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Tag: Daniel Iworiso-Markson

  • Bayelsa launches new Yenagoa city project

    The Bayelsa State government will launch a new Yenagoa City project to control development at the capital city on August 7.

    The government also condemned the invasion of Azagbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area by the Army following the murder of two soldiers in the area.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Daniel Iworiso-Markson on Thursday said the decisions were taken at the 109th State Executive Council meeting.

    According to him, the launch would attract people from all walks of life, and Certificates of Occupancy (CofO) will be issued to persons already allocated plots of land in the new city.

    Iworiso-Markson said the government was doing everything within its reach to enable Bayelsans and friends of the state, who acquired plots in the highbrow area, develop their landed property with ease.

    He said: “One of the things we must bring to the fore regarding the launch of the New Yenagoa City is the fact that there will be controlled development. As much as possible, the city, as being envisaged, will compare favourably with any of its kind anywhere in the world, given the amenities that have been provided there already.

    Read Also: We’ll conduct free, fair election in Bayelsa, says INEC

    “An 18-hole Golf course; rebranded Castle Hotel and a Polo Club which is at its final stage of completion are all there. C of Os will also be issued for most of the plots that day; there are over a thousand plots there. This is another way of generating revenue for our state, but more importantly, we have created a GRA that we all will be proud of.”

    The commissioner also condemned the murder of soldiers by criminals at Azagbene, and the consequent sacking of the community by the military in a reprisal. He, however, called on leaders and the media to partner the government in sensitising the youths on the need to shun criminal activities in the interest of peace and development.

    “We all have our roles to play as religious leaders, community leaders, political or opinion leaders, and even youth leaders, by talking to our people because it is our people, the innocent ones, who suffer whenever such senseless actions happen. The Odi incident is still very fresh in our memory,” he added.

    The governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Chief Boma Spero-Jack, condemned the murder, but said the military should have adopted a professional means of seeking justice rather than sacking the community.

    According to him, the government has dispatched a committee to carry out an on-the-spot assessment on the destruction in Azagbene to provide some relief to the people.

  • Easter: Dickson preaches love, peace

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Sunday, called on Nigerians to continue to live together in love, peace and unity as they joined Christians, worldwide, in celebrating Easter..

    The governor, in his Easter message signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said those were the attributes Christ lived and died for.

    He said the attributes were also necessary ingredients for the development of any society and should never be traded for anything.

    According to him, the import of the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ should not be lost on anyone as it is not all about merrymaking but calls for sober reflection on why he choose to die.

    Read Also: Bayelsa 2019: Who will succeed Dickson?

    Dickson noted that the principal objective of the teaching of Jesus Christ is love and forgiveness, hence, His true followers must imbibe and propagate those qualities at all times, especially during Easter.

    “If we truly love ourselves, there will be no political killings, brigandage, banditry being experienced in some parts of the country.

    ” If there is genuine love among us, this country will be better for it” he said.

    Dickson restated his commitment to the security of lives and property as well as socio-economic development of the state, not minding the few months left in his tenure.

    On the coming governorship election, the governor  urged politicians to be mindful of their actions, insisting that Bayelsa should not be turned into another theatre of war because of the desperate ambition of a few.

    He called for continuous prayers for the government and the state, assuring that his administration was focused on finishing strong and conducting a peaceful and seamless transition period.

    NAN

     

  • Dickson lifts embargo on promotion of civil servants

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has given civil servants in the state a special gift ahead of workers’ day celebration following his decision to lift embargo on implementation of promotions in the service.

    Dickson directed immediate implementation and payment of pending promotion benefits and accumulated arrears to all workers.

    Speaking at a meeting with labour leaders in the state, Dickson also approved the spread of the payment to the end of the tenure of his administration.

    The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson who disclosed this said the governor further informed the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) of the decision of his government to conduct a special interview for the employment of teachers in the state.

    Read Also: Bayelsa 2019: Who will succeed Dickson?

    Iworiso-Markson explained that as a laudable initiative, local government councils would be encouraged to implement the decisions as regards their workers.

    Confirming the development to journalists after the meeting, the labour leaders thanked the governor for lifting the embargo and directing the implementation and payment of promotion arrears before the end of his tenure.

    They thanked the governor for the ongoing Labour House project and commended him for always consulting and engaging them before taking any decision affecting them in the state.

    The labour leaders described Dickson as the most labour-friendly governor who had engaged labour more than any other leader and always placed the welfare and wellbeing of workers as a top priority.

  • Dickson to Army: fish out killers of Govt House photographer

    The  Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Reginald Dei, who was allegedly killed by soldiers  during the last election at Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf Bayelsa State.

    Dickson who visited the family alongside other top officials of the government  called on the Nigerian Army to fish out the soldiers, who killed Dei and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seidougha Taribi.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor as having said that Dei and the PDP ward Chairman, Taribi, were brutally gunned down in their hometown, Oweikorogha, without any provocation by  killer soldiers during the February 23rd Presidential election.

    Dickson, who expressed sadness and pain over what he described as wrongful and willful death, assured the family that the state government would do everything within its reach to ensure that those who murdered the duo were brought to justice.

    The governor again called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state from using federal security agencies to harass, maim and kill innocent people under the guise of politics.

    He said: “The Federal Government under the APC leadership of President Buhari has turned this state to a theatre of war in every election season. We have managed to live with it since 2015.

    “Today, I am here to commiserate with the family of our late Government House Photographer, a young promising man, who is one of the victims of the Federal Government-backed aggression and terrorism in the guise of politics.

    “The Federal Government security forces are bent on allowing APC members to carry out all manner of criminal activities and go scot free. Even when they kill people, they set them free. There are a number of them but the security forces don’t even arrest them. Rather they protect them.

    “But on our part, we will do our best to ensure that those who did this, don’t go free. At least, we know the APC members who came with the soldiers and pointed Reginald and his brother out to the soldiers as the targets that should be eliminated in that community (Oweikorogha).

    READ ALSO: Iocs responsible for high infant mortality rate in Bayelsa says Dickson

    “I’ve called on and even formally written to the Nigerian Army Authorities to produce the soldiers who went on that assignment. We will also be interested in knowing on whose orders they were deployed, under whose command they operated and why they took the steps they did.

    “He pointed out that the evil trend which started since 2015 when he was seeking re-election had continued to play out in every electioneering season because of the Federal Government’s indifference towards addressing it.

    Responding to the bereaved family requests, Dickson said government would do its best in supporting them in addition to giving the deceased a befitting burial.

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, spokesman of the Dei family, Mr Temple Igonikeme expressed gratitude to the Governor for the visit and his efforts at trying to rescue their son.

    He, however, appealed to the state government to assist in taking care of Late Reginald Dei’s wife, Tina, five children and aged father, Chief Epiteiperekumo Dei who were all depending on him for survival.

    The Governor was accompanied in the visit by Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Konbowei Benson, a member of the House, Hon Monday Obolo-Bubou, the state PDP Chairman, Mr Moses Cleopas, and its Secretary, Mr Godspower Keku.

    Others are the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, his education counterpart, Hon Jonathan Obuebite, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Douyi Naingba.

  • We’ll complete N50bn bond repayment in June, says Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State Government has said it would complete repayment of the N50bn bond facility obtained by the former administration of Chief Timipre Sylva by June this year.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in Yenagoa that it was part of the major resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, the Commissioner noted that, when completed, funds currently being used to service the bond would be channelled towards finishing key ongoing projects in the state.

    Iworiso-Markson, who listed the priority projects to include the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, Yenagoa-Oporoma Road and Ayama/Ogbia-Okodi Road, said government had already worked out funding modalities in its bid to expedite work on the projects.

    According to the commissioner, the council reaffirmed the present administration’s resolve to bequeath legacies for successive governments to build on, for sustainable development of the state.

    He said: “We are determined as a government to finish well and strong. Going by the resolutions reached in Council, it is clear that this government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we deliver optimally to Bayelsans.

    READ ALSO: Why youths confronted police boss in Brass, by Sylva

    “Our resolve is that Bayelsans at the end of the day will judge this government by the footprint we’ve been able to establish. Everything we’ve done from day one to this moment is a testament to our resolve to leave lasting legacy that even successive governments will follow.”

    Expatiating on the funding modalities, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, noted the state government was expanding the “Contractor Infrastructure Development Finance Scheme,” a model which was used in financing other critical infrastructural projects in the state.

    Under the scheme, he said contractors were empowered to borrow funds from financial institutions to execute projects and present their certificates of work done for government to pay.

    Ebibai pointed out the model helped to check the issue of slow pace or outright abandonment in the execution of government projects.

    He said: “The Contractor Infrastructure Development Scheme is essentially to ensure that contractors have unhindered access to funds. Under the scheme, the state does not borrow but the contractors may borrow to execute government jobs so that the projects will not slow down or stop.

    “The state government only guarantees for payment for jobs already done.

    “It is some kind of public private partnership arrangement between the state, contractors and banks. In this scheme, we are considering projects that we cannot manage from our monthly cash flow.”

  • ‘Late Bayelsa photographer left four children behind’

    The Bayelsa State Government on Tuesday held the first monthly Transparency Briefing without the presence of the late popular photographer attached to the Government House,Reginald Dei.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, however, dedicated his opening remarks to mourn the gruesome murder of Dei by unknown soldiers during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    It was a moment of sober reflection as journalists observed the conspicuous absence of Dei, who until his untimely death was a regular smiling face at the Deputy Governor’s Conference Hall, the venue of most briefings.

    Iworiso-Markson, who was close to tears, said it was painful that the late photographer died of electoral violence and not of a natural cause.

    “I am completely devastated as I walked in here without noticing the presence of our photographer, Reginald Dei. It dawned on me that Dei would have been here if not for his untimely death in the hands of state actors and non-state actors during the last elections.

    “If Dei had died of a natural cause, we would have understood it but he was killed in electoral violence that occurred in Southern Ijaw orchestrated by state actors and the main opposition party”.

    READ ALSO: ‘Buratai should produce killers of photographer, PDP chief’

    The commissioner lamented that Dei left four children behind and wondered why people would just move on after such shocking tragedy that befell the state.

    “Now we have gathered again but we lost someone, who is supposed to be here with us,” he said and urged journalists to actively cover the proceedings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry established by Governor Seriak to probe electoral violence in the state.

    Iwe Dicksonoriso-Markson also urged media practitioners to show more sense of responsibility and responsiveness in fighting against the ills of society through their reports.

    In an emotion-laden voice, the Commissioner also mourned other victims of the onslaught allegedly perpetrated by military personnel in the last general elections.

    He stressed the need for journalists to demonstrate solidarity with their slain colleague by covering and effectively reporting proceedings of the commission.

    At the briefing, Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) explained the N107million increase in the state’s February wage bill, saying it was because of payment of salaries to the 1000 newly employed civil servants.

    Jonah (Retd) gave the explanation while reeling out financial figures for January and February 2019.

    He said the state government spent N2.82bn in the payment of civil servants salaries for last month as against N2.72bn in January.

    Jonah also explained the difference of N3.7bn in capital payments within the period was as a result of more work done on various ongoing capital projects in the state.

    He announced N2.7bn as capital payment for January and N6.4bn for February, noting payment for such projects were usually determined by the extent of work carried out on them.

    He said: “Yes, there is an increase or a difference between the capital expenditure of January and February 2019. If you put your mind to the number of projects we are doing, the difference is actually small money.

    “And for any person that has a fair knowledge of project management, you know that payments are done based on certificates presented to you on the extent of work carried out.

    “As you all know, we are working on the Ekeremor Road. And for the fact that we drove to Ekeremor, doesn’t mean we’ve paid to that extent.

    “We are also on the Central Senatorial Road going to Oporoma. We are also trying to complete the Onopa Bridge.

    “All these are outstanding jobs that we regularly pay. But you don’t expect the work rate to be the same every month. So is the amount paid. It doesn’t follow any linear arrangement.”

    Jonah, who acknowledged the receipt of N16.11bn from the Paris Club Refund between January and March, said out of the amount N1.25bn was released to local government councils.

    He disclosed the state had a gross inflow of N12.3bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for January while that of last month stood at N13.2bn.

    The deputy governor however explained that Net FAAC inflow dipped to N10.7billion for January as against N11.6billion in February after first line FAAC deductions of N1.54bn were made for each month.

    He also announced N968million as internally generated revenue (IGR) for December 2018 while that of January this year was put at N1.09billion.

  • ‘Only PDP candidates can attract development to Bayelsa’

    Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) on Tuesday told the people of Brass Local Government Area to elect candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to attract development to their area.

    Jonah insisted that only the candidates of the PDP had the experience and qualifications to develop the council.

    Jonah, who led members of the PDP to some communities in Brass, part of the East Senatorial District of the state Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said there was a need to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The deputy governor, who spoke on the achievements of the PDP-led government in the state said the party put forward persons known with the track records of performance.

    He described the elections as critical for the sustainance of the legacies of the Restoration Government.

    He enjoined the people not to fall for the antics of those who failed to bring development to them when they had the opportunity to do so.

    He stressed that the PDP was the only credible party with a plan to solve the current economic hardship, insecurity and gross underdevelopment in the country.

    Read Also: Bayelsa receives N10.7bn January allocation

    He noted that no party could rival the good work of the PDP saying that if elected, the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other candidates would truly make Nigeria to work again.

    On his part, the Director-General of the Bayelsa East Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite thanked the people for their support for the Dickson-led administration and the PDP in the state.

    Obuebite, who is also the Commissioner for Education said the people had always stood by the party and expressed optimism that they would do so on February 16 and March 2.

    The communities visited were Akassa, Liama, Egwema and Beletieama.

    Some of those on the campaign train were, Mrs. Remi Kuku,  Victor Sam-Ateki,  Victor Isaiah, Bello Bina, members of the State House of Assembly from the area and their State Executive Council counterpart, among others.

  • Dickson’s bridge projects excite Jonathan’s kinsmen

    The people of Opume community in Ogbia, the Local Government Area of former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday commended Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson for bridge projects in their area.

    The people were excited that the projects, which would soon be inaugurated, would provide needed linkages between them and other communities.

    They were happy that Dickson and his administration gave attention to such projects in their community and promised to support the governor.

    The commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who hails from the community, said the bridges were in a sorry state for over 20 years.

    But he said the governor out of his love for Ogbia constructed them to ease the movement of motorists and pedestrians. 

     The commissioner urged the people to continue to support the Restoration Government of governor Dickson.

    Iworiso-Markson, while inspecting the projects, said with greater support, the government would do more for the people before the end of its tenure in 2020.

    He praised Governor Dickson for the project and thanked him for his love for Ogbia people which he said was responsible for the numerous project he executed in the area.

    Read Also: Dickson, Clark warn against politicising security

    The commissioner said he took a tour of the project ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities which would see an influx of people to the community. 

    He said: “I came here to see for myself what I have been hearing and I am really impressed. This government has constructed a project that previous administrations couldn’t.

    “This once again underscores the love Governor Dickson has for Ogbia people. This bridge will no doubt improve economic activities and also boost the social life of the people”.

  • Bayelsa receives report of 2015 electoral violence

    Vows to punish perpetrators

     

    The Bayelsa State Executive Council on Friday vowed to ensure that sponsors and perpetrators of the 2015 electoral violence in the state faced the full weight of the law.

    The council at its 100 meetings presided over by Governor Seriake Dickson, said it took the decision following the submission of the report by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the 2015 general elections.

    The council said the mayhem would not be overlooked and called for the white paper on the report to enforce required steps to punish all persons found culpable.

    Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara said the council took time to deliberate on the issue because of its importance.

    He said it was also imperative following elections saying the government was committed to protecting the lives of the people and preventing avoidable deaths that characterized the last elections.

    He said: “We want to underscore the fact that Bayelsa is a state of law and order. The Restoration Government believes in upholding law and order. And so we will not condone any action that will bring violence on our people in the name of seeking for elective offices. We take the lives of our people very serious and we must do all that we can to protect them”.

    Read Also: ‘Security worsening in Bayelsa’

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said it was the duty of the government to protect the lives of the people at all times.

    He said that persons, who feel they could get into power through killings would not go scot-free, stressing that they must pay for the consequences of their action.

    Iworiso-Markson said: “Today council looked at the electoral violence of 2015. The general elections, leading up to the governorship election based on the report of the commission of inquiry. So it was resolved that the white paper on it should be produced.

    “We want those who are engaged in electoral violence to know that there is punishment for their actions. This government cannot fold her hands and allow those who took part in the violence of 2015 to go unpunished. We owe our people a duty to protect them.

    “As we speak, a number of families are still mourning the death of their loved ones, some people are still nursing their injuries arising from the 2015 election. We must not allow a repeat of that. We want politicans to go about their electoral activities with utmost decorum. We want to avoid bloodshed in the coming elections”.

    Iworiso-Markson also urged the media to work with the government ahead of the elections next year to effectively carry out the campaign against electoral violence.

  • N80bn Bayelsa airport project outrageous – Bayelsa APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa says the ‘astronomical’ rise in cost of the Bayelsa Cargo Airport from N40 to N80 billion is worrisome and a waste of public funds.

    The APC said that the reaction of Bayelsa Government to its allegation on the project was a failed attempt to divert attention from obvious lack of fiscal discipline and prudence by the state government.

    The party said that “serious issues of accountability, due process and democratic governance” raised in its Nov. 15 statement regarding the airport project was never addressed.

    Mr Doifie Buokoribo, the APC Publicity Secretary in Bayelsa, said in a statement in Yenagoa on Monday that the state government had carefully avoided the critical concerns raised by the party.

    The party said that by the diversionary response, the Dickson government had only confirmed the allegation, stressing that “Governor Dickson is guilty as charged.”

    The APC had criticized the Bayelsa Government for borrowing from the money market at the current high interest rate and described it as a ploy to siphon public funds.

    It alleged that the high interest of N62 billion to be paid on the N80 billion loan would stifle the state of funds through the monthly repayment obligations in the next eight years.

    It said that the project lacked vital inter-modal network for easy accessibility.

    The APC said that the N80 billion project was inflated and described it as “clearly the most expensive airport project in Nigeria.”

    Buokoribo said that Bayelsa Government’s response was silent on the economic viability of funding such a capital intensive project from the money market at huge interest rates.

    “The Bayelsa State Government’s reaction to our statement of Nov. 15, 2018, on the Bayelsa Airport scam did not address any of the issues we raised. This is unfortunate, but understandable.

    “Unfortunate because the government is attempting to divert the attention of the Bayelsa populace from the serious issues of accountability, due process and democratic governance.

    Read Also: CONTROVERSY DOGS MULTI-BILLION NAIRA Minna City Centre project

    “These concerns underscore our party’s intervention. We said the airport project is a fraud. We said at more than N80 billion, it is grossly inflated.

    “We said the airport project is a deliberate cover by Gov. Seriake Dickson to launder state’s funds. We have no reason whatsoever to change our well thought-out position.

    “Rather than address the concerns we raised, Gov. Dickson, through his Information Commissioner, chose to abuse our party and its leaders.

    “The APC is a party of serious-minded people. We are not in competition with anyone as to who will emerge best in exchange of insults and abuse. We are focused on a better life for all the people of Bayelsa State,” he said.

    Bayelsa Commissioner for Information, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, had during an inspection tour of the airport in August, put the cost at N90 billon.

    In his reaction, Iworiso-Markson said the past administration in the state failed to give the people the desperately needed international airport between 2007 and 2011.

    Iworiso-Markson said that the Gov. Timipriye Syla-led administration (now in APC) failed to build an airport in spite of the huge resources at the disposal of his administration.

    According to him, the past administration used what should have been a laudable idea of an airport project to milk the state and siphoned billions of naira into private pockets.

    The commissioner challenged the APC to tell Bayelsa people and Nigerians what the former governor did with N300 billion agriculture loan the state took from the World Bank.

    According to him, the past administration also frittered away the N3 billion Millennium Development Goal (MDG) funds made available to the state and foisted a bond obligation of N125 billion on the state.

    NAN