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  • Sylva, Dickson clash over alleged plot to rig election

    Sylva, Dickson clash over alleged plot to rig election

    The main rival parties in the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tuesday, accused each other of planning to rig the poll.

    Bayelsa State Governor and candidate of the PDP, Mr. Seriake Dickson, alleged that there was a plan by the APC to rig the election.

    Speaking through the Publicity Director of his campaign outfit, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, Dickson accused the APC leadership of making efforts to infiltrate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said: “We have unearthed plan to compromise the INEC, Bayelsa office, to give authentic result sheets to APC leadership during the election, which will then be used to rig the election.

    “As we are talking, they are not relenting in the criminal proposition to manipulate some officials of the commission at the national headquarters and in Bayelsa towards actualising their evil plan to rig the election by all means.”

    The governor claimed that the APC had sewn both police and army uniforms for thugs to enable them hijack materials.

    But the APC candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, through the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO) said the allegations raised by Obuebite were not only laughable but false and unfounded.

    Sylva through a statement by SICO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba, said it was shocking that the PDP quickly turned around to raise allegations the APC had earlier put forward to the security agencies to investigate against the Dickson-led government.

    He said: “There is of course no truth in the allegation that our party is planning to rig the election in connivance with the use of the security agencies and other institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This is the thinking of a sinking ship and a loser.

    “Our reaction to what the PDP has said is very simple. Every single thing they are alleging against the APC is precisely what the campaign organisation of the PDP is doing. What they are trying to do is to divert attention from their plans after realizing that their plans have been exposed.

    “For instance, we have called the attention of the security agents to the activities of a senior INEC official in Bayelsa State who is working closely with them to compromise the election. The said official was used to rig the last National and State Assembly election in the state.

    “We also have it on good authorities that tailors were brought into the guest houses in the Government House, where they are sewing military and police uniforms they want to use during the election. This is criminal and we have called on the police to invade the location to verify our allegations.”

    Sylva said the APC had no intention to behave like the PDP, which he said had the track record of electoral violence and manipulation across the country.

    According to him the APC will win the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa State convincingly.

    “The case of Bayelsa State is very pathetic because day-by-day, members of the PDP and appointees of Governor Seriake Dickson, are leaving in droves and joining the APC.

    “It is clear that the APC does not have any plan to rig the election before winning the governorship election in Bayelsa State because Chief Sylva will win the election by popular votes.”

  • PDP chieftains, Dickson’s aides defect to APC

    PDP chieftains, Dickson’s aides defect to APC

    •Sylva promises prosperity
    •Odigie-Oyegun urges revolution against hardship

    Members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aides of Governor Seriake Dickson and about 2,000 PDP supporters yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State.

    The SWC members are the Assistant Secretary, Ben Oliver, the Assistant Organising Secretary, Miriam Kingsley and an ex-officio member, Diepreye Alagha.

    Two governor’s aides, Oberighakuma Yousou and Ayobegha James, resigned their appointments and shouted the change mantra of the APC during the campaign inauguration and presentation of flag in Sagbama town, Sagbama Local Government.

    Miriam attracted the crowd’s sympathy when she narrated her ordeal in the hands of her former party.

    She said: “I was in bondage, but now I’m crossing over to Canaan. I am happy that I have seen the light. I will no longer go back to Pharaoh.”

    The local government stood still and identified with APC and the aspiration of its governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    Crowds of party faithful and residents trooped to the Sagbama Secondary School playground, brandishing brooms and singing victory songs for Sylva and APC.

    The presence of the party’s national leaders and members of the National Campaign Committee added colour to the event.

    Members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were led by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Vice-Chairman and ex-Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni.

    Others were a member of the National Campaign Committee and former Lagos State Military Administrator Buba Marwa and the APC National Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso.

    The state Chairman of the party, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe and members of the SWC as well as chieftains, including ex-Acting Governor Chief Nestor Binabo and former two-time member of the House of Representatives Warman Ogoriba were at the event.

    Odigie-Oyegun, before handing over the flag to Sylva, joined other speakers to praise the people for leading a revolution to salvage their destiny on December 5.

    He said the last time Bayelsa experienced development was during Sylva’s tenure.

    Odigie-Oyegun said it was a pity that Dickson could not provide light, water and roads in his local government.

    He enjoined the people to vote for APC on December 5 and enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    While the APC national chairman was speaking, the crowd shouted that Sylva would provide water, light and other amenities.

    Sylva, who received the party’s flag amid jubilation, called for a minute’s silence for the late former Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and the late APC chieftain and former PDP Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd).

    He likened APC’s train to the Biblical Noah’s ark, saying those who failed to enter the ark would be submerged by the opuabadi (sea).

    Sylva said if elected, his administration would bring prosperity and end poverty.

    Said he: “A new day is approaching in Bayelsa. We are going to bring prosperity and empower people, especially youths. It is our responsibility to look after youths.”

    The APC standard-bearer said his government would offer good governance, promising that youths would play roles.

    He said his administration would embark on ‘quick-win jobs’ to empower the people and reduce unemployment.

    Sylva vowed to stop over-taxation of civil servants, saying it was inhuman.

    He dispelled speculations that if he wins, he will relocate the College of Education to his town where it was sited before Dickson took it to his council.

    “I will not do that. I will show him (the governor) that I’m not vindictive like him. I love my people and I know that they love me.

    “There are unfinished projects that we are going to finish. I will ensure 24-hour power supply in Yenagoa before the end of my tenure.”

  • Dickson won’t escape defeat, says ex-acting governor

    Dickson won’t escape defeat, says ex-acting governor

    A former Bayelsa State Acting Governor Nestor Binabo has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the December 5 election, Seriake Dickson, “will be roundly” defeated in the December 5 governorship election.

    Binabo, also a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, was more popular with a better appeal than the governor.

    The former acting governor, who is also Dickson’s kinsman, spoke at the weekend when he visited his Okunbiri coastal community, in Sagbama Local Government Area, on the need to vote for APC.

    The residents trooped out to welcome the former Speaker, who they described as the leader of Sagbama politics.

    It was a day of brooms as residents brandished their brooms and shouted the change mantra of the APC.

    They vowed to reject Dickson and to vote for Sylva, adding that the present administration had failed them.

    Binabo told his people that Dickson mortgaged his goodwill through what he called selfish actions, inhuman policies and failed promises to satisfy the basic needs of the people.

    According to him, every government aspires to balance the social welfare of the people with capital projects in line with the socio-capitalist economy practised in the country.

    Binabo said the Dickson administration was a failure for its inability to deliver on capital and social components.

    The former acting governor noted that Dickson, at the inception of his administration, declared a state of emergency in the Education sector.

    He said the administration failed to fulfil most of the components of the emergency it declared, adding that the educational system had worsened than it was under the previous administration.

    Insisting that the state’s Education sector had become sick under Dickson, the former Speaker regretted that the government abandoned most of the rehabilitation and reconstruction projects it started in schools.

    Binabo said it was a policy somersault for a government, which declared emergency in the Education sector, to allow the only state-owned university, the Niger Delta University (NDU), to decay.

    He said: “This government has added no value to the only state-owned university, the NDU. The development of that school stopped with Sylva. After Sylva, the school has been suffering from infrastructural and academic decay.

    “Imagine courses accredited during Sylva’s administration have been de-accredited. The school is begging for help. Instead of investing in the school, what the government did was to increase school fees without considering the poverty of the people.

    “Besides, this is a government that has failed to pay bursaries to students. So, everybody, especially the students, is suffering.”

     

  • …Ijaw communities endorse Dickson

    …Ijaw communities endorse Dickson

    Ijaw communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have endorsed the second term aspiration of Governor Mr.Seriake Dickson.

    Dickson visited the local government area of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chief Orunimighe Tiwei, as part of his community campaigns ahead of the December 5 governorship election in the state.

    The governor, who spent three days in the council, visited Koluama 1 and 2, Foropa, Ukubie, Ogboinbiri, Olugbobiri, Korokorosei, Igbomotoru, Peremabiri and Azuzuama

    In all the communities visited, the people came out in their large numbers to give the campaign train a rousing reception with drumming, singing and dancing to various kinds of solidarity songs.

    Commending the governor for his developmental strides, especially the on-going Yenagoa-Oporoma road, the affected communities said when completed, the road would attract local and foreign investors to the area.

    The governor, according to them, has been able to impact on all the communities in Southern Ijaw LGA, adding that his achievements in the area of security was unrivalled.

    The communities, which make up ward 16, assured the governor of their determination to give their votes’ en bloc to the Peoples Democratic Party, adding that they had held tenaciously to the PDP in “rain and shine in times past”.

    They, however, appealed to the governor to construct the Toru-Ebeni-Ukubie-Lobia road, reconstruct the abandoned Ukubie General Hospital and canalise the Azuzuama river linking Ikebiri 1 community.

    At Koluama, a one-time Commissioner for Housing Development under Dickson, commended the governor for giving the communities a sense of belonging.

    In his remarks, Dickson expressed delight over their show of support and promised to look into their request.

    He assured the people of Peremabiri that his administration would work with them to rebuild the community and resuscitate the rice farms.

    He also called on the youths to shun drug abuse and other vices, appealing to the people to conduct themselves peacefully during the governorship election.

    Presenting a joint address by the Lobia-Ukubie and Azuzuama communities, a community leader, Mr. Dickson Okiti, lauded the governor’s developmental strides in the provision of social amenities and appointment of sons and daughters of the area.

     

  • Bayelsa polls: Civil society groups back Dickson

    With the massive support that has continued on upward swing for Governor Seriake Dickson’s re-election bid, what is of note, however, is the massive support that all segment of the state are reigning in for the ‘Countryman Governor’.

    As the build-up to the December 5 date draws near, over 400 coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society groups have continued to mobilise support for Governor Dickson.

    This is coming on the heels of same support from the state House of Assembly, organised labour and traditional leaders, as well as women and youth groups across the state.

    The groups with over 5,000 memberships from all the eight local government areas of the state had converged under the aegis of Save Bayelsa Movement (SBM) at the popular Peace Park in Yenagoa, penultimate week to demonstrate their support and readiness to ensure that, the governor is re-elected for another four-year term.

    They reasoned that their support for the Governor Dickson-led administration, are especially in the areas of peace and security, education, primary health care and job creation.

    Hon. Joseph Kemeagbeye former Speaker, old Rivers State House of Assembly fired the first salvo. He said the groups would remain steadfast until the set goal of returning Dickson to Bayelsa State Government House is achieved.

    While describing the developmental strides of the present administration as unprecedented, the former lawmaker hinted that “if Dickson could achieve so much in less than four years in office, then giving him another opportunity, Bayelsa would rank as one of the best among the comity of states.”

    He further stressed that while other states are taking both local and foreign loans, Dickson is busy repaying debt owed by the immediate past administration.

    His words: “It is on record that Bayelsa remains one of the few states in the federation that does not owe its workforce. I make bold to say that Governor Dickson has been able to liberate Bayelsa State as he continues to pursue the part of peace.

    “Contrary to what obtained in the past, people can now sleep with their two eyes closed. Also, some communities in the hinterland are now accessible by road.

    “With Dickson’s numerous achievements, we the members of the NGO and civil society groups have no option than to queue behind him on the 5th of December, 2015.”

    In his response, the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson expressed appreciation to the organisers of Save Bayelsa Movement rally, describing the event as heartwarming.

    He said his administration owe posterity a legacy of sustainable development, a secure future and human capacity development, which have been the cardinal objectives of the Restoration Government.

    While thanking the people of the state for their support over the past three-and-half years, Governor Dickson said the coming election would be conducted on a one-man-one-vote basis. He stated that there will be no room for rigging.

    For the Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), the present administration, in the last couple of years, has made huge investments in security, which, he noted, is a prerequisite for development.

    Assessing Governor Dickson’s administration, Jonah said: “Government has created access to rural areas as evident in the construction of the multi-billion Naira Ogbia-Nembe Road, Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge Road and the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie Road. I can now drive to my community in Nembe without stress.”

  • Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace pact

    Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace pact

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; his predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva and other parties’ governorship candidates in the November 21 election yesterday signed a peace accord.

    The candidates agreed to ensure peaceful and violence-free poll at a brief ceremony in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sylva, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), signed the peace pact with 18 other candidates and their party chairmen.

    The ceremony was witnessed by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, who was represented by INEC National Commissioner for Northwest, Mrs. Amina Zakari.

    Others at the event included Rivers State Police Commissioner Nasiru Oki; State Director of the Department of State Security (DSS), Ade Oluseso; the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagih; traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

     

  • Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace pact in Bayelsa

    Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace pact in Bayelsa

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, former Governor Timipre Sylva and candidates for other political parties in the state, Tuesday , signed a peace accord about 25 days to the December 5 governorship election.

    The candidates documented their commitments to ensuring a peaceful and violence-free governorship poll at a brief ceremony that was held in Yenagoa.

    Dickson, candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sylva, standard bearer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) personally signed the pact alongside 18 other candidates and their party chairmen.

    The signing was witnessed by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, who was represented by INEC National Commissioner, North-West, Mrs. Amina Zakari.

    The event was also witnessed by the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, Mr. Nasiru Oki; State Director, Department of State Security (DSS) Ade Oluseso; state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Baritor Kpagih; traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

    Yakubu, in his address read by Zakari, said INEC was closely monitoring the activities of the parties, candidates and supporters in line with the commission’s mandate.

    He said most of the activities and campaigns were going on peacefully in accordance with extant laws, rules and regulations.

    He, however, pointed out that there were reports and unsubstantiated allegations of breaches of peace.

    Yakubu said: “This peace pact is not the idea of INEC or the United Nations Development Programme, it is the initiative with the support of the good people of Bayelsa state, and INEC is only the facilitator.

    “We are not unmindful of the fact that the success of this Peace Accord however depends on the zeal and commitment of the signatories to see it work. We admonish the candidates to live up to their commitment and obligations to ensure its respect and enforcement.”

    The INEC chairman also stated the determination of the commission to provide a level playing field for all parties.

    Yakubu added that the commission would be fair to all and would apply the laws without fear or favour.

    In their separate remarks, Dickson and Sylva, thanked INEC and the facilitators for the initiative.

    They expressed their disapprovals with the waves of violence orchestrated by supporters of the contending parties.
    They, however, reiterated their commitment to abide by the peace accord, and promised to sensitize their supporters and followers on the need for a peaceful and violence free election.

  • You’re scared of me, Sylva tells Dickson

    You’re scared of me, Sylva tells Dickson

    Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the December 5 election, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said Governor Seriake Dickson is scared of facing him at the poll.

    He said the governor and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having read the handwriting on the wall, suddenly developed cold feet and started seeking a court judgment to disqualify him.

    Speaking through his campaign outfit, Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO), Sylva said the suit filed by Dickson and the PDP to disqualify him was a desperate move that would come to naught.

    SICO’s Director of Publicity Chief Nathan Egba said Dickson’s and PDP’s suit would not help their course.

    He said: “Resorting to the courts for help will not work in this matter because even as a layman one can say this case is clearly an attempt to divert the attention of the Sylva-Igiri campaign from focusing on the job of kicking them out of power.

    “Our lawyers are studying the case, but we do know that a properly constituted court in 2008 declared his earlier election null and void. This, therefore, implies that even the oath of office he took, which they’re referring to, is automatically null and void.

    “It is a big shame that in their desperation, the PDP and Governor Dickson are embarking on such an exercise that is doomed to fail as the issues they are canvassing are settled matters.

    “Their lawyers only need to refer to the several rulings regarding the eligibility or otherwise of former President Goodluck Jonathan to know the likely outcome of this case. We are, therefore, not perturbed at all.”

    Egba also accused Dickson of recklessly spending government’s funds on his re-election project, while the state’s foreign scholarship beneficiaries were stranded in various countries.

    According to him, in the past few weeks, Dickson issued hundreds of appointment letters to politicians across the state, increasing the state’s wage bill to gain political goodwill.

    Egba said the governor doled out millions of naira to individuals, groups and communities, yet ignored Bayelsa State students abroad.

    The SICO chief spoke in Yenagoa when he hosted 11 executive members of former Councillors’ Forum of the 1999-2013 set, led by its Chairman, Leader Stanley, at the organisation’s campaign office.

    He said: “Governor Dickson has refused to pay pensioners in the last three months as well as school fees and monthly stipends of the children he sent to far away countries, thereby turning the pensioners and foreign scholarship students into beggars.

    “The pensioners are languishing and wallowing in poverty because of non-payment of their entitlements. But Dickson has money to throw about for his campaign at their detriment.

    “Regrettably, the governor is mortgaging the future of the scholarship beneficiaries on the altar of his desperate re-election campaign.”

    Also, Bayelsa State governor and Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship candidate in the December 5 election, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend, said he had no personal problems with his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart and former Governor Timipre Sylva.

    The governor pledged to award a contract for the construction of the Brass-Nembe Road, if re-elected this month.

    The road links Okpoama, Sylva’s community in Brass Local Government Area, with other communities in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Dickson spoke at Okpoama when he took his campaign to the community.

    The governor assured residents of his administration’s resolve to award the multi-billion naira Nembe-Brass Road in the first quarter of 2016, if re-elected in next month’s election.

    He said the contract would be an addition to the construction of the Ogbia-Nembe Road and other developmental projects in the area.

    Dickson, who was received by Okpoama Council of Chiefs, hailed the residents for supporting his administration.

    The governor said the reception was a testimony that the people of Brass Local Government Area supported the PDP administration.

    He added that the Brass-Nembe Road would be given attention to enable his administration achieve its policy of exploring the Atlantic Ocean to enhance the socio-economic development of the area.

    According to him, clearing and sand-filling will begin soon because the project had been awarded to a contractor.

    On his administration’s siting of the Maritime Academy at Okpoma, Dickson expressed concern that the institution had not functioned as expected because of financial constraints.

    The governor said his administration partnered the Polish government for the project, adding that the application for its implementation was unsuccessful.

    Dickson, who also visited Odioma, Ewoama and Twon Brass, hailed the people for their warm sense of maturity.

    The governor urged the electorate to vote for the PDP and ensure a peaceful election.

    He stressed that he had no personal problems with Sylva.

    Dignitaries who spoke at the rally inculded Deputy Governor John Jonah, Acting PDP Chairman Serena Dokubo Spiff, Senator Nimi Barigha Amange, Kind Amalate Turner and Brass Local Government Area’s Chairman Andy Obed.

  • l have no problem with Sylva – Dickson

    l have no problem with Sylva – Dickson

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend declared that he has no personal problem with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the December 5 governorship election in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    The governor pledged to award a contract for the construction of Brass/Nembe road if re-elected for a second term.

    The road leads to Okpoama, the community of Sylva.

    Dickson, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, spoke when he took his community-based campaign tour to Sylva’s country home.

    He assured them of his administration’s resolve to award the multi billion Naira Nembe/Brass Road during the first quarter of 2016, if re-elected for a second term in office.

    He said the award of the contract would add to the ongoing Ogbia/Nembe road project and other developmental work in the area.

    Dickson, who was received by the Okpoama Council of Chiefs, commended the people of the area for their support.

    He said the reception was a testimony that the people of Brass local government area were in support of the PDP-led administration.

    Dickson said the Brass/Nembe road would be given due attention as to enable his administration achieve its policy of exploring the Atlantic Ocean to enhance socio-economic development.

    According to him, clearing and sand-filling would be done as soon as the project is awarded to a competent contractor.

    Speaking on the State Maritime Academy sited in Okpoma by the present administration, Dickson expressed concern that the institution had yet to function as expected because of financial constraints.

    He explained that his administration went into partnership with the Polish government, noting that the application for the project was not successful.

    The governor said he has no personal problems with the candidate of the main opposition party in the state.

     

  • Dickson meets ex-militant leaders on poll

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday met ex-militant leaders in Yenagoa to seek their support for a peaceful and violence-free election.

    It was learnt that the governor met them at the First Lady’s Conference Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

    Over 70 ex-militant leaders from the nine states in the Niger Delta were said to have attended the meeting.

    The Nation gathered that the meeting was convened by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Ijaw National Affairs and Niger Delta Mobilisation, Mr. Seleipre Tonbie.

    It was learnt that the ex-militants, who met the governor under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development (LPCDI), pledged to support Dickson’s second term ambition.

    A source from the Government House said the meeting was at the instance of the LPCDI leadership, which is led by Pastor Wilson.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The ex-militant leaders, appreciating what the governor has done, decided to support him. They wrote him a letter requesting a formal meeting with him and the governor’s special adviser, Seleipre Tonbie, facilitated it.

    “Dickson is overwhelmed by the support he is receiving everyday. In the letter, the ex-militant leaders promised to rally support for his re-election. They said the governor has good intentions to develop the state.

    “The ex-militants asked the governor to build their group into his campaign team for mass mobilisation.”

    The source said the governor at the meeting thanked the ex-militant leaders for their support.