development of Ijaw nation. When you face the two candidates, one will tell you, ‘kill whatever number you want to kill, let me be the governor’.

    “But, Governor Dickson will always tell you, ‘I don’t want you to kill any Ijaw man for me to be the governor’. That is one thing I like about him. We are solidly behind the governor”.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Cleopas Moses, says power flows from God. He said the governor had always attributed his victories to God. He described Dickson as a special specie and congratulated him on his victory.

    In fact, the outpouring of goodwill messages continued and most of the speakers including the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, kept asking the opposition to sheath its sword and join to develop the state.

    With the litigation over, people are looking forward to what the future holds for Bayelsa and the reactions of the APC and its leaders especially following the Olive branch extended to them by Dickson and other PDP leaders.