The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dickson

  • Dickson to police, Senator Misau: stop fighting

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday lamented the prolonged feud between the police and Senator Isa Misau over allegations of corruption.

    Dickson said the allegations were unhealthy and antithetical to the image of the senator and the police.

    The governor spoke on resumption of duty after his vacation.

    Misau, who chairms the Senate Committee on Navy, alleged the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, received gratification from corporate organisations in exchange for security.

    The police responded by declaring the senator a deserter for leaving the force to contest an election without following due process or getting the right permission.

    But Dickson expressed concern at the controversy, which he said could ridicule public institutions by portraying the senate and the police in bad light.

    Describing the two institutions as critical and sacred, the governor insisted that such crisis of confidence could undermine the police and the Senate.

    While calling on Misau to withdraw his allegations, the governor also asked the police to refrain from making further statements on the matter or taking further action against the senator.

  • Stop reappointment of caretaker chairmen, NULGE urges Dickson

    Stop reappointment of caretaker chairmen, NULGE urges Dickson

    The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Bayelsa State yesterday appealed to Governor Seriake Dickson not to reconstitute the dissolved caretaker committees for council administrations.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the state Chairman NULGE, Mr. Akpos Ekiegha, said the cost of maintaining the caretaker chairmen and the system was one of the reasons why council workers were owed arrears of salaries.

    Ekiegha asked Dickson to allow Heads of the councils to function as acting chairmen for at least eight months to enable them offset the arrears owed workers in their various councils.

    He said:  “If the Heads of LGAs are allowed to run the system as Acting Chairmen, believe you me, there will be nothing like salary arrears.”

    He cited Cross River and Delta states as examples of state running the same system.

    “If civil servants are allowed to man the system, they know their boundaries, they cannot ask for a security vote of N20m but the caretaker chairman will ask for a security vote of between N20m and N40m.

    “They (caretaker chairmen) would say there is security problem in so, so community.

    “Therefore, they will say they need N100m to go and solve the problem, but we, as civil servants, have a limit.

    “Our main focus is to pay our workers’ salaries and if any money is left, it will be intact.”

    Ekeigha said backlog of salaries had reduced to only four- and- a half months within the short period the caretaker committees were dissolved with some improvement in federal allocations.

    He further urged Dickson to fulfill his promise of taking over payment of primary school staff salaries from local government to enable teachers receive their wages regularly.

    He said nonpayment of the primary school staff by the state government was part of the reasons the council workers were currently on strike.

    Ekiegha also debunked speculation that the state government was interfering with local government funds.

  • Dickson urges motorists on rules

    Dickson urges motorists on rules

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has advised motorists to adhere to traffic rules and signs, to prevent accidents.

    He was presenting certificates to 26 indigenous students from the Ministry of Transport in Yenagoa.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the graduates are the first batch of drivers, who completed training from the Ministry of Transport.

    Dickson urged the graduates to be of good conduct  by showing that have passed through a driving school.

    Represented by his deputy, Rear Adm. Gboribiogha John-Jonah (retd.), the governor hailed the drivers for their commitment.

    “To learn driving is different from driving a car. I drove a car before going to driving school. So when I started, I saw it was a different thing all together.

    “It is beyond entering a car and start driving. It was when I went to driving school that I knew it was God, who saved me from accidents.

    “Accident occurs because many of us do not adhere to traffic rules and signs while driving,” he said.

    Dickson promised to provide vehicles and equipment for the school, to admit more people for the next training.

    He said the training would reduce accidents and make the society a better place.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mr. Ere Efeke, praised the government for establishing the school.

    He urged it to make it mandatory for every road user to pass through driving school.

  • Dickson goes on vacation

    Dickson goes on vacation

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, yesterday, began his annual vacation.

    A statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the governor decided to rest after a busy schedule.

    “The governor is expected to use the period of his vacation to rest, after a busy schedule both within and outside the state, especially his role as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Reconciliation Committee, among others”, the statement said.

    The statement quoted the governor as calling on Bayelsans to remain steadfast in their prayers and support for programmes and policies of his administration.

    He called for sustenance of the peace and stability in the state to allow various development projects progress unhindered.

    The governor stressed that the administration remains focus on its agenda to develop the state.

    But the statement was silent on resumption date of the governor and where he will be spending his vacation.

  • Dickson condemns attack on military personnel

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson at the weekend condemned attacks on some military personnel in Obogbagbene, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State by suspected militants.

    The governor described the attack that led to loss of lives as cowardly and unwarranted, demanding thorough investigations to unmask the identities of the suspects and their suspects.

    According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Dickson spoke when he announced the donation of patrol vehicles to the state-owned security outfit, “Operation Doo Akpo”.

    Dickson said: “Our government condemns any unwarranted attack on any uniformed officer. We condemn it in its totality. There is no justification for that.

    “I want to call for proper investigation and call for support so that we identify and isolate and apprehend and deal with those kinds of cowardly criminals. I want to thank you all for what you are doing and I want to say that, to whom much is given, much is also expected.”

    The governor, who addressed operatives of the security outfit during a ‘Show of Force’ in Yenagoa, urged them to intensify efforts at flushing out criminals in the state.

    He said the demonstration was to warn criminals about the commitment of his government to sustain the peace in the state.

     

  • Dickson, Wike caution as PDP plans convention

    Dickson, Wike caution as PDP plans convention

    As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) begins the process that will lead to its elective convention, two of its governors have given tips on the way forward.

    The party last week regained its voice after the Supreme Court restored Ahmed Makarfi’s leadership.

    Between today and tomorrow in Abuja, the party will hold its enlarged caucus meeting and the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where decisions on the convention is expected to be taken.

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson called for a true reconciliation. His Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike urged vigilance during reconciliation.

    In a statement at the weekend, Dickson urged sacked chairman Ali Modu Sheriff to support Makarfi.

    He said true reconciliation and a national unity convention would build confidence in the party and “endear Nigerians to PDP and persuade those who had defected from our great party to return to PDP ahead of 2019.’’

    Dickson said the judiciary only adjudicates on matters but never reconciles contending parties.

    “Now that the Supreme Court has delivered the much expected judgment, the PDP must now reconcile and truly put its house in order to effectively play its role as the leading opposition party in Nigeria”, he said.

    The governor added: ‘‘I call on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his supporters and all contending parties in our great party, PDP to respect the verdict of the Supreme Court as the final arbiter.

    “Without such support, genuine reconciliation cannot take place; without such support, the Caretaker Committee will have a herculean task organizing an acceptable convention, without genuine reconciliation, the party cannot move forward.’’

    Wike, speaking at an inter-denominational thanksgiving service, said the Supreme Court judgment saved Nigeria.

    “While we are reconciling, we must be vigilant. Nobody will take me unawares. Satan will never sleep. Satan will always find ways to cause havoc.  Sheriff  is an agent of the APC.  Woe betides any person who is a mole of the deadly party.”

    He said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  after winning elections have resorted to excuses and blame game instead of fulfilling  the promises they made  to Nigerians.

    “Two years after the mandate what is the situation? Excuses and blames without delivery. Look at how individuals took it upon themselves to destroy the party that gave them life.

    “PDP is the only party that is a household name in Nigeria.  There is no unit in the country without  a member of the PDP”.

    The governor said Rivers State  must get  return on its contributions  to the PDP.

    “As we help you, you help us. If you don’t help us, we won’t help  you. All of us must rise from our unit, ward and local government area to mobilise people”.

    He added: “God saved PDP because of Rivers State.  We don’t have plan B. Every other state had plan B. Our enemies will be put to shame from time to time. Rivers State is the strongest PDP state.”

    The thanksgiving service attracted PDP leaders from the 23 local government areas.

  • Why I chose Gowon to inaugurate Ijaw Academy-Dickson

    Why I chose Gowon to inaugurate Ijaw Academy-Dickson

    Governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson at the weekend explained why he chose a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gown (retd) to inaugurate the Ijaw National Academy (NIA), a free boarding secondary school his administration recently completed

    Dickson said Gowon was chosen to challenge and motivate the over 1000 boarding students of the academy following his sterling leadership qualities as a young man.

    Gowon and his wife, Victoria, spent two days in Bayelsa to inaugurate the NIA and the world-class ‘iconic’ Governor’s Office described by most of the guests as the best governor’s office in the country.

    The former Head of State also laid wreath at the tomb of the late Ijaw martyr, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, in the Heroes’ Park, Yenagoa.

    The governor said having studied the background of Gowon and how he steered the ship of a country in crisis at just 32, he decided to bring him to Bayelsa to interface with the children.

    Dickson indicated former President Goodluck Jonathan and other past presidents of Nigeria would also have their days with the students at the appropriate time.

    He described Jonathan as a lover of education saying that he had discussed the issue of the academy with him.

    Dickson spoke at “a day with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ijaw literary icons”, which took place at NIA Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area.

    The governor, as part of his efforts to motivate the students of NIA, one of the 15 boarding secondary schools built by his administration, brought Soyinka and other celebrated Ijaw literary giants to speak to them.

    Notable Ijaw icons, who attended the programme, are Prof. John Pepper Clark; 96-year-old Dr. Gabriel Okara said to be the oldest poet in Africa and a foremost historian, Prof. Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa.

    At the event, which witnessed performances of poems written by Soyinka, Clark and Okara, Dickson said: “I know I have asked a number of dignitaries before now to come and don’t be tired because many more dignitaries will continue to come. Literary icons are here today.

    “A foremost Head of State at a tender age of 32 managing a country in crisis was here and I chose him specifically to come and commission this to show young people what they can do if they have guidance and support.”

    He told the students that great men like Soyinka and other literary icons paid no attention to mundane things like birthdays and dressing but preferred living simply and profoundly.

    He said the reason his administration had so far spent over N55bn on education to groom a new generation of servants and leaders with the ability to stand up for “what is right and fair”.

    Addressing the students, he added: “Today, you have some of those who help to mould our minds.

    “When I was your age, we read their works and got inspired. So they are here to talk to you to expand your horizon.

    “If I have any charge to you at all is to ask you to fly as high as you possibly can, soar as high as your dreams can take you and conquer the world because you can do it. You are children of the world.”

     

  • Why I chose Gowon to inaugurate Ijaw Academy – Dickson

    Why I chose Gowon to inaugurate Ijaw Academy – Dickson

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, explained at the weekend why he chose a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gown (retd), to inaugurate the Ijaw National Academy (NIA), a free boarding secondary school his administration recently completed in the state.

    Dickson said Gowon was chosen to challenge and motivate the over 1,000 boarding students of the academy following his sterling leadership qualities as a young man.

    Gowon and his wife, Victoria, spent two days in Bayelsa to inaugurate the NIA and the world-class Governor’s Office described by most of the guests as the best governor’s office in the country.

    The former head of state also used the opportunity to lay wreath at the tomb of the late Ijaw martyr, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, in the Heroes’ Park, Yenagoa.

    The governor said having studied the background of Gowon and how he steered the ship of a country in crisis at the tender age of 32, he decided to bring the former head of state to Bayelsa to interface with the children.

    Dickson hinted that former President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from Bayelsa, and other past presidents of Nigeria would also have their days with the students at the appropriate time.

    He described Jonathan as a lover of education, saying he had discussed the issue of the academy with him.

    Dickson gave the reasons at an event titled: “A day with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ijaw literary icons,” held at INA Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma local government area of the state.

    He said: “I know I have asked a number of dignitaries before now to come and don’t be tired because many more dignitaries will continue to come. Literary icons are here today.

    “A foremost political leader, head of state of our country at a tender age of 32, managing a country in crisis, was here and I chose him specifically to come and commission this to show young people what they can do if they have guidance and support.

    “We will have many more dignitaries. Business leaders will come, ambassadors will be here and any visitor of note that visits me I will request an opportunity to interface with you and many more of our leaders will come.

    “Former presidents will be here and you know in this great state we also have a former President too. He too loves education, I know that and we have discussed it and at the appropriate time, all of them one by one will be here to interface with you.”

     

     

  • Nigeria is negotiable, say Soyinka, Dickson, others

    Nigeria is negotiable, say Soyinka, Dickson, others

    Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson and other notable literary icons said on Friday that Nigeria is negotiable.

    They all agreed that the country should not break up but could be renegotiated to decentralize power and give states more effective and efficient control of their resources.

    In a workshop titled: “A day with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ijaw literary icons,” held at the Ijaw National Academy (INA), Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State, they affirmed that the people should negotiate many knotty developmental issues bugging down the country.

    Dickson, as part of his efforts to challenge and motivate the students of NIA, one of the 15 boarding secondary schools built by his administration, brought Soyinka and other celebrated Ijaw literary giants to speak to the students.

    Notable Ijaw icons, who attended the programme, are Prof. John Pepper Clark, 96-year-old Dr. Gabriel Okara, said to be the oldest poet in Africa and a foremost historian, Prof. Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa.

    The event, which witnessed performances of poems written by Soyinka, Clark and Okara, was also attended by the Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), Dickson’s wife, Rachel, lawmakers, traditional rulers, cabinet members and celebrated authors, under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

    Responding to questions on agitations in the country, Soyinka, said people are mixing up and confusing the argument, adding that some politicians are sounding hypocritical, dogmatic and dictatorial each time they say Nigerian unity is not negotiable.

    He said: “That for me is a falsity. Anything is negotiable. The right of people to determine their future is what is non-negotiable. Most nations came to be through negotiation.

    “Sometimes, when people say negotiate, what they really mean is restructure. What the question should be is, should Nigeria break-up? An answer to that is no. But, please don’t tell me that the Nigeria as it stands is non-negotiable.

    “For me it is a fallacy. The nation has got to be negotiated. Negotiation includes ensuring that there is no marginalisation. Negotiation has to do with control of resources.

    “Negotiation has to do with restructuring the nation in a way in which the components are not feeding an over-bloated centre to the detriment of their own development.

    “So, Nigeria is negotiable. But the language we should use is what are you willing to sacrifice, what effort are you willing to make to ensure that Nigeria remains intact? That is a citizen question.”

    Also responding to the question, Dickson aligned himself with Soyinka’s submissions and asked his people to feel free without fear of intimidation to interrogate every notion.

    He said the Niger Delta region had funded the Nigerian project for over 61 years, insisting that staying together as one Nigeria is desirable.

    Dickson said: “I believe that if you ask the question whether Nigeria should continue to exist as a united country, the answer you will get from the majority is yes. I believe that the continuous existence of our nation as an indivisible entity is desirable.

    “There is a very strong case to make for that. After all you and I, our people have been funding the Nigerian experiment for the last 61 years. From your backyards, they carve out portions of land and call it in Abuja and Lagos and other capitals of the world, they call it oil blocks.”

  • Gowon urges Ijaw to work for Nigeria’s unity

    Gowon urges Ijaw to work for Nigeria’s unity

    A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), on Thursday hailed the Ijaw for their contributions to the growth and development of the country.

    He also urged them to continue working for Nigeria’s unity.

    Gowon said some Ijaw people and leaders made sacrifices to keep the country as one and appealed to them not to give up in strengthening the unity of Nigeria.

    Speaking in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State, shortly after inaugurating the Ijaw National Academy, one of the 15 boarding schools built by the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, the former head of state commended the governor’s strides in education.

    He said: “Ijaw has contributed so much for the unity of this country. You have been making contributions to keep Nigeria as one and this is what I want you to continue to do.”

    Gowon and his wife, Victoria, spent two days in the state to inaugurate some of the key projects initiated and completed by Dickson’s administration.

    The former head of state earlier inaugurated a world-class ‘iconic’ Governor’s Office described by most of the guests as the best governor’s office in the country.

    While interacting with the students of the academy, Gowon asked other leaders to understudy the institution and replicate it in their domains.

    At the occasion, which was attended by two literary icons, Prof. J.P Clark and Dr. Gabriel Okara, Gowon said every Nigerian in Ijaw land must be treated equally and appealed to the governor to invite his colleagues to tour the academy.