The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Tension as fishing trawlers kill three in Bayelsa

    There was tension yesterday in the coastal communities of Brass and Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State when fishing trawlers reportedly crushed three persons.

    The bereaved and aggrieved communities – Odioama, Twon-Brass, Sangana, Koluama, Foropah, Ekeni, Ezetu – accused the fishing trawlers of operating dangerously and violating existing laws.

    In a report in Yenagoa, the state capital, by the Environmental Right Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), accused owners of the trawlers of killing, theft of fishing nets and sponsored attacks.

    A community leader from Foropa, Chief Uyadongha Ziprebo, said: “Just few days ago, somebody died as a result of trawlers coming close to the shoreline in our environment.

    “Two persons from Ilaje in Ondo State, who have resided here for years, going about their fishing activities, went out to fish that night. Due to the way a trawler was fast approaching their fishing boat, they jumped into the water and one of them was found dead later by a search team from the community.

    “The deceased was identified simply as Funsho; I don’t know his other name. Trawler operators have become really lawless and made things uncomfortable for us, since we are mainly fishermen.”

    Also, an indigene of Ekeni, John Degbe, added:  “For sure, the activities of trawler operators in our environment have become a major source of worry to our people.

    “You know we are a fishing people and, once our main occupation is threatened, our lives are also threatened. There was a recent case at Foropah, our neighbouring community, where somebody, an Ilaje man, died due to trawler incursion to the coastline.

    “They damage our fishing nets, hooks and floaters on the sea, on the shallow waters. We are not really happy about this. Unless the authorities intervene, it might lead to a very disastrous level. Government should prevail on the trawler owners and operators to go back to where they used to operate lawfully and leave us to also live our lives.”

    ERA/FoEN, State Coordinator Morris Alagoa said the incursion was a threat to the livelihood and lives of residents at the coastlines.

    He said: “The situation calls for urgent intervention of the relevant agencies of the Federal and state governments. The law of the sea stipulates five nautical miles away from the coastline or shoreline for trawlers to operate.

    “Besides, captains of trawlers have been assigned the responsibility of not going close to any fishing gears on the waters, giving a space of over a mile to any such fishing gears in the sea.

    “The law also stipulates that captains and trawler operators should promptly report any damage to the property of other users of the sea. This gross violation of the law needs to be addressed…”

  • Bayelsa APC lauds Buhari over federal appointments

    The ‎Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), on Monday, poured encomiums on President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing two indigenes of the state into key federal offices.

    The President appointed a retired permanent secretary in the Bayelsa State civil service, Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo as a member of the National Population Commission (NPC).

    He also appointed an oil and gas expert, Mr. Simbi Wabote, as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCMDB).

    In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Fortune Panebi, the state’s APC described Buhari’s gesture as a sign of comfort and positive development for the state.

    The party said the President has effectively replied persons taunting its leaders in the state and cynically asking them to use their connections to attract federal appointments.

    The party said: ”The appointment of both Mrs Izonfuo and Mr Wabote is a welcome development to us, a very positive sign of comfort and the best to come at this time.

    “While we are confident that both appointees are credible and experienced in their chosen career lines, this gesture from the president shows that he has every part of the nation at heart.

    ”Truly, these appointments, coming at a time cynics were already taunting our revered leaders ‎to attract more appointments to the state are a collective manifestation of the cohesion, understanding and unity of purpose in our party.

    ”Nothing can be more commendable than having two illustrious sons of ours, the first being the minister of state for agriculture and rural development, Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri and the newly appointed Wabote among government officials who will play key roles in the economic turnaround of the nation.

    ”May we use this opportunity to, therefore, thank our leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, Dr. Lokpobiri as well as other notable leaders of the party for providing the needed leadership and direction to this point in spite of some unavoidable drawbacks.

    ”Finally, we appeal to our Niger Delta brothers who are up in arms against our oil and gas assets to eschew violence and embrace the path to peace. This is desirable not only for the government but for our ecosystem that is the immediate victim of your actions”.

  • Bayelsa new varsity begins lectures January

    Academic activities in the newly established University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Sagabama, would commence in January 2017.
    The Bayelsa state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global Education Counseling Limited, Cyprus, to begin academic activities at the university.
    A statement by Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seriake Dickson, said the Cyprus’s institution’s Director, Theo Theodorou, was present at the brief MoU-signing event held in Government House, Yenagoa.
    Theodorou was quoted as lauding the initiative of Dickson, aimed at repositioning the educational sector adding that it was one of the best in the continent.
    He said the establishment of University of Africa, the first of its kind in Nigeria, would discourage parents from sending their children abroad for studies.
    He said: “I have seen over the years, thousands of Nigerians, sending their children abroad for studies. This idea must be stopped. Let us educate our children in Nigeria.”
    Theodorou assured the government of the readiness of his organization to make the university one of the best in the world, saying that the necessary facilities would be put in place to achieve the feat.
    He said that the School of Foundation Studies, an arm of the institution that would prepare the prospective students for various degrees, would start in January, 2017.

  • ‘Why we gave Bayelsa NSCDC boss leadership award’

    ‘Why we gave Bayelsa NSCDC boss leadership award’

    A civil society group under the aegis of the Pan-African Leadership Transparency Centre (PALTC), Abuja, has honoured the Bayelsa State command of the Nigeria Security and a Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to Yenagoa.

    The award of excellence in leadership was given to the Commandant, Mr. Desmond Agu. They said they were monitoring all the activities of Agu, his achievements and leadership qualities since he assumed the command of NSCDC in Bayelsa. The visitors confessed that they read most of the activities of Agu in the Niger Delta Report.

    The National Coordinator, PALTC, Mr. Valentine Agba; the centre’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lekpo Gideon; Field Coordinator, John Tondi, media crew and other members of the group came with the award and a certificate for Agu.

    Gideon said Agu stood tall among his contemporaries adding that he had proved worthy of a leader. He said the commandant’s vas experience was uncommon; his humane disposition inspiring and his competence intimidating.

    He said: “Mr. Agu is a distinguished icon, a professional expert, the most proactive civil Defence commandant and one of the best in the country.”

    Gideon said PALTC was impressed at how Agu transformed an almost moribund NSCDC command in the state into a force to reckon with. He said Agu inherited a command that operated in a rented decrepit building but was able to build a permanent and world-class structure that impacted positively on the image of NSCDC.

    “After careful analysis from the period he took over the Bayelsa State command of NSCDC, we discovered that Agu worked very hard to improve the command, turned it around and gave it a modern facelift. He worked very hard with diplomacy to provide critical infrastructures to improve the activities of his men and officers.

    “He has achieved relevance, respect and recognition through hard work and dedication to his calling. His antecedents, recommendations and attributes earned him the prestigious leadership award”, he said.

    Also corroborating the sentiments expressed by PALTC, Agu’s Second-in-Command, Udoeyo Anielka, said the award was not surprising to men and officers of the command.

    Addressing his boss, he said: “We can testify that you met nothing on ground. But your singular effort, fighting like a lion, you have brought us to the mainstream and we are now a force to reckon with.

    “There is nothing done in this state that civil defence is not called upon. We have the synergy with other security agencies. We work as a team and that is why we are succeeding”.

    Also in his remarks, the Deputy Commandant and Head of Intelligence and Investigation, George Anyanwu, said al the officers in the command had been encouraged by the award.

    He said apart from his achievements, Agu had shown love to the downtrodden. He said despite his busy schedule, Agu was fond of showing humility by attending social engagements involving his officers.

    In his address, the commandant who was elated by the recognition, described the award as the greatest among over 35 awards he had so far received. He said in all other states like Enugu, Delta and Plateau, he worked before coming to Bayelsa, he was driven by patriotism.

    He extolled the virtues of the Commandant-General and thanked him for having confidence in him. He promised never to disappoint the commandant-general and the country while discharging his functions.

    “I have served my country and this organisation with sincerity. I believe that was what touched this organisation to recognise me in this manner. Since I came to Bayelsa, NSCDC has achieved a lot.

    “We have a good relationship with other security agencies. We have destroyed more than 1000 illegal refineries in the state. We have prosecuted many cases and some cases are still in the court.

    “The command is one of the best commands as far as the NSCDC is concerned. I thank my commander-general for finding me worthy to be posted in this state. I will not fail you. I will serve my nation with all my heart. I will serve the nation with sincerity.

    “I can’t achieve this without the support of my subordinates. I dedicate this award to my subordinates. To whom much is given, much is expected.

    “This is a responsibility for us to do more. We will work harder and this nation will remain united and in peace. Whatever we can do to ensure that Nigeria remains crime-free, we will do it”, he said.

  • Bayelsa First Lady gives birth to four children in US

    Bayelsa First Lady gives birth to four children in US

    Four babies at the first go! That is the joyful lot of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State  after his wife,Rachael, yesterday delivered a set of quadruplets in an undisclosed hospital in the United States of America (USA).

    The boy and three girls are the couple’s first children after many years of marriage.

    And they came 24 hours after the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja upheld Dickson’s election for a second term in the January 9 poll.

    The governor’s Chief Press Secretary Daniel Iworiso-Markson broke the news to reporters yesterday.

    He said: “The season of celebrations continues in the family of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State as his wife, the First Lady, Dr. Rachael Dickson just put to bed in the United States of America.

    “She was delivered of a quadruplet; a bouncing baby boy and three beautiful baby girls. Mother and children are doing well.

    “This is particularly good news for the family and Bayelsans because this bundle of joy is coming after many years of praying and waiting upon the Lord.

    “Governor Dickson thanks friends, family members and Bayelsans for their prayers and support and enjoins them to continue to pray for the family”.

  • Fed Govt distributes sports equipment to 41 Bayelsa schools

    The Federal Government appears poised to drive grassroots sports development in the Niger Delta region. The government believes that besides oil, the region has other abundant natural and human resources.

    The government recently demonstrated its commitment to develop hidden sports talents in the region. Through the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), the Federal Government distributed branded world-class sports equipment to primary schools selected in some states of the region.

    The distribution is an interventionist programme of the Federal Government through the lottery trust fund to promote grassroots sports development and improve the country’s future performances in sports.

    Sports materials in different areas of Athletics, volleyball, basketball, football, handball, badminton, table tennis, judo and taekwondo, were presented to head teachers of the selected schools.

    Among the 2000 schools selected to benefit from the distribution, 41 schools were chosen from Bayelsa State. The schools received their shares of sports materials from the NLTF in a brief ceremony held in Yenagoa.

    It was an exciting moment. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, was the Special Guest of Honour for the event.

    Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Phylis Nwokedi represented the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

    Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NLTF, Habu Gumel; NLTF’s Zonal Coordinator, South-South Alhaji Adamu Rabiu, traditional rulers and representatives of the state government were also present.

    Gumel in his address said for 41 schools to have been selected from Bayelsa out of the 2000 schools across the country, was a cause for celebration. He asked the schools to put the equipment to good use and to protect them from thieves.

    Addressing the benefitting schools, he said: “While urging you to put the equipment t good use in the schools and ensure their security, I must sound a word of warning.

    “You must ensure the safekeeping of these equipment so that they do not get stolen as we have already alerted security agencies to apprehend any culprit who diverts these federal government intervention materials”.

    Referring to Lokpobiri as a prominent and highly respected son of Bayelsa, Gumel thanked him for finding time out of his busy schedule to attend the engagements.

    In his opening remarks, the Zonal Coordinator, South-South, NLTF, Alhaji Adamu Rabiu, highlighted the essence of the programme.

    He said: “This intervention is to promote grassroots sports development in the country with the specific objectives of enhancing the capacity of the nation to grow and expand her talent-base by securing the interest and involvement of our children of primary schools in sporting activities.

    “The programme is expected to improve the nation’s future performance in sports at all levels by harnessing the potential of our young talents and nurture their transition to world-class athletes, sports men and women,

    “It calls for celebration especially for us in the zone and indeed for the good people of Bayelsa State as it is seen as an impetus to change the fortunes of our youths in sports and transform their social wellbeing for the better”.

    He said the lottery trust fund was determined to see to the successful implementation of the programme. He said a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system had been put in place to track the sporting equipment.

    “The fact that the Federal Government has chosen Bayelsa as one of the few states in the Federation to commission and present this equipment is enough evidence that the state is held in high esteem by the federal government.

    “I make bold to state that the lottery is working and is poised to change the lives of everyday Nigerian citizen. We pray this intervention programme and many others in the pipeline will continue to remain sustainable for the benefits of all Nigerians”, he said.

    Also speaking, Lokpobiri, said Buhari was desirous of and committed to the development of all parts of the country including the Niger Delta.

    Lokpobiri appealed to other tiers of government to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in all areas of development including sports.

    He said Buhari’s desire for grassroots sports development and ensuring children acquire the best of talents was the reason behind the distribution of the sports items.

    He said: “That is why of the 2000 schools that are benefitting from this distribution of sports equipment which was flagged off by the Vice-President, 41 schools from Bayelsa have benefitted.

    Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Walton Liverpool, described the gesture as the first in the history of basic education in the state.

    He said the schools would make use of the equipment to achieve the objectives of the programme. He, however played the Oliver Twist and appealed to the federal government to do more to the schools.

  • Navy, corps member take medical rhapsody to Bayelsa community, IDPs

    Gwegwe community and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camping at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were recently given a reason to smile.

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy and a corps member, Dr. IniAbasi Bassey, who discharges her primary assignment at the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), visited them at separate occasions with lots of care and love.

    While the Navy headed for Gwegwe, the corps member went to the IDP’s camp. In fact the residents of Gwegwe in Ovom, Yenagoa, were surprised at the medical mission of the navy.

    The Flag Officer Commanding CNC, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, personally led the medical mission to the community. To show the importance he attached to the health of his host, Garba brought most of the senior officers in his command including the Chief of Staff of the command, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade to the community.

    Residents felt honoured by the presence of Garba, whose achievements within a short period he took over the command in an era of militancy, resounded in their ears. The navy brought cartons of drugs and mobilised qualified doctors to the community to identify and treat common sicknesses.

    The Paramount Ruler of Ovom, HRH Mathias Obele was excited at the gesture of the navy. He immediately sent words round Gwegwe community asking the residents to turn out en masse to benefit from military generosity. Obele also invited members of his council of Chiefs to receive Garba and his team.

    Within a short time, Garba arrived and headed straight for the humble palace of the Ijaw king. The Chiefs and their king were happy to behold Obele identifying with them. The Naval boss told them that the programme was borne out of the desire of the military to tackle health problems plaguing its host communities.

    He said the CNC has been visiting communities within its Area of Responsibility (AoR) for medical missions. He named some of the communities that had benefited from the gesture and said the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) was in support of the programme.

    He said through the programme, the navy gets closer to and establishes links with the people for effective resolution of common security problems. He said the programme was part of strategic directive to work with local communities and stakeholders to achieve government’s collective mandate.

    Garba had another message for them. He said: “Nigeria belongs to Nigerians. We are part and parcel of the society. We are all Nigerians and Nigeria belongs to Nigerians. We must make sure we protect this country.

    “This is one of the ways to reduce tension by reaching out to people. It is easy to solve problem when you reach out to people.”

    Garba later told residents who gathered to benefit from the medical outreach that the military especially the Navy cared for the people of the region. He appealed to them not to view every naval personnel as hostile and bloodthirsty describing the Navy as caring and humane.

    Indeed, the Ijaw king and his council of chiefs were elated. Obele, playing the Oliver Twist, also asked the navy to consider employing some of the indigenes of Ovom. He reminded the navy that one of their bases, NNS SOROH, is located within the community.

    For the IDPs, the intervention of the youth corps member, Dr. Bassey was a big relief. Their condition was pathetic as they suffered various ailments without money to buy required drugs. The IDPs were mostly victims of the violence that marred the last governorship election in the state.

    So, when they saw Bassey with cartons of drugs and mosquito nets, they leaped up in joy. They sang, danced and described the young lady as God-sent. Bassey said she was moved by pity after she visited the camp and saw the terrible living condition of the IDPs.

    She said: “When I was told there are IDPs here, I went to visit them. The children were malnourished and the general standard of living there was very poor. So, I was moved to help them by doing something about their health because health is wealth.”

    “It is my personal community development service. I donated some drugs and relief items to them. You can see that the people came out in their numbers and we had a health talk.

    “I donated drugs for malaria treatment because of the pandemic nature of malaria. I gave them analgesic, antibiotics and supplements. In fact, I have given them lots of drugs. I gave them over 100 mosquito-treated nets”.

    The corps member, who hails from Akwa Ibom State said she solicited funds from people to undertake the project. She said with more assistance she would do more to help in solving some problems in the state.

    Bassey said she was already working on another community development service following some pressing needs she identified in one of the community schools in Yenagoa.

    In fact, most of the IDPs thanked the corps member for her intervention describing her as a problem solver.

     

     

  • Canadian kick-boxer loses belt in Bayelsa

    Amidst the hardship and anxieties in Bayelsa State, residents recently smiled broadly and laughed hysterically, temporarily forgetting their economic challenges. A live sporting show organised by the Renew Entertainment in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State restored happiness to their faces.

    The owner of Renew, an engineer, Mr. Gospel Oboro, for the second time in a year brought a live kick-boxing competition to Yenagoa to thrill his audience and promote sports tourism in the state.

    Oboro brought a world kick-boxing champion from Canada, Mr. Anthony Ford, to compete with an African champion, Mr. Menia Nimi Jack. All roads led to Renew, a firm that combines bar, club and sports entertainment. The arena located at Azikoro Road became a destination of choice for residents.

    Dignitaries also attended the event. The Director-General, Tourism Development Agency (TDA), Mrs. Ebiere Irene, represented the government. The Deputy Governor’s Protocol Officer, Mr. Solomon Diepreye, was also in attendance.

    Among them are traditional rulers such as the Paramount Ruler of Opokuma Kingdom, HRH, Okpoitari Diangoli and Paramount Ruler, Ekpetiama Kingdom, HRM, Bubaraye Dakolo. The rubber dub master, Raskimono and another entertainer Stone Cold thrilled the audience.

    When the fight started, Prince Leo of the Nigerian Police defeated another fighter identified simply as Isidore from Cameroon. But the main fight between Ford and Jack was the motivation that lured the mammoth crowd to Renew.

    After a long period of contest, Ford conceded defeat following many bruises inflicting on him by Jack, who was declared the winner. Ford’s belt was subsequently handed over to Jack.

    Oboro said Renew had an intention to bring back live show business of sports to the Niger Delta region. He said the firm made history by going international to bring a world-title champion to Nigeria.

    “I want our people to enjoy what other people are enjoying. We decided to bring back live show business of sport to the Niger Delta. We bring new innovation and now we have gone international, which is first in history in Nigeria to bring the world title champion to Nigeria.

    “It is not easy. For more than three months, I have been doing alot of planning, talking to international communities. I would say that l am among the people that have entered the Guinness Book of Records as the only first person to bring the world title fight to Nigeria and mostly the Niger Delta”.

    Ebiere thanked Oboro for raising the stakes of kickboxing in the country. Addressing Oboro, he said: “Many people dreamed but never achieved it. Some persons came across obstacles and they turned back, but you persisted.

    “We went to the governor and he promised that this time next year, we will have much bigger kickboxing so that Bayelsa will become known for kickboxing in Nigeria and African as a whole.

    “We promise you that by this time next year, we are going to have it bigger and better and government is ready to back us up and we promise we are going to create an auditorium for both kickboxing and boxing.”

    Also speaking, Dakolo said the event was brought to the attention of the traditional rulers’ council at short notice. But he described the event as groundbreaking and asked the firm to engage in more publicity.

    He said such events would bring the youths to productive existence and rebrand the Niger Delta region. He expressed gratitude to the governor for his promise to elevate kickboxing and other combat sports in the state.

  • Bayelsa ANA seeks better image for Niger Delta

    Bayelsa ANA seeks better image for Niger Delta

    The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Bayelsa State chapter is not happy with the current image of the Niger Delta region. The region wears the toga of violence, militancy, oil-related and maritime crimes.

    But ANA has insisted that there are good sides of the region. The association recently called on stakeholders across the country to see the good sides and refrain from creating the impression that Niger Delta is volatile and unsafe for developmental activities.

    The Chairman of the association, Mr. Michael Afenfia, spoke at the grand finale of the ANA/Yusuf Ali Creative Writing Competition held recently in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.

    He lamented that only the negative things that happen in the Niger Delta region dominate headlines across the country while the giant strides attained by youths from the region were relegated to the backgrounds. According to him nobody has stopped to look at the good things some Niger Delta youths engage themselves in.

    He said: “Just listening to news this morning, it seemed that it is a season of violence in this part of the country. It is either a story of kidnapping here or bombing there and it seems like the only news that comes out of the Niger Delta is about violence, sometimes being carried out by young people.

    “But here today we have come to showcase young Bayelsans who are doing great things, who have decided to shun violence, not just tacitly but actually doing something to promote the good things that can come out of our region”.

    The event was a literary competition of creative writing. Youths from Bayelsa State were asked to write the final chapter of the book, ‘A man of the people’, written by Chinua Achebe. An entry submitted by one of the youths, Mr. Chibuzor Darlington won the competition.

    Highlighting the event, Afenfia said: “A couple of weeks back we had a creative writing competition for students in tertiary institutions across Bayelsa state and today we are proud to announce to you that we now have a winner.

    “The competition is about writing a final chapter of a very popular book, titled ‘A man of the people’ by Chinua Achebe.

    “Today we are proud to say that one Mr. Chibuzor Darlington came first but interestingly I was amazed by the kind of work these students did. Going throught their scripts, I had that confidence that there are young ones that can fill the gap of great writers like Elechi Amadi and Gabriel Okara.”

    The winner went home with N15,000 cash and a smart phone, while the first and second runner ups went home with N15,000 and N10,000 respectively.

  • Bayelsa APC to Buhari: withdraw Brambaifa from NDDC board

    Bayelsa APC to Buhari: withdraw Brambaifa from NDDC board

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to withdraw the state’s representative, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, from the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The party said Brambaifa’s appointment was against the party’s cohesion because it negated balance and fairness.

    “Prof Brambaifa’s appointment has serious political implications in the sense that the minister representing Bayelsa State, Heineken Lokpobiri (minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development), is from Ekeremor Local Government in Bayelsa West Senatorial District.

    “The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.), is from Sagbama Local Government, also in Bayelsa West. Now, the Bayelsa State representative on the NDDC board is also from Sagbama Local Government in the same Bayelsa West Senatorial District,” the party said.

    In the letter, which was signed by the only APC member in the House of Assembly, Mr. Israel Sunny- Goli, the party accused former governor and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, of foisting Brambiafa’s appointment on the state.

    Sunny-Goli, who also chairs the House Committee on NDDC, insisted that Buhari’s appointments in the state were eroding cohesion and causing party disunity because they were concentrated in one senatorial district.

    The lawmaker said APC was shocked when its nominee, who he said was endorsed by stakeholders, did not make the final list.

    He attributed the development to Amaechi’s alleged claims that President Buhari directed him to nominate representatives from Niger Delta states, because of his position as the director-general of the President’s Campaign Organisation.

    Sunny-Goli noted that if Brambaifa was not withdrawn, it will mean that other senatorial districts, which campaigned against former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government for Buhari’s administration, had been excluded.

    The lawmaker said this would have grave implications for the party’s cohesion.

    He condemned the attempts by some people to sideline the party’s state leadership in Federal Government’s affairs through their actions against members in Bayelsa State.

    Sunny-Goli urged Amaechi to restrict his party activities to Rivers State and leave other Southsouth states alone.

    The lawmaker said APC members still believed in the ideology of the Buhari administration, adding that the party will want him to reverse Brambaifa’s nomination to assuage the ill-feelings the party members had towards the Federal Government.

    He said: “When it was time to nominate state representatives into the NDDC board, APC leaders and stakeholders in Bayelsa State met and recommended a nominee to Mr. President through the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri…

    “But we are surprised that this nominee did not make the final list. We know that it is not the fault of Mr. President that our nominee is not on the list.

    “We have it on good authority that the Minister of Transport and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who used his ‘veto’ power as campaign coordinator and leader of the Southsouth, which nobody made him, replaced our nominee.