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Tag: Chief Thompson Okorotie

  • APC has no structure to win in Bayelsa, says Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has taunted the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying the party lacked required structures to win the November 2nd governorship election in the state.

    Dickson, who spoke during the expanded State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s Secretariat in Yenagoa said the state APC could only rely on federal might and security agencies in the election.

    The meeting had in attendance Chief Thompson Okorotie, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Chief (Mrs) Remi Kuku, Douye Diri, Senator- elect Bayelsa  Central Senatorial District; Fred Agbedi, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal constituency, members of the State House of Assembly, wards and local government chairmen  and host of others

    At the meeting, the PDP called on its members to shun any act capable of robbing the party of victory in the coming election describing the pending poll as isolated. 

    The party frowned on the activities of some of its members during the previous elections and cautioned against the repeat of such ignoble act.

    The SEC during the meeting also ratified the reports of the disciplinary committee set up to review the activities of some of its members during the last general elections.

    But a statement on Tuesday by the Director of Strategic Communication, Governor’s office, Chief Nathan Egba Ologo quoted the governor as deriding the state chapter of the APC.

    Dickson said the APC’s reliance on federal might and security agencies would fail them and warned PDP members against anti-party activities.

    He said that for Bayelsa to maintain its position as a stronghold of PDP there was a need for members to put aside their differences and work for the success of the party in the coming election.

    Dickson insisted that in the coming election, the PDP would be contending against federal might. 

    He said: “There are two systems that will clash again in this governorship election. They are the state system which I lead with our teaming supporters and the Federal system that will be deployed in this election. As a result, the old way of playing politics must change.

    “Bayelsa is a stronghold of PDP. We are going to prove that again with our voters cards in the forthcoming Governorship election. We cannot be intimidated by heavy presence of security operatives and political thugs. They had failed in the past. They will fail again this time around”.

    Dickson, who commended the activities of some of the party faithful during the last general elections, said their efforts would be adequately rewarded.

    He said appointments would be made at the grassroots level as a way of rewarding persons, who worked for the party’s success.

    He promised to constitute chairmen and members of the 32 Rural Development Authorities in the state.

    “We have been running our state as one and I hope people coming after us will work together in peace. I appreciate everybody’s contribution. We together created a new Bayelsa and a new leadership style so that we can bring stability and development”, he said.

    The governor expressed appreciation to party leaders and members for their unwavering dedication and support to his leadership and the party.

    In his remarks, the State PDP Chairman, Mr. Moses Cleopas stressed that discipline was key in restoring order in any organization desirous of advancing its cause.

    Cleopas applauded Governor Dickson for displaying uncommon courage in uniting the party at the state and national levels and called on members to sink their differences and work harder for the success of the party.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (Retd), lauded the efforts of the Dickson at uniting the party at the state and national levels and underscored the need for the members to remain resolute in their quest to deliver the state in the coming election.

    “Dickson has performed brilliantly in repositioning the economy of the state, as the state now ranks among the growing economies in the country”, he said.

    He added that for the present administration to finish strong, Dickson needed the support of all and sundry, irrespective of the political divides.

    In his contribution, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson said he would seek legal redress in retrieving his stolen mandate at the last general election and solicited support from the party.

  • PDP’s BoT meeting in Bayelsa sparks row

    PDP’s BoT meeting in Bayelsa sparks row

    It was meant to bring peace. But a meeting by the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  in Bayelsa State to reconcile feuding groups ahead of the December 5 governorship election has provoked more controversies.

    The Acting Chairman of the party’s BoT, Dr. Haliru Mohammed, it was gathered, presided over the parley which was convened on Sunday at the courtyard of the former President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area.

    It was gathered that the meeting was at the behest of Jonathan, who was said to be making efforts to halt the exodus of his party men to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    A core decision taken at the gathering, it was learnt, was the lifting of the suspension and expulsion of party leaders by the State Working Committee (SWC).

    The SWC, in a move supported by the Governor Seriake Dickson, expelled for anti-party activities during the last general elections.

    They were sanctioned a few months after the state chairman of the party was suspended for allegedly diverting N40million campaign funds donated by the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke – an allegation he denied.

    But the move backfired and led to a prolonged crisis that saw some disgruntled people pitching their tent with the APC.

    The Saturday meeting, which started at 11am, however, ended with anti-Dickson forces claiming that the governor and the chairman of the state Reconciliation Committee were barred from the gathering.

    One of the anti-Dickson party members said the meeting, insisted that Dickson and Alameiyesiegha should not be part of it.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The two were asked to leave and were accompanied out of the venue by Haliru before the meeting commenced. They accused Alamieseigha of taking sides and insisted that he should not be party of the gathering.

    But a loyalist of the governor who spoke in confidence said nobody was walked out of the meeting.

    He said: “This is part of a campaign of calumny against Dickson. I was present at the meeting and nobody was walked out. It is senseless to say that a sitting governor who also initiated the reconciliation and a former governor who is the chairman of the reconciliation committee were barred from attending a meeting. It is unbelievable. Nothing of such happened”.

    Also, the Secretary of the state Reconciliation Committee, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said there was no time the governor or any member of the party was walked out of the meeting.

    He said the Haliru-led committee met with groups separately as part of diplomacy in resolving the crisis.

    “Dickson had an engagement to inaugurate the Nembe City stadium. So after concluding his meeting with the committee, he was allowed to go for his engagement with his entourage. We also followed him to Nembe.

    “Alamieyeseigha followed us to Nembe. Even the former President left shortly because the committee wanted to be left alone with the people they invited to meet. So, it is not true that he was walked out of the meeting,” he said.

    Also, the state Secertary of PDP, Mr.  Godspower Keku, said the meeting ended peacefully, with a call on feuding members and stakeholders to close ranks, ahead of the forthcoming governorship poll.

    He said the meeting resolved to rescind the suspension and expulsion of some members, who had despite the internal squabbles, remained in the PDP, unlike those, who defected to the opposition.

    He said the decision was taken in the best interest of the party, especially with a crucial election around the corner.

    According to him, the decision was taken on Dickson’s request.

     He, however, pointed out that, the lifting of the suspensions was still subject to the ratification of the state’s working committee, which is expected to deliberate on it soon.

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  • Bayelsa elders to Jonathan: Declare for second term now

    Bayelsa elders to Jonathan: Declare for second term now

    Elders and frontline politicians in Bayelsa State on Thursday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to seek reelection in 2015.

    The elders comprising former and present political office holders, henchmen of the Peoples Democratic Party and industrialists advised Jonathan to stop wasting time in declaring for a second term.

    Rising from their meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, the elders under the aegis of Bayelsa Development Forum (BDF) said Jonathan should extend his Presidency to enable him complete his transformation agenda.

    The elders who attended the meeting were BDF Chairman, Chief Thompson Okorotie; Secretary and former Speaker of the old Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Talford Ongolo and former political adviser, George Fente.

    Others are Chief Claudius Enegesi, Chief Lionel Jonathan-Omu, Charles Dorgu, Chief Banton Akpuruku, Mr. Bolous Indiamaowei, Senator Inatimi Spiff, Mr. Fyneman Wilson, Chief Douye Naingba and Chief Alex Ekiottene among others.

    Okorotie, who addressed the maiden press conference of BDF, said President Jonathan had achieved unprecedented landmark despite security challenges in the country.

    He mentioned electricity, agriculture, rail transportation, housing and airport remodeling as sectors where Jonathan had left his footprints.

    He also praised the commitment of the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson to the development of different sectors of the economy.

    He said Dickson’s administration had shown uncommon passion to develop the state.

    “BDF observed that Bayelsa State has experienced stagnation and very slow pace of development over the years to the chagrin of the people.

    “We believe the time is ripe for our state to catch up with the rest of our country and even go beyond and excel,” he said.

     

  • ‘Jonathan hasn’t failed in war against terror’

    Kinsman of President Goodluck Jonathan and Convener, South-South Coalition for Goodluck 2015, Chief Thompson Okorotie, on Tuesday said the Boko Haram insurgency has not overwhelmed the President.

    Okorotie, a former Political Adviser in Bayelsa State, said it was unfair for some persons to label his kinsman a failure following surprised bloody attacks by Boko Haram.

    He said the President has successfully prosecuted the military campaign against terrorism.

    For instance, he said Jonathan had done better in the war than the former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He claimed that the terrorist group operated in 12 states of the north during Obasanjo’s administration.

    But he said the terrorist group under Jonathan’s administration only operates mainly in the north-east.

    “Apart from that, the Boko Haram members are on the run. We must also remember that what the administration is contending with is international terrorism and Boko Haram has been appropriately classified as an international terrorist group,” he said.

    He said the President should be commended for seeking international assistance to solve the problem.

    Okorotie said the multi-national Joint Task Force (JTF) constituted to deal with terrorism was already solving the border issues strengthening Boko Haram operations.

    He insisted that Boko Haram was a contraption by the enemies of Jonathan to stop him from getting a second term in 2015.

     

     

  • Jonathan must seek re-election in 2015 – South-South

    Jonathan must seek re-election in 2015 – South-South

    Prominent politicians, elders and patriots form the South-South geopolitical zone on Thursday insisted that President Goodluck Jonathan must offer himself for re-election in 2015.

    Drawn from Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Cross River States, the elders inaugurated the South-South Coalition for Goodluck 2015 (SSCG) in Yenagoa, and declared that Jonathan was qualified to run.

    The group consisting of chiefs from various communities, former commissioners, erstwhile local government chairmen and retired military officers asked the President to declare his re-election bid without further delay.

    It was gathered that Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Jonathan’s kinsman from Bayelsa State, is one of the financiers of the group.

    The Nation learnt that persons planning the campaign of the President intended to use the group as a frontline mobiliser of support within the zone for Jonathan’s re-election.

    Other persons behind the formation of the group are – Chief Thompson Okorotie, Chief R. Arimogha, Dr. Elder Dickson, Chief Josephine Ezonbodor, Major Andrew Oputa (rtd) and Chief Felicia Tawari.

    The Convener of the group, an elder statesman and former political adviser in Bayelsa, Chief Okorotie, addressed the group delegates and said the zone must support President Jonathan.

    He claimed that the achievements of Jonathan were “too well known and too numerous to recount.”

    He, however, highlighted power, agriculture and education as sectors where the President had performed very well.

    Okorotie known as one of the kingmakers in Bayelsa, said it was not true that the President had failed in fighting the security challenges especially the Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

    “The Jonathan administration has not failed in this direction. We need to remind ourselves in Nigeria that during former President Obasanjo’s tenure, Boko Haram insurgents were operating in 12 states of the north.

    “Today, they are not only restricted to three states in the North-East, the international terrorists are on the run,” he said.