The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Did Jonathan learn from this teacher?

    Did Jonathan learn from this teacher?

    In the first place, his nomination to represent Bayelsa State at the National Conference had the odour of political patronage, considering his background as a former governor of the state who had been stained by the oil of corruption. Thanks to his good luck, after being convicted of money laundering and fraud which fetched him a two-year jail sentence, he was controversially pardoned by President Goodluck Jonathan who had served as his deputy in his gubernatorial years from 1999 to 2005.  So, he understandably owes Jonathan a huge debt for his rehabilitation.

    However, in his evident enthusiasm to repay Jonathan,   Diepreye  Alamieyeseigha (popularly abbreviated as Alams) often gets carried away and ends up doing a disgusting disservice to his benefactor. Again, he manifested this tendency in a recent newspaper interview. His response to a question on Jonathan’s chance of success in next year’s general elections: “Oh let me tell you, there is no President in Nigeria who has done half of what Jonathan has been able to do. Look at the transformation agenda. See the jobs he has created. Today, Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa. You know what that means?”

    If this was merely a case of super exaggeration, it could be jocularly dismissed as a classic instance of political salesmanship. But it is the kind of embellishment that stands truth on its head, which is startling because of the speaker’s apparent conviction.

    Even more astonishing, Alamieyeseigha said of Jonathan: “The man is a very humble person, unassuming, well focused and does not like to be distracted.”  This characterisation has a fictional ring, but perhaps Alams can be excused. He may indeed know the essential qualities of Jonathan, which contradict the public perception of the character.

    Then Alams dropped a clanger. He reasoned, if the process can be dignified by calling it reasoning: “Maybe he learnt from me while he was my deputy. But that seems to be working against him, for in Nigeria, people want you to showcase what you have done to prove to them that you are working. I think that is what the president needs to do more often.”

    Alams must have an unbelievable sense of worth, or self-worth, not to say that he may be conceited. If Jonathan’s unremarkable approach to governance truly reflects what he supposedly learned from Alams, then the much sought-after clue to his alleged presidential cluelessness may have been finally unwrapped. Maybe Alams deserves recognition and honour for this illumination of a mystery that has long tormented the populace.

    Only Alams, and perhaps those who learned from him, can understand the illogic of concealing the evidence of positive and socially impactful governmental effort. It is relevant to quote this piece of wisdom: “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” In Jonathan’s case, the truth is that no one can showcase what is non-existent.

     

  • Bayelsa communities unite for Jonathan, Dickson

    Bayelsa communities unite for Jonathan, Dickson

    President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson  are getting more supporters for their re-election bids. For their sake, communities in the state seem to have dropped their acrimonies and feudal battles to queue up behind and identify with them.

    In fact, local government areas are taking turns to shower encomiums on and declare support for the duo. Sagbama, Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma local councils at separate occasions  assembled their sons and daughters to make statements and tell Nigerians how much love they have for their kinsman, President Jonathan and their Governor, Dickson.

    Niger Delta Report monitored a similar communal meeting involving the communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area under the aegis of the Yenagoa Stakeholders’ Forum (YSF) recently.

    The hall ‘overflew’ with representatives of the communities that constitute the council. Most of the enthused participants wore their best traditional regalia festooned with beads and other symbols of Ijaw culture. Women in their various groups adorned themselves in their best outfits woven around colourful wrappers with headgears of different sizes to match.

    Community leaders, aides to the governor from the council and lawmakers representing the council at the state House of Assembly  as well as representatives of non-indigenes flocked the hall to identify with the occasion.

    The Chief of Staff, Government House, Abuja, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, was one of the brains behind the success of the event.

    Also present were the Commissioner for Information, Deacon Markson Fefegha, the Chairman of the forum, Chief GM. Odumgba, the forum’s Secretary and governor’s Representative, Mr. Ebiwarie Wariowei.

    Others were the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Lawrence Ewrujakpor, Chief of Staff, Yenagoa Government House, the Mayor of Yenagoa, Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, Yenagoa chapter and Commissioner for Tourism. In fact, everybody who matters in politics and tradition of the council was in attendance.

    Describing Jonathan and Dickson as the two illustrious sons of the state, he appealed to the people to urge the duo to contest the the presidential and governorship elections in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

    “The reason for this clarion calls by the people are not far-fetched. Both have performed creditably to deserve a second term. He enumerated the near completion of the East-West Road, handling of the insurgency in the North-East, establishment of federal universities and implementation of the amnesty programmes among the achievements of their son, Jonathan.

    On Dickson, he said his Restoration Government has performed marvelously within record time.

    “This has not only attracted the people’s admiration, it has set the tone for so many pressure group’s and organisations to call for the endorsement of the governor for a second term”, he said.

    He reeled out the Isaac Boro Expressway, the Yenagoa-Angiama-Ayama Road, the New Gateway Road, the Tombia-Amasoma Road and the flyovers among others as the evidence of Dickson’s performance.

    “The various housing structures that have changed the landscape of Yenagoa cannot but be appreciated. The new ADR building for the judiciary, the Traditional Rulers secretariat, the Okaka Housing Estate and many others are commendable strides of this pragmatic administration,” he said.

    Also, the representative of non-indigenes, Chief Sunny Chukwueze, was excited that Yenagoa had risen to make a statement. He said he was initially uncomfortable that the council was mute when people all over the country were speaking.

    “Today, the jinx is broken and Yenagoa is speaking”, he said adding that President Jonathan had shown enough commitment to pilot the affairs f the country. He was, however, particular about Dickson whom he referred to as a friend to non-indigenes.

    He said Dickson won the love of non-indigenes by appointing some of them to his cabinet and paying them a thank-you visit after his election. He said in the history of the state, no leader had returned to thank the non-indigenes for their support after election.

    He said in June non-indigenes made a statement to support the reelection of Dickson. “Today, I am reaffirming the endorsement of Dickson and Jonathan”, he said.

    The Chairman of Yenagoa Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenamowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Funpere Akah, asked Jonathan to declare for 2015.

    “We are saying boldly that we are behind him and that he is going to win”, he said. The royal father also drew applauses from the crowd when he claimed that he saw Jonathan in his dream emerging victorious after the 2015 elections.”

    He further said Dickson had fulfilled his promise of turning Yenagoa to a construction site. “He has performed beyond expectations. Our traditional rulers council secretariat is first class and the police officers’ mess is one of the most beautiful in the country”, he said.

     

  • ‘Explosion’ in Bayelsa estate

    ‘Explosion’ in Bayelsa estate

    •Police: device was a teargas canister

    ONE person was injured yesterday when a device ‘exploded’ at the Okaka Estate, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    The incident created panic among residents.

    It was learnt that the device exploded on Road 6 at 11am shortly after the morning rain.

    The explosion was said to have occurred from an old blue Nissan Sunny car parked on the road.

    A resident said the device exploded from the boot of the vehicle.

    “It only rocked the boot, shattering its back screen. Somebody was injured.”

    Operatives of the anti-bomb squad cordoned off the area.

    The car was towed to the Ekeki Police Station.

    A resident, who identified himself as John, said though they were initially scared, they only discovered later that it was not a serious matter.

    “We were initially afraid. But when we got to the scene, we discovered it was a minor incident.

    “Whatever exploded was not a bomb. Only the back screen  was affected,” he said.

    Police spokesman Alex Akhigbe said nobody was injured.

    He dispelled insinuations that the device was a bomb.

    The spokesman said preliminary investigations showed that a police teargas canister caused the explosion.

    Akhigbe said: “Yesterday at 10.30am, there was a report of a car explosion at Okaka Estate, involving a Nissan Sunny car with a Lagos number plate, PQ 509 KRD.

    “At the scene, the police  discovered that the explosion was caused by a police teargas canister kept at the back of the vehicle.

    “It shattered the back screen.

    “The two occupants of the vehicle abandoned it and ran away.

    “When the police arrived at the scene, they found the empty shell of the teargas canister.

    “The car has been taken to the police station as we await the owner’s arrival.”

    When asked what a police teargas canister was doing in the car, he said the occupants of the car were suspected to be policemen.

    He added: “What exploded was not a bomb. It was a teargas canister.”

     

  • Bayelsa battles unemployment

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said his administration will create jobs for the youths.

    The governor noted that his government had employed more Bayelsa youths more than any other government. He stressed that about 200 forestry guards from different local government areas had recently been engaged on the basis of equal representation.

    According to the governor, in order to reduce unemployment in the state, the government appointed youths into positions of trust, besides the recent recruitment of 100 graduates and 1,000 non-graduates into the Bayelsa Volunteers scheme.

    Dickson, who addressed journalists at the Government House, said he had also authorised the employment of science teachers to fast track and enhance the teaching of science subjects in all schools in the state.

    “There are some employments we have authorised, and let me assure you that we have employed more youths than a lot of governments have done. Do you know that we have employed over 200 on the basis of equality of local governments?”

    Restating government’s commitment to creating jobs, Dickson said the situation was more challenging for states like Lagos and Kano with population of about 15 million, stressing that the problem of unemployment was aggravated by the dwindling resources of the state and the over-bloated wage bills.

    He, however, declared his administration’s intention to fight poverty and unemployment in collaboration with youths by creating wealth through agriculture and investments in relevant sectors of the state’s economy.

  • Bayelsa farmers lose N400m to ‘loan scam’

    •DSS arrests suspect

    Farmers in Bayelsa State have accused Mr. Kofi Osademe of defrauding them of N400 million.

    They said Osadame collected the money after convincing them that he was appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to disburse N1 billion loan to farmers.

    Osademe has been arrested by officials of the Department of State Security (DSS).

    Osademe was said to have assembled farmers under “the Lord’s Vineyard Agricultural Transformation Programme” in eight local government areas.

    The suspect, who was said to be the chief executive officer of the programme, reportedly collected 25 per cent of the loan requested by each farmer.

    Things turned awry when the cheques he issued to some farmers for the loan were dishonoured.

    One of the victims, Mrs. Preye Joseph, said Osademe kept shifting the date when it was time for the farmers to collect their loans.

    She said after some pressure, he issued the dud cheques to them.

    Mrs Joseph said: “I paid N250,000 to access N1 million. When the time came to get the loan, he kept saying he was still working on it. That was the story he told us until out of pressure, he issued the cheques that landed him in the cell.”

    Another farmer, Mr. Morris Funpere, said: “Osademe got himself into trouble when he got carried away by the money people were giving him. He thought he could do it and get away with it. I applied for N1 million and when he gave us the cheque, I felt I had won a jackpot.

    “But I felt like the world should fall on me when I got to the bank and discovered there was no money in the account. People can be very wicked. Why would a man do a thing like that to many innocent Bayelsans who are struggling to survive?”

    The state Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Amaran Suoyo, said the union was not aware of the development.

    A worker in Osademe’s office on Captain Ayeni Road in Yenagoa, who did not want to be named, said the loans were genuine.

    The worker said: “Our boss was arrested by the SSS. They said he was issuing fake cheques to people after collecting their money. What really happened was that the cheques the bank gave us were not enough and we asked for more.

    “The bank delayed the delivery of the cheques to us for about three weeks. During the three weeks, we did not give out the ones we had because we wanted all to be issued at the same time.

    “In the fourth week, we decided to give out the once we had and people went to the bank to claim their money. The loan scheme is real. We had an understanding with the CBN to disburse the funds to farmers registered with us.

    “Every year, the bank gives out loans to farmers, but in Bayelsa, we don’t get the loan. The government will sit down with its friends and share the money.

    “It is the commissioner for agric that is causing this problem for us. He is angry that a private firm could access the loan while he could not.”

    DSS State Director Everest Dawa confirmed Osademe’s arrest, saying: “We arrested him based on complaints we received. We are still investigating to get details of the allegation and his involvement. We don’t know how much is involved yet.”

  • BAYELSA DERBY : It will be a tough game, says Tolumoye

    BAYELSA DERBY : It will be a tough game, says Tolumoye

    Nembe City FC Vice captain, Tolumoye Tunkumor, has revealed that playing against their neighbours, Bayelsa United in a Week 26 Glo Premier League on Saturday will not be an easy game as predicted in some quarters.

    After two consecutive draws away to FC Taraba and home draw against Akwa United, the Kala – Eku lema boys will be hoping to secure the three maximum points at stake to boost their chances of remaining in the top flight when both sides meet at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

    The former Bayelsa United player also known as goal-king told SportingLife in an exclusive chat from the team’s camp in Yenagoa that playing against their neighbours will not be an easy game.

    The first leg encounter ended 2 – 0 in favour of Bayelsa United at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium, Omoku.

    “Let me tell you, derby games are very difficult because both sides know each other well. Considering the position we find ourselves on the log, we have to go all out and pick the three points. We are not out for revenge, we just want to go there and enjoy our game,” Tolumoye said.

    Asked if he will celebrate scoring a goal against his former team, he replied, “As a striker, my objective is to score goals so there won’t be any different if I score on Saturday.”

  • ‘Operation Light Up Bayelsa’ on course, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said his administration’s “Operation Light Up Bayelsa” is on course.

    Speaking with reporters in Yenagoa, Dickson noted the significance of power to industrial growth, adding that the government had awarded contracts to connect eight local government areas to the national grid.

    Responding to a question on electricity projects in Brass and Sagbama local government areas, the governor said they would enhance the standard of living.

    He said: “Our policy is not to abandon any project. No project that will make life more meaningful to our people will be abandoned. For the project in Sagbama, work is going on at the sub-station. We have awarded the contract. The investment we have made is to take light to Ofoni, because we are connecting all areas in Bayelsa.”

    Ogbogoro, Akaba, Ogu, Ayama and Famgbe (Yenagoa Local Government); communities in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government ; Trofani (Sagbama LGA); Amassoma (Southern Ijaw LGA) and Ogbia LGA are beneficiaries of the projects.

    Dickson said the contract for the resuscitation of the power sub-station at Angiama had been awarded, adding: “We have awarded contracts to take light to Nembe. All Ogbia communities that were not connected have been connected or are being connected. We have awarded the contract to resuscitate the Angiama power sub-station and its environs.”

    Reaffirming his administration’s determination to provide electricity in rural areas, the governor said by next year, electricity would be extended to all local governments.

    He called for understanding from the people, adding that the government would continue to provide basic amenities for them.

    Dickson urged communities to protect infrastructure in their areas.

  • Gunmen kidnap four in Bayelsa

    Gunmen kidnap four in Bayelsa

    •Maritime workers threaten to go on strike

    Four workers of construction giant Setraco have been kidnapped in the creeks of Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    Caleb Agene, Otuke Magic Kingdom, Gabriel Oghene and Godwin Odukpong were working on the multi-million naira Ogbia-Nembe road around 9pm on Saturday when they were abducted by gunmen.

    The incident occurred a few days after the state government set up an 11-man security task force, headed by a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Ebikabowei Victor-Ben.

    A security source said: “The dredging workers were reportedly seized and whisked away from their dredging base by armed men, who came in a speedboat.”

    The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Bayelsa State chapter, has threatened to go on an indefinite strike, if the government fails to protect its members from attacks by pirates.

    MWUN Chairman Lloyd Sese said: “Insecurity on the waterways has been our problem over the years. Sea piracy has increased this year. The creeks and the rivers have become a no-go area for meaningful businesses.

    “Unlike the roads that armed robbers will operate under fear that security agencies may catch up with them and run away, pirates rob for many hours unhindered on the waterways.

    “Our boats are stolen, drivers are killed and women are raped on a daily basis. We are tired. There is no day we are not attacked.”

    On the task force set up to curb insecurity on the waterways, Sese said: “You are asking people living in Abuja, who built mansions there and know nothing about the waterways, to come and secure the waterways. How can it work? We will withdraw our services to stop wasting the lives of innocent citizens. The former militants were appointed into the task force without maritime union officials.

    “These are the same people who have boys doing one thing or the other on the waterways and you want their boss to call them to order. It won’t work.”

  • Gunmen kidnap four dredging workers in Bayelsa

    Four dredging workers of a construction giant, Setraco, have been kidnapped.

    They were reportedly abducted at the creeks of Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the victims were whisked away at about 9pm on Saturday by the gunmen.

    They were said to working on the multi-million Naira Ogbia-Nembe road project when the gunmen struck.

    The kidnapped workers were identified as Caleb Agene, Otuke Magic Kingdom, Gabriel Oghene and Godwin Odukpong.

    The incident occurred few days after the State Government set up an 11-man security task force headed by a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Ebikabowei Victor-Ben.

    A security source said: “The dredging workers were reportedly seized and whisked away from their dredging base by the armed men who came in a speedboat”.

  • My encounter with Mr President

    My encounter with Mr President

    THE decision to recount my encounter with the president while he was governor of Bayelsa State is borne out of the compelling need to do a minor background check on him which may afford us the opportunity to juxtapose his behavioural pattern before he became president and his current style of administration.

    Like every other person, my travail in politics is fraught with  pieces of experience sometimes palatable and other times nauseating through the privilege of association with  people in positions of authority .But one thing stands out  which is the fact that I have had to hallow such privilledges by throwing in every thing in my possession humanly possible in other to sustain any political relationship regarding such to be a learning and sowing process  because sowing begets reaping.

    However, as a student of political behaviour I have found some experiences intriguing when analysed alongside  prevalent  political culture. One of such was my encounter with Governor Jonathan on whom providence had deposited the responsibility of piloting the affairs of Bayelsa State in the absence of  Alamiesiegha who was paying his political dues at the time. This opportunity came when Dr Alex Ekwueme with whom I was working took me and a few security details to Yenagoa on the occasion of a book launch specifically that of the chief judge of the state at that time .

    Quite frankly, during the period I worked with the former vice president,  I was opportuned to meet many important  people while  we  were regarded and treated as special guests at every  event or place we visited during which we flew  around in one of the presidential jets but in that very instance I did not know what awaited us until we got to the border line between Bayelsa and Rivers  states where a government delegation, including the chief judge whose book launch  had brought us to Bayelsa, was detailed by the governor to usher us into Bayelsa  from where we were escorted to the Government House into a warm reception by the governor and his wife who wasted no time in accommodating us at the presidential lodge  next to his modest lodge.

    To cut the story short, as we got in upstairs I noticed the full giant portrait of the former Governor Alamiesiegha in the sitting room and I pinched myself with the question is this not the picture of the wanted governor and  from that moment I began to experience the rare kind of humility exhibited by this gentleman politician  who left no stone unturned in making sure that his numerous guests which included governor and a team who were in the state on the official assignment to reconcile political squabbles of dissenting voices among the politicians in that state

    Ben Onyechere,