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Tag: Dickson

  • Jonathan, Ijaw leaders to attend Dickson’s declaration

    Jonathan, Ijaw leaders to attend Dickson’s declaration

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, Ijaw leaders and other political heavyweights from the South-South are among dignitaries that will attend the second term declaration of Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson

    Others expected at the event scheduled for September 8 in Yenagoa are the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), PDP governors and National Assembly members.

    Alamieyeseigha described Dickson as a good product that will be easy to market for a second tenure in office.

    He spoke when Dickson visited him at his country home in Amassoma community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    According to the former governor, Dickson has performed well and deserves a second tenure to consolidate on the gains of the restoration agenda.

    He stressed that, it is only a man like Dickson, who has performed creditably well that can bring victory for the PDP in the December 5 governorship polls.

    Party faithful, supporters of the governor from across the state as well as friends and well wishers are expected to also attend the event, scheduled for 10pm.

  • Bayelsa poll: Jonathan, Ijaw leaders to attend Dickson’s declaration

    Bayelsa poll: Jonathan, Ijaw leaders to attend Dickson’s declaration

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, Ijaw leaders and other political heavyweights from the South-South are among dignitaries that will attend the second term declaration of Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson

    Others expected at the event slated for September 8 in Yenagoa are the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), PDP governors and National Assembly members.

    Alamieyeseigha described Dickson as a good product that will be easy to market for a second term in office.

    He spoke when the governor visited him at his country home in Amassoma community in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa.

    According to the former governor, Dickson has performed well and deserves a second term to consolidate on the gains of the restoration agenda.

    He stressed that it is only a man like Dickson, who has performed creditably well that can bring victory for the PDP in the December 5 governorship polls.

  • ‘Dickson won’t abandon projects’

    The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, yesterday said Governor Seriake Dickson is committed to completing the projects in different senatorial districts of the state.

    Owei noted that but for the dwindling revenue from the Federation Account, Dickson would have been rounding off with most of his projects.

    The commissioner spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, when he hosted a delegation of the Bayelsa Liberation Forum (BLF).

    He said having demonstrated enough passion and commitment to develop Bayelsa, the governor deserved a second term to complete his projects.

    Owei told his audience that Dickson placed high premium on health and had initiated many projects in the sector.

    He said: “It is noteworthy that Governor Dickson places a high premium on the Health sector and has major strides in infrastructural development of Bayelsa state.”

    “Anybody who goes through the local governments of Bayelsa State will see that His Excellency, despite the limited resources available to his office, unlike what was available several years ago, has been able to build several roads, bridges, hospitals and inject capital into people-oriented projects in the state.

    “The other day, we took a tour with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and they gave a pass mark for the strides of Governor Dickson. There has been no period in the history of Bayelsa State when there has been so much infrastructural development that has brought so much value to the people of Bayelsa state.”

     

     

  • The change Nigerians need, by Osibanjo, Dickson

    Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday began its 11th Annual Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with a verdict that Nigerians expect to see improvement in all aspects of their lives from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Governor Seriake Dickson, who hosted and declared the event open and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who was the special guest of honour , called for attitudinal change from the leaders and the led.

    In his welcome address, the Acting President, NGE, Garba Muhammad said: “As a people we want a nation that is deserving of that name in every sense of the word. We want a country that we would be proud to identify with wherever we go. We want to have a country where basic ingredients of development such as stable power supply, reliable and safe transportation system and independent judiciary are taken for granted as our inalienable rights.

    “But more than anything else, we want a country that is free from threats whether internal or external. We want to see convicting performance from our armed forces and corresponding security agencies that they are up to the task of protecting the country all times.

    “The insurgency in the northeastern Nigeria is no doubt one of the biggest sources of concern for every Nigerian especially those who are directly affected by its brutal consequences.

    “We want to be persuaded that our government can guarantee our security in line with its cardinal obligation which is to ensure the protection of life and property of every citizen. Beyond the insurgency, murder and armed robbery, kidnapping and other acts of violent crimes are on the rise especially in the southern part of the country. We want to see fundamental changes in the way the government tackles these dangers.”

    Dickson advocated a change that would lead to total diversification of the country’s economy from oil and gas.

    He said the story of the dry oil well in Oloibiri, where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Ogbia Local Government Area , is a sad reminder that oil and gas were wasted.

    He called for political tolerance, saying politicians need to know the difference between politics and development.

    He said after the election, politicians, no matter their political leanings, should rally round President Buhari to move the country forward.

    Dickson regretted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) while in the opposition during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan failed to give the government sufficient cooperation in its war against insecurity.

    Osibanjo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Folashade Yemi, said Nigerian media must be carried along in the efforts of the  government to move Nigeria forward.

    He said: “Change occurs when we decide to take control of what we have full right over, instead of yelling control over what we don’t.”

    President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Waheed Odusile solicited the cooperation of the guild in the areas of journalists’ welfare, elimination of quacks from the profession and regulating the social media.

  • The change Nigerians want, by Osinbajo, Dickson, editors

    The change Nigerians want, by Osinbajo, Dickson, editors

    Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) commenced its 11th Annual Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, on Thursday with a verdict that Nigerians expect to see improvements in all aspects of their lives from the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, who hosted and declared the event open and Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo, who was the special guest of honour , unanimously called for attitudinal change from leaders and the led.

    In his welcome address, the acting President, NGE, Garba Muhammad, named the qualitative improvements Nigerians want to see from the new government as better wages for workers, jobs for the unemployed and better and affordable healthcare services.

    He added that individual citizens also expect to see functional education for every child and freedom to lives without restrictions except those imposed by laws and personal judgments.

    He said: “As a people we want a nation that is deserving of that name in every sense of the word. We want a country that we would be proud to identify with wherever we go. We want to have a country where basic ingredients of development such as stable power supply, reliable and safe transportation system and independent judiciary are seen as our inalienable rights.

    “But more than anything else, we want a country that is free from threats whether internal or external. We want to see convicing performance from our armed forces and corresponding security agencies that they are up to the task of protecting the country all times.

    “The insurgency in the northeastern Nigeria is no doubt one of the biggest sources of concern for every Nigerian especially those who are directly affected by its brutal consequences.

    In his remarks, Dickson advocated for a change that would lead to total diversification of the country’s economy away from oil and gas.

    He said the story of the dry oil well in Oloibiri, where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Ogbia local government area of the state, is a sad reminder that oil and gas are wasting assets.

    He also called for political tolerance, saying that politicians need to know the difference between politics and development.

    He said after the election, politicians no matter their political leanings should rally round President Buhari to move the country forward.

    Osibanjo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Folashade Yemi, said Nigerian media must be carried along in the efforts of the new government to move Nigeria forward.

    He said: “Change occurs when we decide to take control of what we have full right over, instead of yelling control over what we don’t. There is no gainsaying that carrying the media along in our determination to move Nigeia forward is not only expected but a must do.

    “The media create the most viable platform in promoting development and the media must do this through their watchdog role as well as influencing people to be agents of change, particularly in the area of attitudinal change.”

     

  • Why Bayelsa suspended payment of gratuities, by Dickson

    Why Bayelsa suspended payment of gratuities, by Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said the dwindling revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account forced him to suspend the payment of gratuity arrears he inherited from the former government.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, when he swore in 22 newly appointed permanent secretaries.

    Dickson urged the affected retirees to be patient with his administration, adding that the pension arrears would have been cleared but for the state’s dwindling revenue.

    He said: “But by next year, we will unfold a process by which we will begin to pay off the long accumulated gratuity payment, because that is a very serious problem that this government inherited.

    “We are very concerned about that. I like to …call on those pensioners and members of the public service to bear with us.

    “You are all aware that it was this government that started the N250 million monthly instalment payment. But it was when the economy took a dive for the worse that we stopped. So, that is a problem we acknowledge really exists. But we will work together to solve it.”

    Dickson also sworn in a Special Adviser on Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Austin Adigio, to replace Chief Rufus Abadi, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor reconstituted the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board, Hospitals Management Board, the Scholarships Board and the Post-Primary Schools’ Board.

    He said the new permanent secretaries were appointed on merit and in recognition of their hard work and contributions to the state public service.

    Dickson described the selection that led to the appointment of the permanent secretaries as fair and competitive.

    Then governor said the appointments were devoid of political considerations, adding that they were in line with his administration’s policy of depoliticising the civil service.

    He hailed the civil servants and some of their past leaders, including two former Heads of Service, Sir Fraser Okuoru and Dr Josephine Igodo, for their innovative contributions.

    Dickson restated his administration’s commitment to prioritising workers’ welfare, especially in the payment of salaries and pension entitlements, despite the financial crisis rocking the state and the country.

    The governor urged the new permanent secretaries to work with their commissioners to promote professionalism and improved service delivery.

    He said: “It is my expectation and prayer that our civil service will also be reckoned with, the way people respect the public service in some older states.

    “With what we have started in the ‘professionalisation’ and ‘depoliticisation’ of the public service since we came in and building on what others have done, I believe that with time, the Bayelsa State public service will be one of the best in Nigeria. That is my wish for you all.”

    The new permanent secretaries, who passed the promotion examination conducted by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in June, 2014, are: Ebikipa Ebikake, John Egbe, Felix Odubo, Dr. Alice Atuwo-Andekebi, Dr Wisdom Sawyer, Lady Grace Fiepere and Mrs Atonye Pekene.

    Others are: Igunu Hosea Ebifanyo, Dr. Akpoku Inodu Nathaniel, Moses Dika, Amakiri Boumonyo Fredrick, Luka Obiri, Jackson Bidei, Japhet Bank, D. C. Ebiwari, Godspower Atoko, S. S. Burufegha and Simon Adomokeme.

    Also sworn in as permanent secretaries are: Ere Efeke, Bolouikie Kingdom Yeri, Ovie-Izibe Victor and Mrs. Ebiere Igodo-Adeh.

    The Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board has Charles Dorgu as Chairman.

    Others are: Chief Iboro Ige-Idaba (Executive Secretary), Ezekiel Gunn, Ms Stella Raine, Ebi Wodu, Mrs Kenisuomein Walson, Ijebuode Agbaragu, Chief David Okolai Otietie and Gede Moses Doubeni.

    Other members are: Smart Ayama, Comrade Tengi Ebiegberi, John Famokuma, Ere Efeke, Clive Ezekiel, Benson Diriyai, Ikierigha Lucky Jeremiah, Tamadu Abasi, Awudu Adike and Auditor Clinton Ikobho.

     

  • PDP chieftains: APC can’t displace Dickson

    PDP chieftains: APC can’t displace Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears unperturbed by the defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Prominent PDP chieftains, who describe the defectors as opportunist politicians seeking federal appointments, maintain that the ruling party will retain power in the oil-rich state.

    PDP, militants attack defectors

    The PDP immediately launched verbal attacks on the defectors. The party described  its stalwarts  that joined the APC as a huge disappointment. The party said it was embarrassing to the party and the Ijaw nation that persons who benefitted from PDP and rode at its back to amass wealth would engage in a dance of shame in the name of defection.

    The party, in a statement signed by its acting Chairman, Mr. Serena Dokubo said, the defectors were driven by greed and personal aggrandizement. Dokubo described the defectors as yesterday’s men and women who no longer have electoral value, adding that the PDP would not miss them.

    He said: “Defectors are also those politicians who sponsored candidates against the PDP in the last state house of assembly election and worked  with the opposition to betray both Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP at the last presidential election.

    “These crop of politicians could not be regarded as dependable nor should they be celebrated by the APC as political assets, stressing that they were never at anytime with us.

    “Suffice it to say that no member of the PDP in the state or any of the party’s organ was part of this charade called a mega rally. The PDP in Bayelsa State is intact. All the structures and organs of the party at all levels are fully intact. Our great party is not perturbed in anyway.

    “The so-called defectors were never with us because they are the same people who betrayed PDP at the presidential election and also sponsored candidates against our party in the state house of assembly election. These are spent forces and we are not moved by APC’s charade.

    “The former PDP chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), who was one of the defectors has since being  suspended by our party on acts bothering on corruption and anti-party. Is that the kind of character the APC is celebrating and welcoming into its fold? It’s a sham, indeed”, he said.

    The acting chairman berated the defectors saying they were more of liabilities to the APC than assets. He stressed that Bayelsans know their antecedents and won’t be taken seriously now or in the future for any possible effect on the December 5 governorship election.

    “It is so unfortunate that the APC in Bayelsa has attracted into its fold a congregation of persons with well known track record of violence and political brigandage.

    “As a party, we are worried that, if not well managed, they could truncate the prevailing peaceful and secure atmosphere which the PDP-led government under the able leadership of the Countryman Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has helped to put in place in the state. In no time, the real reason for this hoax of a defection will become truly revealing”.

    While assuring Bayelsans of the PDP-led government’s continued resolve to guarantee their safety and security, he called on the APC national leadership to take urgent steps to manage the motley crowd of defectors who he said were scampering to be governorship candidates. He stressed that the prevailing peace in the state could be sacrificed on the alter of politics.

    “On our part as the ruling party in the state, we await the outcome of their primaries so that we can engage them in a robust electioneering campaign that is issue-based and one that is hinged on the strength of performance and track record of service to our people”,  he said.

    Also, militants under the auspices of Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB), described the defectors as traitors of the Ijaw nation. A statement signed by MBB’s President, Mr. Ebi Aderi, described the defectors as “a bunch of greedy people who only look out for their selfish interests”.

    Aderi said it was unbelievable that persons who benefitted from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson, would publicly pledge loyalty to the APC.

    Aderi said the defectors lacked respect. He said the governorship aspirants in the APC Col. Sam Inokoba, Timi Alaibe, Timipre Sylva, Weinipre Seibatugu, were tested and failed politicians.

    “How can a party parade only governorship candidates without followership? If all of us are leaders, then the ship cannot sail into safer shores as two captains like Sylva and Alaibe are bound to clash and sink the APC boat in few weeks to come.

    “We, the mangrove boys, must commend Dickson for a hold step taken to accommodate APC at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex Yenagoa which Sylva during his time refused to do for Buhari and his Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) when they came to campaign then.

    “This goes to show the leadership qualities of Dickson, which has doused possible rivalry among cult groups they used as rented crowd with t-shirts and fez caps. Dickson has also created enabling ground for peace to thrive in the state compared to the volatile nature Operation Famou Tangbei left it”, he said.

    Aderi faulted the claims of Sylva that political assassinations were rife in Dickson’s government saying the present governor had restored peace in the state and made it possible for people to go to bed without molestation.

    He said under Sylva, the former security adviser drove all the opposition political parties out of the state and allowed cultism and gangsterism to thrive in the state.

    “Bayelsa youths and right-thinking elders need to celebrate Dickson’s second term to further entrench peaceful and virile state of the Ijaw Nation.

    “We are asking Dickson not to be deterred by the APC rally as we are calling on him to declare his second term ambition as he will witness the mother of all rally with support and grassroot mobilisation of our teeming youths and parents”, he said.

    Without mincing words, everybody is watching to see how APC will consolidate on its gains of the mega rally. Time will tell whether the coming together of heavyweights, most of whom are nursing governorship ambitions will foster unity in the party or lead to the implosion of the APC as predicted by the PDP.

    Observers conclude that only by sacrificing their personal ambitions for the collective interest of the party similar to what happened at the level after the presidential primaries of APC will the party survive in the state.

  • Dickson to civil servants: stay away from politics

    Dickson to civil servants: stay away from politics

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has warned civil servants against partisan politics ahead of the December 5 governorship election in the state.

    Dickson spoke at the weekend in Government House, Yenagoa, while inaugurating a newly appointed Head of Service of the State, Dr. Peter Singabele, and member of the state Civil Service Commission, Dr. Boumkuma Kpokiri.

    He said civil servants must uphold the principles of neutrality and loyalty to government in power.

    He charged Singabale to further depoliticise and instill more discipline in the state civil service to achieve improved service delivery.

    He said engaging in politics was against the ethics of professional civil service and negatively impact on efficiency and effectiveness in the public service.

    Describing the public service as the most important sector in service delivery in a government, Dickson said he would not allow political considerations to determine the occupant of head of the state civil service office.

    Dickson said: “For the past one year, no state government can boast of any effective construction work because we are in a state of recession.

    “But despite of all that, we are not owing salaries of members of the public service in this state.

    “We do not also owe their pension entitlements. The only thing that is left for us to handle is the gratuity that has accumulated for the past ten years, which is not a creation of this government. But we are determined to finding a solution to address it.”

    He paid tribute to the out gone Head of Service, Dr. Josephine Igodo, for her efforts in fostering cordial relationship between the government and the workforce.

    He promised to organise a state banquet in her honour at an appropriate date to fulfill the tradition already set by the present administration.

    Dickson urged Singabele and Kpokiri, who replaces late Sir Patrick Tekenah, to apply their wealth of experiences in performing their duties.

    Addressing them, he said: “You are appointed to lead the public service, which is the most important group as far as service delivery is concerned. It is our expectation that you are going to depoliticise the civil service.

    “We don’t want to play politics with the civil service. When we came on board, I promised a civil service that would not be politicised.

    “And that is exactly what we are doing. The permanent secretaries that have been appointed know that none of them lobbied.

    “There was no political influence or interference whatsoever. It was strictly in accordance with our judgment in terms of merit, hard work and capacity for improved service delivery.

    “And that is the civil service that we want to leave behind for succeeding generations of this state.”

  • Defectors can’t stop my re-election, says Dickson

    Defectors can’t stop my re-election, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said his re-election is guaranteed.

    The governor spoke with reporters in Lagos on the gale of defections in Bayelsa State, the preparations for the governorship poll and failure of the PDP to retain power at the centre in the last general elections.

    He also gave reasons why former President Goodluck Jonathan lost his second term bid.

    The reason they are positioning themselves for the federal appointments is because APC is at the centre now. I am not in a position to do it

    He attributed Dr. Jonathan’s defeat to many factors, including power fatigue, controversy over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rotational principle, zoning, religion, ethnicity, betrayal and  mismanagement of the presidential campaign by party officials.

    Dickson added that he would earn second term because he had lived up to expectation in his first term.

    He chided Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, who have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that they are after federal appointments.

    Dickson, who acknowledged that there are some hurdles to cross before securing a second term, said he would triumph over political challenges as he did in the past when forces against his first term ambition polarised the party.

    He said former President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his determination to back him for a second term, adding that there is no bone of contention between him and his wife, former first lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    Dickson described the PDP as the party to beat in Bayelsa, adding that the “governorship election is not a big deal,” compared to the recent House of Assembly poll.

    The governor, who said he enjoyed cordial relations with the former president and his wife, enjoined Nigerians to await his memoirs where real details of battle he fought when he was running for governorship in 2012 would be clearly stated.

    He said: “What I know about the former president is that the former president remains my elder brother and my leader, and we are working closely. If there is anyone who believes and who is supportive and understood the imperatives, the reasons why I should be re- elected is former President Jonathan.

    “He believes I have done well and I am doing well for our state and for our people.”

    Dickson said the former president was aware that he was his no 1 supporter from beginning to the end when he was in power, pointing out that all that was being said about the sour relation between him and former president was speculations and rumours he would not like to react to.

    “Former president knows that I was his no 1 supporter from beginning to the end, I don’t want to comment on speculations and rumours,” he said.

    On the defection from the PDP, Dickson, while describing it as blackmail, propaganda, political betrayal and show of ingratitude, said the concern was that those involved were ones who had benefited immensely form his government and the party.

    According to him, a lot of them are currently handling huge contracts, which he said they didn’t beg to get but were sought for to be given those contracts.

    “They didn’t come begging for those jobs, we sought for them. Alaibe has his nominees in government even as we speak, all of them,” he said, adding that such act would, however, not dissuade him from doing good as it only showed the capacity of people for doing evil.

    Dickson, who said the reason why the defectors were rushing to the opposition, contrary to other excuse that they were not paid for contracts they executed for government, was to position themselves for Federal appointments as Bayelsa had never been in opposition camp until now, insisted that he had been good to all that defected through quality leadership as he did not see them as enemies.

    “The reason they are positioning themselves for the federal appointments is because APC is at the centre now. I am not in a position to do it.

    He, however, said that in spite of what had taken place, Bayelsans from various constituencies in the state had been endorsing his second term bid, even in places where he had not visited, including Alaibe’s homestead.

  • Bayelsa: PDP defectors are greedy, selfish – Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Monday gave reasons for last Saturday’s defection of some politicians from the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Nditimi Alaibe, Col. Sam Inokoba, and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri are among the politicians that defected to the APC at the weekend.

    They were received by the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Dickson, who spoke with journalists on the sideline of the 2015 National Security Summit organized by the Nigeria Police Force in conjunction with The Sun Publishing Limited in Abuja, said the politicians moved to the new party on the basis of greediness and selfishness.

    According to him, they are all aiming for the governorship ticket of the APC in order to contest for the Bayelsa governorship poll.

    Stressing that it was within their right to decamp, the governor said for the records, it was important that the public know why they decamped to the APC.

    He said: “They decamped because each one of them wants to be governor and the PDP platform is not available.

    “So, they are going to the next alternative and which in the case of the APC, is the party that has control of the center and by so doing, positioning themselves for federal appointments, which the PDP and I are not in a position to give to them.

    “And they are hoping somehow that federal might, by way of security and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) manipulation will see their eventual flagbearer get into the government house, which is not going to be the case.”

    Claiming that he is firmly on ground in the state, the governor said his people are of the view that his administration has done well and will troop out en mass on election day to vote for him and the PDP.

     

    “We know the antecedents of each and everyone of them and we are confident that the people are not with them,” he added.