Tag: Bayelsa
-
Bayelsa 3rd Thanksgiving Day
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (3rdleft) his wife, Rachael (2ndleft) the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah rtd, (left) Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson (3rdright) General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi 2ndright) and his wife, Mrs. Kumuyi jointly cutting the 3rd Annual Bayelsa State Thanks Giving Day Celebration cake at the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa. Photo by Lucky Francis -
How Bayelsa Ex- deputy governor survived boat mishap
But for the timely intervention of the locals, the former deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Peremobowei Ebebi, would have died in a boat mishap that claimed four persons in the state on Saturday.
While Ebebi lived to tell the story, an officer of the Department of State Security (DSS) was reportedly not fortunate, as he was said to be among the dead casualties.
The DSS officer, before the incident, was attached to the office of the state Project Monitoring Department located along the Imgbi Road, Bayelsa State.
He was said to have escorted the head of the department, Mr. Ball Oyarede, who is aspiring for a seat in the state House of Assembly, to Ekeremor Local Government Area for the just concluded ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Oyarede, a former Commissioner for Land and Housing and former state Representative, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties.
While returning from the ward congress, a boat the DSS officer and Ebebi boarded at the Ekeremor Town jetty overturned before taking off and emptied its occupants into the water.
Sources at the jetty said the scramble to rescue Ebebi led to the death of the DSS officer and three others.
One of the sources who pleaded anonymity blamed the incident on overloading.
According to him, the boat was loaded beyond its capacity which forced it to tilt and eventually turn upside down.
“Most of the dead victims were trapped in the enclosed compartment of the boat when it turned upside down. Immediately the incident happened, the villagers who were at the jetty dived into the water in search of Ebebi.
“Eventually when they lifted him, he had taken in so much water and was unconscious. He was later revived. But before help could come the way of other victims, they had drowned,” he said.
The source also said that the victims were not wearing life vests when the incident occurred.
He confirmed that bodies of the casualties were immediately recovered by local divers and were brought to Yenagoa on Saturday.
It was gathered that a crane was later hired to lift the capsized boat.
When contacted, the state Director, DSS, Mr. La’san Baba, said the service had yet to confirm the death of its officer.
-
My grouse about Bayelsa VIP pageant, by contestant
Miss Bridget Nwachi travelled all the way from Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakiliki to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to partake in the just concluded Miss VIP beauty pageant.
A student of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nwachi, who hails from Afikpo North Local Government Area, was optimistic that she would clinch the crown.
She wanted to make Ebonyi, the state she came to represent in the competition proud. But Nwachi was disappointed. The pageant, she said, lacked all the competitive trappings such events was supposed to have.
In fact, there was no competition and the organisers could not live up to their promises. Nwachi couldn’t even make top ten in the event that was held at the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.
Nwachi, a former presenter on Radio Nigeria, Unity FM, after the event located the office of the Niger Delta Report in Yenagoa to narrate her ordeal. Narrating her experience in camp, Nwachi who described herself as a creative, enthusiastic and fun-loving model, said the pageant was a rip-off.
When asked why she could not make the top 10, she said: “It did not just happen. They gave us a task and I was not able to meet up the task. They asked us, the contestants, to sell tickets and raise N100,000 each.
“I really believe the selection was just for the ticket money. The first top 10 was selected from the persons who sold the highest tickets. So, it was just the people that realised the highest amount of money that they really chose. That was how they chose the top 10.”
She disclosed that persons who could not sell the tickets were compelled to look for the money and pay to the organisers. She insisted that the top positions were bought with money and that the crown was given to the highest bidder.
“I met very nice ladies but some saw me as a threat to them because I got the highest vote on Facebook. They felt l had money to pay for the crown. Some thought l came with N450,000 or N500,000. So, they were just striving harder to meet up.
“They asked me, I told them I only came with N20,000. But they never believed me because they felt it was all about money. I didn’t really believe in that.
“I believe l came for competition and to do my best. I believe when you want to crown somebody, it should not be because of money. Let it be for the qualities you saw in that person.
“I feel sad because l did everything that l was supposed to do, especially at the prejudgment day. I demonstrated that l possessed all the qualities required of a VIP Queen. The only thing l did not do was to buy the crown and that is my offence.
“I ventured into modeling in 2010 when I registered with an agency in my state. It is called Sodofaces Agency. But they were not really that serious. I just had to leave.
“I have worked with Green Blaze in my state. I have helped to organize shows like Face of Ebonyi, South-East Super models. Honestly, I have not being involved in any pageantry show.
“This Miss VIP is just the first pageant show I have ever involved myself in because I needed to get the experience and I got it to fullest. I gave it my best.
“I am optimistic of getting contracts from here. The next thing I am thinking is either Gulder Ultimate Search or Big Brother Africa. I don’t really like pageantry. I just needed to try this one to get the experience, so that if am asked to host my own, I will know the mistakes.
“For the Miss VIP, some people were sentimental because of money. My role model is Genevieve Nnaji. We share the same life interest. If only you believe, you can achieve it. No matter the circumstance I find myself. I know I have some qualities that no one else will ever get.”
Nwachi further called for proper regulation of pageantry shows to avoid using them as opportunities to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
But Pflamez Entertainment, the firm that organised the show, said Nwachi was complaining because she failed to win the crown. The Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr. Preye Okorowanta, who spoke to Niger Delta Report, said all the participants were aware of the conditions and acceded to them before the competition.
He said: “I guess everyone has their own opinion. We made our process clear even before the event. We told them that their fan base would determine their positions in the competition.
“The VIP thing is like a popularity thing. We couldn’t regulate it by just selling tickets at the gate of the venue. We decided that their chances would depend on the number of tickets they sold.
“They did that. But probably at the long run, she didn’t make it. She started complaining against the whole process.”
-
Civil Defence trains private guards in Bayelsa
Association of Private Guard Companies (APGC) in Bayelsa State is deep-neck in a profitable romance with the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The relationship has yielded its first fruit – the training and passing out of 102 private guards.
The guards from different private guard companies were trained to confront different security challenges in their various duty posts.
Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said the security challenges facing the country should not be tackled alone by the conventional security outfits.
“These challenges cannot be tackled unilaterally by any security agency. It requires a synergy between different stakeholders and individuals. The importance of private guard companies cannot be ruled out”, he said.
Agu who was represented at the event by his Second in Command, Deputy Commandant, Miebi Godwin, observed that the lager percentage of the trained personnel would be deployed in sensitive areas.
The Deputy Commandant in charge of PVC, Mr. Ufondu Hyascient, said the private guards were sent to the corps for training by more than 27 companies. He reiterated that the training had prepared the beneficiaries to face the challenges facing the state and the nation.
Chairman, APGC, Col. D.T. Brown (retd.) said it was the first time he would experience the passing out parade of guards trained by NSCDC. He said judging from their march pass, the guards had done very well.
He heaped praises on the commandant and persons working with him. Describing Agu as a smart and intelligent man, he said the corps had developed beyond people’s expectation under his supervision.
The owner of Pehek Security Services Ltd, Mr. Gesiye Ekade, was excited at the training. He said the training would help the company serve its clients better.
-
First Lady resigns appointment as Bayelsa ‘super’ Perm Sec
The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has resigned her appointment as a “Super” Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service.
It was gathered that the resignation followed alleged final breakdown in relationship between the First Lady and the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson.
Dickson had in July 2012, five months after his inauguration appointed Patience Jonathan, as one of the 17 new permanent secretaries in the state civil service.
Dickson said the appointment of the First Lady as a permanent secretary was based on the power conferred on him by Section 203 of the constitution.
He further said it was in recognition of her services to the state and nation, adding that she was a directorate level officer in the civil service.
Sources from the Ministry of Education said the 57-year-old Patience Jonathan left the service voluntarily.
One of the sources who pleaded anonymity said the First Lady in her letter of resignation opted for voluntary retirement.
He said the ministry had computed and finalised her terminal benefits already.
When asked the total amount of her terminal benefits, he said: “Well I don’t know. All I can tell you is that everything has been processed.
“The whole thing is political. It appears Madam Peace is not happy with the governor. With her resignation, the battle line has been drawn.
“I feel the President’s wife resigned to enable her to have the moral right to slug it out with Dickson ahead of the governorship poll in the state. Let no one deceive you, the whole thing is politics. After all, she is 57 and the retirement age is 60.”
The wife of the President has a National Certificate of Education in Mathematics/Biology, which she obtained in 1989 from the Rivers State College of Education.
She also has a degree in Biology and Psychology (Education) from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
When contacted, Chief Salo Adikumo, who resigned during the week as Commissioner for Education, said he was no longer the commissioner.
He said: “I resigned recently as commissioner to enable me to pursue my political ambition. Please direct all your enquiries to the Ministry, ” he said.
But, a senior official of the ministry confirmed the development and said it was true the First Lady resigned.
The official, who pleaded anonymity for fear of victimisation, dismissed political reasons for her resignation.
He said: “I can say Dame Patience Jonathan has voluntarily retired. But whether there is political undertone in her resignation, I cannot say.
“I think the First Lady felt that her continued stay as Permanent Secretary will be depriving others. Now that she has thrown in the towel, it will afford others the opportunity to take her position.
“Already, in accordance with the civil service rules, we have prepared all her entitlements. Whatever is due her will be given to her. She will also be receiving her pension.”
-
Bayelsa tackles sexual assault against women
Defilement of girls and sexual assault against women in Bayelsa State will soon be a thing of the past. The state has constituted committee to tackle the problems.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kemasuode Wodu said said sexual abuse and assault leave leaves lasting emotional scar on the victims.
He said some victims even commit suicide, as was the case in Yenagoa recently. “The government takes this issue very seriously,” he said.
“The state government has consequently constituted a committee to deal with this issue. The committee which works under the office of the Attorney–General and Commissioner for Justice, is also involved in the prosecution of such cases through the office of the Government Special Prosecutor, A. S. Arthur.”
Speaking on the new legal year, he said: “The judges, magistrates and judiciary workers have done exceedingly well. Succeeding Chief Judges have built on the very solid foundation laid by Justice David Koripamo Ngbuku of blessed memory, who was the pioneer Chief Judge of the state. He was an apostle of an incorruptible judiciary.
“Discipline was his watchword, he always sat at 9am. He was known for swiftly moving against any worker in the judiciary, be it a judge or magistrate or any other staff, that was found wanting, especially with respect to issues of corruption and indiscipline.
“The state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, has kept the flag flying. Not only is there discipline in the Judiciary, justice delivery in the state is commendable both in terms of quality and speed.”
The state government, he said, is aware of the need to increase the number of judges in the state High Court to enhance justice delivery.
Wodu praised the governor and the President of National Industrial Court (NIC) on their efforts in establishing a branch of the court in the state.
Wodu said: “Upon my assumption of office, the governor graciously supported our quest for the establishment of a Division of the National Industrial Court in Yenagoa. This became necessary as all labour and industrial relations matters now go to the National Industrial Court and the nearest functional Division of the Court to us is in Calabar, Cross River State. This means that for labour or industrial relations matters, we must go to Calabar to seek justice.
“It is gratifying to report that following efforts of the governor, the President of the National Industrial Court has approved the establishment of a Division of the Court in Yenagoa. The state government has, in conjunction with the state Judiciary, provided the necessary facilities for the take off of the court such as furnished Court Hall and accommodation for the judge and other staff.”
Wodu also called for the establishment of a Division of the Court of the Court of Appeal in the state.
He said: “The state is blessed with a beautiful riverine and coastal environment. We, therefore, have very many communities located far away in the creeks. Though the government has commenced concerted efforts towards constructing motorable roads to most of those communities, due to the nature of the terrain and the enormity of the funds required, this may take quite some time to achieve.
“Thus, to be able to access Yenagoa from some of those communities, one would travel for about two to three hours by boat to Delta State before proceeding to Yenagoa by road for about four hours.
“For these people to proceed again to Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt for the determination of their Appeals is too burdensome to bear. Oftentimes, because of such constraints, people abandon their appeals. The end result is that such persons would have been denied access to justice for no fault of theirs.
“This situation is unfair and not in tandem with the provisions of Section 6(6) of the Constitution, which guarantee access to the court for the determination of one’s civil rights and obligations.
“There is the need to establish a Division of the Court of Appeal in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in order to address this pitiable plight of the people of the state.”
The Governor, he said, is willing to partner with the Court of Appeal in the provision of facilities for the take off of the court. “We must also commend the Chief Judge for playing a lead role in this issue and for also being ready to support the establishment of a Division of the Court of Appeal in the state also in the area of the provision of initial take off facilities,” he said.
-
‘Our grievances with Bayelsa federal lawmakers’
The day of reckoning has come. It is now the turn of the downtrodden, the rich and the mighty who make up the constituencies and wards in Bayelsa State to decide the fate of their elected representatives.
The constituents have rolled out their scales to weigh the performances and achievements of persons they gave their mandates some years ago to fight for their collective interests at the National Assembly.
But the scaling results seem unsatisfactory to the power owners, the constituents whom sovereignty belongs.
Elders and leaders of the three senatorial districts that make up the state had at different separate enlarged meetings taken collective decisions that appeared to have foreclosed the possibility of the federal lawmakers to return to their seats in 2015.
Unless the decision which zoned the seats out of the reach of incumbent lawmakers are reversed, the legislators are not even fit to stand for primary elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015. They can, however, seek to retain their positions in another political party possibly the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Already, some heavyweights who are believed to have the blessings of major power brokers in the state are rising to challenge the lawmakers. The first to indicate a senatorial interest is the Secretary, South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA), Dr. Ayakeme Whiskey.
Whisky, who is one of the board members of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), is seeking to occupy the seat of the Bayelsa West Senatorial District at the Senate. The senatorial district is made up of Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas.
He is up against Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who hails from Ekeremor. While Lokpobiri represents the district in the upper legislative house; Dr. Stella Dorgu, who is from Sagbama, represents Sagbama/Ekeremor in the House of Representatives. Lokpobiri is serving his second term in the Senate while Dorgu, who replaced Governor Seriake Dickson, when the former became governor, is doing her first term.
Recently, the stakeholders in the district had zoned the senatorial seat to Sagbama and the House of Representatives position to Ekeremor. The zoning which was kicked against by the supporters of Lokpobiri has become a big threat to the third term ambition of the senator.
The supporters of Lokpobiri had argued that the decision of the PDP elders was against performance and legislative experience. According to them the state deserved to have ranking senators and Lokpobiri should be reelected in 2015 to fill the void.
Favoured by the zoning, Whisky, who spoke to the Niger Delta Report, thinks otherwise. Whisky who was also a former commissioner in the state said beyond zoning, the incumbent lawmakers have failed to give their constituencies effective representation.
He said: “As far as I am concerned, our democratic experiment is still at infancy. It has not matured to a stage where somebody will say we want ranking senator. Ranking should be a product of service to the people you represent.
“Ranking should not become an issue only when you feel that by going to the Senate two, three times, you will have the opportunity of being given highly valued House position. It should take more than that.
“If the people you represent see evidence of effective representation, they feel being carried along at every point in time, they share in a sense of belonging to the National Assembly, it should be voluntary position on their part to say our son has done well, let him go.
“To that extent, I fully subscribe to the decision of the senatorial party leadership that Sagbama Local Government, which started representation at Senate for eight years and relinquished that to Ekeremor, and Ekeremor having made eight years, the office of the Senate should now be zoned to Sagbama.
“I fully subscribe to it. Those who want to go three, four times should be a product of people’s consensus agreement and not because they want it.”
Whisky, who hails from Bolu-Orua, a community that shares boundary with the hometown of Governor Dickson’s Toru-Orua in Sagbama further identified the flaws of the incumbent federal lawmakers from the state.
He said: “I am not coming out because it is zoned to Sagbama. Even if party leadership had not come up with the decision to zone the Senate to Sagbama, I would have still indicated interest. I am one of those that believe that the people to whom sovereignty belongs have not been effectively carried along.
“Representation is beyond getting up to speak in the hallowed chambers. The democracy we practice is called representative democracy. How many times have the people of Bayelsa been involved by their representatives in defining laws, in being educated on the various bills?
“In advance democracies, I stand to be corrected, representatives are every now and then being in touch with their people. If any substantive law is in the offing to be enacted, they go back to their people.
“Now the other argument people will propose is that there is always public hearing. How many of us from Sagbama-Ekeremor have the means to go to Abuja to attend public hearing on proposed bills? I think part of the responsibility of those who aspire to represent us is to come back home to consult their people.
“For instance, the entire Niger Delta area and Bayelsa in particular, our main resource here is oil. Now a bill as sensitive as Petroleum Industry Bill was being introduced, how many people of my senatorial district and how many people of other senatorial districts were briefed by our senators and House of Rep members on the fundamentals of the PIB?
“They will say there was public hearing, but how many people have the capacity to go to Abuja for public hearing? These are the fundamentals. It is not just an issue to say that the senatorial leadership of the party had zoned the Senate to Sagbama. I as a person feel that there are fundamental flaws in representation and I would ordinarily have come up to challenge the status quo.
“Even while I was a commissioner here, we brought up a policy called bottom-up approach in budgeting. A good representative should be able to come back home in a pre-budgeting season, gather stakeholders of their constituencies and discuss issues that could be included in the budget.
“After discussing the issues and demands, you should be able to prioritise the demands and see how many of the demands you can fix in the various budgets. It is not just merely constituency projects.
“We know that constituency project is the euphemism to lining the pockets of legislators. Representatives are only interested in constituency projects and they become the contractors of the projects and line their pockets.”
On why he wanted to abandon a South-South regional leadership for the Senate, he said: “South-South Peoples Assembly is a pressure group. You can at best place the issues affecting your people before relevant authorities and agencies.
“You cannot define the solution. As the Secretary of the assembly for the past eight years, I have become very conversant with the issues that border, militate and concern the people of South-South.
“Secretary of Southsouth can only afford me the rights and privileges of making a noise and how that noise will be translated to reality can only become possible if I am in the Senate”.
-
Akpeyi sure of clean sheet against Bayelsa
Warri Wolves goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi has promised a clean sheet at neighbours, Bayelsa United.
The Seasiders will be the guests of the Restoration Boys in Sunday’s Glo Premier League match day 32 game at Bayelsa United’s adopted home ground, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
Akpeyi said the encounter is certain to be difficult mainly due to the presence of his side’s former coach, Solomon Ogbeide on the bench of the opponents, Bayelsa United.
“My dream is to have a good game as well as avoid conceding any goal in the encounter. Of course, I’ll strive to have 100% watch over the back four to make sure there is no mistake.
“If I don’t concede any goal it follows that the team won’t concede any goal too and the effect is that we’ll come out of the clash smiling.
“The clash, aside being a derby, won’t be easy as there is much at stake in the expected grudge match.
”The head coach of Bayelsa United, Solomon Ogbeide was in charge of Warri Wolves last season and will want to leverage on his knowledge of Wolves to pull some surprises.
“Bayelsa United are not comfortable on the league table at the moment and will chance a win aimed at climbing up the ladder but I’m confident we’re equal to the task and won’t allow them the luxury.
“Definitely, a win for us will be perfect while a draw will be okay but defeat is totally out of our calculation,” said the Super Eagles goaltender to supersport.com.
Warri Wolves are second on the 20-team elite league log on 49 points, four points behind leaders, Kano Pillars at the end of week 31 matches.
-
Hotel guest ‘beaten up’ in Bayelsa
A guest at Peretimi Hotels on Imgbi Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has alleged that the manager hired operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) to shoot him.
The customer, who identified himself as Preye Bozimo, said three suspected DSS operatives were led by the manager of the hotel to ‘beat him up’.
It was gathered that the victim is the son of the Chairman of the Governing Board, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Gordon Bozimo.
It was learnt that following the incident, the hotel was shut for about five days.
Bozimo, who hails from Bomadi, Delta State, spoke from his bed at the surgical ward of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.
The victim, a building contractor and founder of Prezimo Global Resources, said he and his cousin, Nathaniel Alaweremi, lodged in the hotel on September 30.
He said trouble started when he and his cousin started arguing in the room.
The quarrel, Bozimo said, attracted the hotel manager, whose office was opposite their room.
He said: “Last Tuesday, I came into Yenagoa and lodged at Peretimi Hotel on Imgbi Road. My cousin and I had an argument.
“The manager said we were noisy and didn’t think we could stay in the hotel. We told her to refund our money.
“ I told her that she was not supposed to treat her customers this way.
“She left and came in with three men. They were in suits and dark glasses, carrying two guns and a big rifle. Immediately, they asked my cousin to leave the room. They locked me inside.
“The next thing, I heard was a shot and I realised I had been shot in the stomach. They started hitting me. They took my money, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, watch, shoes and car key.
“When my cousin came, they threatened to shoot him in the leg. They took me to their station.
“I asked why they shot me like a criminal. They said they are security agents and they can do anything.”
His cousin, who corroborated the story, insisted that men of the DSS were hired by the hotel manager to beat and shoot his cousin.
DSS State Director Dawa Everest could not be reached for comments and the police said they were yet to get details of the incident.
-
Bayelsa monarch hails PDP NEC
The monarch of Epie Kingdom in Bayelsa State, King Malla Sasime, has praised the National Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term.
The monarch, in a statement at the weekend, described Epie as “President Jonathan’s second home”.
He said he was happy with the transformational strides of the President, saying that “it makes a lot of sense to recognise that fact”.
“Let’s face it: Will it be too much to ask that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a minority, be given another four years?
“Are we saying that what was good for the Southwest and other geo-political zones is not good for the minorities?
“We are proud of Goodluck Jonathan not just because he is from a minority but equally because he has performed well given the circumstances of his tenure”.