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Tag: Dickson

  • APC leader accuses Dickson of diverting N15bn flood money

    APC leader accuses Dickson of diverting N15bn flood money

    • Allegation frivolous, fallacious –Dickson

    A leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief Bodi Arerebo, yesterday challenged the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, asking him to account for over N15bn he allegedly received from donors after the 2012 flood that devastated the state.

    Arerebo, who is a kinsman of Dickson, recalled that after the flood disaster, philanthropic individuals and organisations, including international donors, gave billions of naira to the state for the resettlement of victims and rebuilding of structures.

    He, however, expressed concern over the money, which he alleged must have been mismanaged, especially as Dickson had yet to tell the people how the flood fund was spent.

    Arerebo, who while addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, insisted that there was nothing on ground to show that the money was used to rebuild damaged structures and resettle victims of the disaster.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the money Dickson got from generous Nigerians and other international donors.

    Arerebo remembered that multi-billionaires, such as Aliko Dangote, Wale Adenuga and others were among persons who donated money to the state.

    He said: “Since 1999, the PDP government has not provided good leadership for Bayelsa State. The case of current Governor, Seriake Dickson is the worst.

    “Dickson has yet to tell Bayelsans how he spent the money for floods victims in the state. The state was ravaged by floods in 2013 and as a result, donations came from Nigerians and international donors to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims.

    “But from the look of things, the governor ate all the money. We do not even see what he used all the money to do. He should come and tell Bayelsans how that money was spent. We are calling on Buhari to investigate the money Bayelsa got from international and local donors for the flood victims. Let him come and tell us how he spent the money.”

    But reacting to the allegation, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr. Fyneman Wilson, berated Arerebo, saying his allegation was frivolous and fallacious.

    Wilson said: “We have a governor who is very careful in the management of resources. If such funds were sent, he would put it back to direct project execution for the purpose of the floods.

    “You are aware that there was a flood management committee that was put in place in this state. They did a lot of remedial work. In Sagbama and many other places, the areas the water passed through to cause floods were blocked.

    “The governor did not tamper with that money and such money did not come to this state. The Federal Government did not give such money to the state.”

    Speaking further, Arerebo said that the APC was ready to sweep the Peoples PDP and Dickson out the Government House, adding that the PDP had failed the people.

    He noted that the APC would provide the needed change for the people, asserting that the defeat of the PDP was imminent.

    “By the next governorship election, APC will win in Bayelsa State. We will win because we have every machinery on ground for us to win,” he said.

    He also said the leader of the party in the state and former Governor, Timipre Sylva, has promised not to join governorship race.

    He said:  “Our leader, Timipre Sylva, confided in some of us that he was not going to run.  We know that the candidate we are going to field for the election will be a person of impeccable character.

    “We know that by the time we present him to Bayelsans, they will appreciate and love him. By February 14, 2016, we will be in the Creek Haven (Bayelsa Government House).”

    He said the gale of defections that had hit the PDP was an indication that the party was finished.

  • Dickson’s wife, sister dragged to court for trespass, intimidation

    The First Lady, Bayelsa State, Dr. Rachel Dickson, her sister, Madam Tari Konyefa and an architect, Mr. Raymond Favour, have been dragged to the state High Court for allegedly trespassing on a parcel of land belonging to one Anthony Ibomoghe, a.k.a Tony Ezekiel.

    Ezekiel, a businessman, who hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, in a suit, dated May 21, said his parcel of land, which formed part of the Okunukuo Bush, Yenizue-Gene Epie, had been taken over by the trio.

    He described Konyefa as an agent and trustee of Mrs. Dickson’s expansive multi-storey building undergoing construction and near completion at the Erepa Road, Yenizue-Gene.

    Ezekiel, in a copy of the suit obtained by The Nation, said the defendants dumped a container made of steel on his five-bedroom duplex undergoing construction, which he said has already cost him about N40million.

    He said the way and manner the container was dumped on the land impacted negatively on the foundation of his building and stopped him from continuing further work on the structure.

    Irked by the development, he said he lodged a complaint with the Commissioner of Police in Yenagoa, adding that the matter was still receiving consideration by the police.

    Ezekiel said he further sent a letter to the defendants, who instead of complying with his requests, replied him through their lawyer, denying any connection with the actions complained of, including owning any plots of land near his land.

    “The acts of the defendants have greatly injured my proprietary rights and exercise of same over the aforesaid plots of land forcefully denied me because all the defendants are connected with the Governor of Bayelsa State.

    “The defendants enjoy unimpeded access to all the police paraphernalia in Bayelsa State and have all instruments of intimidation at their disposal. They have dared me to take further steps in connection with developing the land in dispute issuing all manner of threats to me, an ordinary helpless Nigerian citizen,” he said.

    He asked the court to make a declaration that the dumping of a container steel structure on his land by the defendants  is unlawful and amounts to trespass.

    He also sought an order of mandatory injunction compelling the defendants to remove forthwith the container.

    Ezekiel further asked the court to make an order directing an inquiry into the damages he incurred following the actions of the defendants and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from disturbing his rights to the land.

    It was gathered that the court fixed October 5th for hearing on the matter after serving writs of summon on the defendants.

  • Knocks, kudos for Dickson’s State of emergency in education

    Knocks, kudos for Dickson’s State of emergency in education

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson comes under the searchlight over his inaugural promise to turn around the state’s education sector, writes  Mike Odiegwu

    In his inaugural speech in 2012, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson made education a major thrust of his administration. Without mincing words, he declared a state of emergency in the educational sector.

    In fact, before the declaration, there were disturbing concerns in the state’s educational  sector. Infrastructural decay and institutional neglect were the order of the day. Many school buildings were dilapidated and most communities could not boast of primary and secondary school structures. It was common to see pupils and students sitting on decrepit bare floors to receive tutorials from few demotivated teachers.

    Indeed, Bayelsa was rated low in educational performance and standard. Teachers converted their classrooms to commercial centres and engaged in petty trading during school hours to make ends meet. Most children also abandoned schools to engage in hawking while others turned hobos, wallowing the streets like urchins. The general neglect affected the psyche of students who used to come last in national examinations.

    No wonder when Dickson declared the state of emergency, Bayelsans jubilated. Stakeholders in the educational sector leaped up in joy and described it as a welcome development. The governor had a bumper package for education. Infrastructure was to witness a total turnaround. Education was to be free and compulsory at least from primary to secondary schools and teachers were to be employed, trained and retrained.

    Free and adequate supplies of instructional materials to schools; free school uniforms, sandals, bags, books to pupils and provision of desks, tables and computers for a conducive learning atmosphere were all components of the emergency in education declared by the governor.

    But over three years after the pronouncement, how has the educational sector fared in the state? The Niger Delta Report visited critical stakeholders in the primary and secondary sub-sectors of education to gauge their experiences and their expectations in the sector.

    All of them commended the motive behind the governor’s emergency in education. They said the gesture has positively changed the face of education and added value to the sector. They particularly appreciated the ongoing infrastructural turnaround of schools and the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries by the Dickson’s administration.

    But they raised many concerns of challenges bedeviling the emergency. Their experiences revealed that most of the components of the emergency are not working. They are of the opinions that the system is still fraught with many problems because the governor has not created an opportunity to have direct interactions with them.

    In the primary schools, the state of emergency appears to be a partial success. The state Chairman, Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Mr. PPS Faafa, commended government’s efforts in building, rebuilding and renovation of primary school teachers. Apart from new classrooms, he observed that the government built quarters for head teachers.

    “The government has tried in providing physical infrastructure in some of the primary schools. We believe that the project will be extended to other schools because there are schools that are still dilapidated. They have tried in building houses and quarters for teachers”, he said.

    He, however, said the schools are facing serious challenges with other components of the emergency. He said the schools are still expecting school materials promised them at the take-off of the new regime. He said all the free items promised the pupils such as school uniforms, sandals, books and bags have yet to reach them.

    He said: “If the state of emergency is declared, everything concerning primary school is supposed to be free. In 2012, some textbooks, exercise books and a few school uniforms were supplied.

    “But from then till now, nothing has been supplied to schools and every year, we have new intakes. We don’t know what to do about those coming newly. So, it is not running smoothly with us.

    He further said that the government is yet to supply teaching and instructional materials to primary schools across the state.

    “There is no teaching material. We buy chalk and markers. We improvise these things to teach in the schools. But the supplies from the government is not forthcoming”, he said.

    He added: “We are finding it very difficult and we want the government to come to our aides to make sure these things are provided”. He said the problem is compounded because the government has deactivated the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) which used to come to their aide.

    “They said we shouldn’t have anything to do with PTAs. If not so, sometimes the PTA helps to provide these things for us. But now we don’t have support,” he said.

    According to him, the schools are also lacking enough teachers.

    “For example in a school, we have over 600 pupils with only 17 teachers to attend to them which means a class of A, B and C will have only one teacher and they are all clustered in one classroom. We need teachers. Many teachers have been retired and since they are retired, the government should come in and bring more teachers”, he said.

    Faafa said teachers are also lacking incentives. He observed that the government has yet to pay the 18 per cent minimum  wage to primary school teachers and to promote teachers with increased salaries. He said the N15,000 monthly impress given to each head of primary school is too meagre to run the schools.

    “When it is time for examination, no kobo is provided but we are asked not to collect a dime to enable us provide materials for children. Most of the new schools they are building don’t have fictional water systems”, he said.

    He said: “The governor with his state of emergency means well for the state. We believe that these challenges exist because he is not aware of them. We know him to be a listening governor. He is not vindictive and as a man with passion for education and lover of Bayelsans, he will surely ensure that what we need to make the system work is provided to us”.

    In the secondary school sub-sector, the President, All Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr. Abbey Ayaegbemi, highlighted some strong points scored by the government in its drive to implement its emergency.

    He said the government has done well in the areas of physical infrastructure, payment of WAEC and NECO fees of students and payment of school fees of teachers. He said most of the challenges bugging the system arose from the high number of schools across the state.

    For example, he said though the government has recorded a feat in building and renovation of schools, many secondary schools are still begging for their turn. “The structures cannot be generally complete. The government has tried in building and renovating but the schools are many. Some are still yearning for their turns”, he said.

    He said secondary schools are also having problems with instructional materials adding, “Government has been promising and we are still expecting”. He said the materials were in short supply in last session. According to him school uniforms were supposed to be supplied to students but were discontinued perhaps for logistic constraints.

    He said: “The emergency covers a lot of areas. There are areas the government is performing and other areas requiring improvement. We are appealing that the renovation work should be extended to other schools. The government should also try more in teachers’ welfare.

    “Teachers hold the key and if they are not happy, it will affect the working mood. We thank the government for its efforts but areas like the payment of emoluments are always dragging the teachers backward making them look as if they are not true civil servants.

    “For the school system to operate maximally, we also require enough teachers. The last employment of teachers was done in 2006. Since then, there hasn’t been employment and within this period, some teachers have been dying, some have been retiring, some have joined active politics while others have converted to other professions creating a space. So, we need new teachers especially as the government has brought in new curriculum introducing new subject areas.”

    While appealing to the government to regularly supply instructional materials on time, Ayagbaami said ANCOPS is grateful to the governor for being behind the current re-articulation policy in the system. “The policy has helped to make the schools better. Hitherto, we had junior and senior schools with two principals. In a school we had two levels of control and this created confusion.

    “Students were not properly distributed. But the schools are now better and we thank the government for being behind the policy. But the process is not complete yet. We appeal that he should back up the proper completion of the reticulation policy”, he said.

    In his general assessment, the Principal State Secretary, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Okechukwu Okoroafor, appreciated the governor’s passion for qualitative education. He said the governor perceived some level of decadence in the sector which promoted him to declare the stage of emergency.

    “The educational system was almost in a state of comma before the present governor came into office”, he said noting that Dickson has displayed a high-level of purposeful ness and willingness to improve the sector and put it right.

    He said in the spirits of the emergency, the governor has been promptly paying teachers’ salaries.

    He added: “The NUT as a trade union, is not mincing words, nor slacking in bringing to his notice the things that are to be done”.

    Okoroafor said some hiccups still exist in the system. He said: “There ought to be parity between the state’s governing board and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) employees. The existing disparity tends to discourage the teachers in the junior secondary school sector”, he said.

    Commending the governor on the development of infrastructures, he said, “No one can take that away from Governor Seriake Dickson; from the primary school up to the tertiary institutions. Still, there are some of the schools awaiting their share of the development”.

    He further called for adequate and regular supplies of recurrent instructional material such as chalk, markers, diaries, registers and others at the beginning of every term. But he said the term “free education” must be properly defined to know who should provide the school uniforms, fund the examination materials, practical subjects.

    He explained that the government should pay attention to sports activities and warned against undue interference of school programmes by community leaders. “Teachers should be left to do their job as doctors are granted free hands with the patients”, he said.

    Okoroafor, however, added that the governor will quickly resolve some of the hiccups in the educational sector if he can listen to them directly. “People try to be polite, and thereby disrupt flow of information. If we are allowed to meet with the governor, there will be a take-home. Something must be done; the school system needs to be salvaged; the re-articulation of schools must be revisited”, he said.

    When the Niger Delta Report visited the state Chairman, NUT, Mr. Bokolo Tonworio Tobin, he also appraised the emergency, commended the governor but raises some problems mitigating against the system.

    He listed some of the challenges as non-promotion of teachers, unavailability of resources and amenities in the schools; harassment of teachers, neglect of teachers and paucity of funds.

    He further said that the number of teachers was not enough and called on the government to empty more teachers and carry them along in policy formulation.

    “Teachers should be protected against parents’ unwarranted interference in administrative measures”, he said.

    Though Niger Delta Report could not get the direct responses of the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Dein Benedourmene, it was learnt that the educational stakeholders had a close-door meeting with the commissioner on Monday in his office where the challenges bugging Dickson’s emergency were discussed.

    One of the teachers, who attended the meeting but spoke in confidence, said: “Like we earlier said, there are some high points of the demands of teachers. We reasoned together with the commissioner. He assured us that instructional materials will be supplied to all the schools within this holiday period, so that on resumption, they can now be put into effective use.

    The source said: “Even, he underscored the importance of the schools being properly funded for the purposes of conducting exams; the JSS3 exams, promotion classes’ exams, and the unified exams.

    “It was a very fruitful discussion, and we are hopeful that, come September, the schools will function very well. He regretted that the ongoing payment of N18,000 minimum wage arrears which have not gotten to teachers.

    “But he said that he will consult with the governor to make sure that they review the method of payment, to make sure that teachers are paid as at when due. He re-emphasized governor’s interest in the educational sector saying it was why he declared the state of emergency in education.

    “He also commented that they will improve upon what they have done on infrastructure. The area we harped on was provision of instructional materials, diaries, registers, books, chalk, papers, stationeries and others.

    “These are areas where we felt we were in dire need. And, he assured us that they would not just be provided, but they will be provided before schools re-open, sothat when schools resume, they will function effectively. By our own assessment of our interaction with him, it was a very fruitful one, and we have high hopes that everything will be okay for both the pupils, students and teachers as well.

    “The commissioner said it is still the policy of the government to operate free and compulsory primary and secondary education. In that case, parents and students ought not to pay anything; the government will fund everything.

    “The true position is that, according to him, government is still willing to provide free uniforms, but it does not mean that parents should not buy uniforms for their children. A child could have uniforms in multiples.

    “On the shortage of teachers, the commissioner said there is a rationalisation going on after which the vacancy will be determined, and then, recruitment can take place. He said emphatically that, it is only based on statistics that recruitment could be done, if not, it would be a haphazard recruitment. We are satisfied with our discussion with them.”

  • How Bayelsa is coping with cash crunch, by Dickson

    How Bayelsa is coping with cash crunch, by Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson spoke with reporters in Yenagoa, the state capital, about the dwindling revenue, salary crisis and the plight of local government workers. Mike Odiegwu was there.

    How is your government coping with dwindling revenue and payment of workers’ salaries?

    You spoke about payment of salaries and everyone knows that, in Bayelsa State, we don’t owe salaries, we are not in arrears of salaries. We are also not in arrears in paying retirees. Only recentlyI met with the pensioners and they expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the government.

    The only challenge we have is about gratuity which has lingered for about ten years. But, in terms of regular payment of salaries, Bayelsa is not owing and we are also not owing pensioners.

    What are the measures we have put in place? It’s a combination of prudence and the selfless dedication of my team. For us the people’s interest comes first and that’s why even in my office for three months running, there has been no running cost paid. We don’t also have overhead paid for three months now, all because we want to ensure that salaries of workers are paid.

    These are for us first line charges and every government needs to treat this as priority payments. And so, God has been helping and my team has been supporting and dedicated and that’s why we have been able to achieve what most states have not been able to achieve for now.

    The bailout that states are getting, Bayelsa is not getting. Since Bayelsa is not indebted, Bayelsa is not given bailout because the bail out is for states that are indebted.

    Yes, our commitment to contractual obligation to contractors is what we are thinking about so that development project works can continue, to see that at the end of the day Bayelsa is way up there.

    We, however, noticed a slight delay in recent months with regard to salary payments. What was responsible for that?

    A delay of one week or two within the context of Nigeria is nothing remarkable. not what people should talk about. Let’s not behave in a way that people will wonder whether we are descendants of the Israelites who complained about everything, even when Moses was leading them out of Egypt, asking ‘why are you taking us out of the land of Egypt to die in the wilderness?’

    Some of these delays are due to late transfers and remittances from banks,which I believe is being sorted out. And as the public holiday ends, I’m sure all those issues will be taken care of.

    While you are paying workers’ salaries, the same cannot be said of the local government chairmen. What is your administration doing about this?

    I want to make it clear that as we have demonstrated the payment of worker’s salaries, even in the face of financial difficulty at the state level the payment of worker’s salaries should be made a topmost priority. That is the first thing you do when you receive allocations even before obligations that have to do with running of the office.

    For three months running I’ve not received or permitted any remittances to my office. I never permitted any payment of security votes to my office because I felt that priority has to be given to salaries and pension because these are wages that have been earned. So we are very sad that the situation such as you describe exists at the local governments. The state assembly is vested with the constitutional powers to unravel the reasons occasioning that undesirable situation.

    Well I don’t want to pre-judge the investigation being undertaken by the House of Assembly but the revenues that accrue to councils has also drastically reduced due to the shortfalls in the allocation from the Federation account as we all get it from the same source. All the same our expectation is that payment of salaries should be given priority attention, especially because there is a deliberate policy since I took over not to interfere with council funds and not to deduct any money meant for Local Government coffers.

    Rather, we pay 60% percent of the burden of paying teachers that they ought to bear away from them because of the importance that we attach to education. So with regard to local government salaries we are concerned because in the end I am Governor of everybody and we are running a government that has to protect everybody. And, I await the recommendations that the Assembly shall make from their findings and inquiries but from the preliminary reports I have received so far there is the possibility of our finding one way or the other to clear the backlog of salaries of Local Government workers.

    “The only challenge we have is about gratuity which has lingered for about ten years. But, in terms of regular payment of salaries, Bayelsa is not owing and we are also not owing pensioners”

    We have a very difficult situation that we are managing ourselves but I find it unacceptable in Bayelsa that any worker going to work will at month end not have his salary. It is not acceptable. So on that score, by the time I get the recommendations of the House, I will meet with my team and we shall devise ways to support the councils for the sake of the workers.

    Local Government Councils as created by the constitution are autonomous and that is why we don’t interfere in things that they do. We only give them general guidelines to be prudent and just as I have obligation to declare my income and expenditure, they also have an obligation and expect that they will be doing so. But we will take more than a passing interest in their financial issues and only as it relates to workers salaries.

    Recently, you started the Bayelsa State Volunteers to engage 3000 youths with N46million take off grant. What is the reason behind it?

    The Bayelsa Volunteer scheme is being rejuvenated and for those who are talking about graduate unemployment, for those who are saying things that are politically motivated, this government has engaged more youths than any government before me in terms of public employment and public service at all levels.

    We feel that we should start off with that. The Bayelsa Volunteers would start up a mechanism for training their members and imparting necessary skills in them for more permanent employment and productive enterprise. I said while presenting the instrument that every month they don’t need to come to me as it will be treated as first line charge, as part of the general salary payment.

    So all those beneficiaries, once salaries are paid, they will also get their allowances. They will be given opportunity to do a few things to earn a living, to earn one skill or the other. As I said earlier it is not intended to be a terminal end but stop-gap for the moment. It is to assist them find their bearing , assist them to cope with these difficult times pending when they will get something better and it will be nice for them to have this at the back of their minds before they start thinking they’ve got a pensionable job because that’s not the amount they would need to make a living forever. I enjoin all of them to be law abiding and to be faithful to their assigned duties and to acquire the necessary skills and correct attitude.

    If your administration truly funded some of these projects, why have they not been officially commissioned?

    All these projects in Bayelsa, I wish to state unequivocally, were conceived ,designed, funded and completed by the government of Bayelsa.There is not one that was not funded by the government of Bayelsa hundred percent and I believe everybody knows.

    I think what happened is this. Everybody wants to be governor, every character, every body once you are 35 years develop a governorship ambition. Any position you hold you don’t use it to help the people, you don’t use it to work for the state, you use it to fight for governorship. That is what is happening in Bayelsa. So a lot of people who were not in Bayelsa have had the inordinate ambition but were intimidated by the performance of my government and they say ‘with the way this man is going if we don’t throw stories around and take away the credit that should go to him and his government we won’t be able to contest an election again’. So, they started concocting stories to deceive the poor unsuspecting people of Bayelsa that these are federal projects.

    There is no federal project that they will do and give you the money. There must be a contract. It must be in the budget and they will pass the budget, they will award it, and they will come and supervise it and finish it.First of all I am not a flamboyant governor. I am someone who believes that our work will speak for us. For example as we completed Amassoma road we started using it and we have been using it for almost a year. I didn’t do any formal inauguration, when we started and finished Boro road, the road to Boro town a very historic centre conceived by Chief Okilo, but, no governor could do it; probably some of them didn’t have the time, because I believe that Chief Alamiesigha would have done it,I believe that Dr. Jonathan would have done it if he had the time but I have completed that road and you have a brand new satellite city coming up.

    All these projects you see are state government- designed, state- government funded; there is none that I know as governor that is federally funded or supported. Even the Airport ,we had to borrow N40 billion. The Assembly had to give me permission to borrow N40 billionth to do the airport and the airport is going on. They have finished sand filling ,they are doing the engineering works. By next year by the grace of God,we shall have delivered to the people of Bayelsa State a brand new airport.

    These characters who are not serious feel that politics is only about spreading propaganda and rumors and because some of our people are gullible,they listen to rumour more than even reality. Let me inform you that in the early days of my government some of these characters had met me. They said that there was no point in the programmes that I was initiating, that these Bayelsa people you don’t work like this for them o! They said so, but I pushed on and they became intimidated. These are not projects that any other person gave one naira for. If it were so why has the Federal Government not spoken? Why have they not sent people to commission them?

    I didn’t commission them because we were waiting for the former President to finish,we were trying to find time for him to pay a state visit and he really wanted to pay a state visit and he knew all these things I was doing. I wanted to give him the honour of commissioning some of these projects. That bridge, l was in his cabinet and I saw the passion he had when he awarded that contract,the project was conceived by DSP but he didn’t stay long enough to award it and when Jonathan took over,he awarded that contract to SETRACO. I was in the cabinet;and then we pushed it to a level before we left in 2007.

    When I came back I found that the project had long been abandoned but we have now completed it. So I wanted him to come and have the honour and I will still invite him to join me,but these are not Federal projects, nobody,no federal official serving or previous can take credit. They are all thanking me ,appreciating me for the vision and commitment and the dedication. So that is the situation.

    Our opponents can’t do anything,they don’t mean well for you in this state. All they do is spread propaganda and deceive people that they will come and give you money.It is the small money for payment of salaries that they want to steal,that was why salary wage bill was N6 billion but we have brought it to N4 billion. They were stealing. That is why we are awarding contracts and getting them done. Even when they took bond they stole the money,they could have built these roads,they could have built even two fly overs but they did not.

    So we are planning to inaugurate some of these jobs next month because I now feel that our people like ceremony. And we will give them some ceremony. And we have a lot of commissioning to do. We will commission the Boro Town road done by us. We will commission the flyover, the Azikoro road which we did and finished although we allowed people to be using it . All these roads we did, look at the Secretariat we built, who are they saying brought money to build them? These are characters whose stock in trade is to spread propaganda. Let us see wait and see the characters that they will produce that can match us in terms of what we have put on ground.

     

  • Our grouses with Dickson, by PDP leaders

    Our grouses with Dickson, by PDP leaders

    Aggrieved leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State yesterday resolved to begin a mass movement against the second term bid of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The leaders under the auspices of Assembly of Bayelsa Patriots (ABP), in a statement signed by their Chairman, Maj. Andrew Oputa, listed some alleged sins of the governor and concluded that he failed a reelection test.

    It was gathered that the ABP consists of former acting governors, ex-speakers, National Assembly members, political office holders and others who benefitted from the PDP.

    The group, in a statement entitled “Some Fundamental Reasons Why Bayelsans must unite to stop second tenure bid of Seriake Dickson”, accused the PDP government in the state of falling short of the people’s expectations.

    Oputa said the Dickson’s administration and the PDP broke down irretrievably because of abysmal failure to fulfill their promises on good governance, people-oriented programmes and sustainable development, among others.

    He lamented moves being perfected by Dickson to take another N25bn loan facility under the guise of completing his several abandoned projects.

    Oputa claimed that the loan was to be used to oil the governor’s second term agenda campaigns by bribing the same people he deliberately impoverished through wrong and misguided policies.

    He added: “Bayelsans are no doubt aware that Bayelsa State at present owes over N300bn as principal and interests of loans and bonds collected by Dickson’s government.

    “Bayelsans must stand up to say ‘no’ to the ongoing attempts by Dickson to enslave our people by indiscriminately collecting facilities for his selfish purposes.”

    He also challenged the governor to explain the whereabouts of huge money he claimed to have been saving every month which he once said amounted to N21bn.

    Attempt to get response from Dickson’s media aide, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, proved abortive as his mobile phone did not connect.

  • Tompolo’s meeting: Police take over venue

    Tompolo’s meeting: Police take over venue

    A team of armed and riot policemen, on Saturday took over Izon Wari (Ijaw House), venue of the proposed controversial meeting of former commanders of the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    The meeting which generated security concerns in the region and attracted condemnations from stakeholders was called by former militant commander, Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, advised the ex-militants to shelve the gathering and meet with him later on a separate day.

    Notable ex-militant commanders such as Victor Ebikabowei Ben fondly called Tompolo, Africanus Ukparasia famously called ‘General’Africa and others also condemned the proposed meeting and asked their supporters to stay away from the gathering.

    Africa specifically said: “We will not allow any individual to disrupt the peace and progress in the Niger Delta region in the name of ex-agitator. We warn against such attempts because we will resist and seriously deal with it”.

    Investigations revealed that the police deployed a detachment of armed security operatives within and around the Ijaw House, a building dedicated for activities aimed at promoting the Ijaw nation.

    A truckload of mobile policemen supported by five patrol vans of fully armed operatives were sent to the area.

    It was also observed that strategic junctions leading to the Sanni Abacha Expressway where the Ijaw House is located were manned by security men.

    As at 11am, the security operatives were seen monitoring the activities of motorists and commuters plying the area.

    But when The Nation returned to the area at 2pm, the the scheduled for the meeting to kick-off, there was no sign that the gathering would hold.

    The motive behind the deployment of policemen was unknown.

  • Bayelsa PDP elders meet Dickson over defection

    Bayelsa PDP elders meet Dickson over defection

    Bayelsa State elders and members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have met with Governor Seriake Dickson, following the mass exodus of the party members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the December 5 governorship election.

    A statement yesterday by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Daniel Iworsio-Markson, said the elders met under the aegis of Bayelsa Elders Consultative Council (BECC). They were said those who defected from the PDP to the APC “are a disgrace to the Ijaw nation”.

    The elders unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the governor, urging him to re-contest.

    They berated the defectors, saying they are “fair weather politicians with a savage mentality”.

    Dignitaries at the meeting included the Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; former Military Governor of old Bendel State, General John Yeri, (retd.); Chairman of the Bayelsa State Founding Fathers’ Forum, Dr. Amba Ambaiowei and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Edmond Allison-Oguru.

    The statement said Dickson decried the spate of defection, adding that the defectors are ingrates, who do not mean well for the state.

    The governor noted that most of the defectors were major beneficiaries of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s magnanimity, who abandoned him as soon as he lost the March 28 presidential election.

    He said such persons should have reciprocated the former President’s goodwill by remaining in the party instead of outright turning their backs against him.

    Dickson said: “These persons are clearly not for us; they are enemies of the Ijaw nation. It is sad that people who have benefited immensely from the PDP and Dr. Jonathan could, within so short a time, jump ship. Yet, they come and deceive us that they love us. These are not persons to be taken serious. We must not fall prey to their antics.”

    The governor urged security agencies to increase their efforts at ridding the state of criminality, despite the prevailing peace.

    He noted that the recent upsurge in kidnapping, piracy, killings and other criminal activities, might have political undertones, among other factors. Dickson decried the attacks on his administration.

    The governor said despite the distractions, the state government had continued to promote the freedom of speech and expression.

    On the state’s financial situation, Dickson said although there had been a shortfall in the revenue accruing to the state from the federal allocation, the government remained committed to paying workers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements.

    He said: “My government has completed big projects, such as the Toru-Ebeni Bridge, Ogbia/Nembe Road, the road to Boro town and the building of several secondary and primary schools at about N23 billion.

    The governor assured that the development of Bayelsa State would always be given priority.

    He called for the support, encouragement and prayers of well-meaning residents.

    Dickson said: “While I ask for your support, encouragement and prayers to make Bayelsa a better place for all, we need to tap your wealth of experience and wisdom as the government builds institutions to move the state to greater to heights.”

    The forum’s Chairman Francis Doukpola said the interaction would foster a better understanding and cooperation among stakeholders.

    He urged traditional rulers to take security issues seriously by monitoring the activities of their subjects.

    Doukpola hailed the governor for his pragmatic leadership style and commitment to the development of the state.

    He said such achievements were unprecedented in the history of the state.

     

  • Dickson lacks re-election value, Bayelsa PDP told

    Dickson lacks re-election value, Bayelsa PDP told

    •He is our best, says party elder

    A socio-political group, Bayelsa Democracy and Development Initiative (BDDI), yesterday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding Governor Seriake Dickson in the December 5 governorship election.

    The group said the party would fail woefully, if it allowed the governor to fly its flag for the election.

    But an elder statesman and a founding father of the PDP, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said Dickson remained the best candidate of the party for the election.

    The group, coordinated by a former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan when he was Bayelsa governor, Dr. Konrad Welson, said a field research conducted by the group showed that Dickson lacked re-election value.

    According to him, before coming out with the verdict, the group interacted with people from the urban and rural areas.

    Dr Welson said the research involved men, women, students, workers, professional bodies and youths.

    He said: “We conducted a field research and survey. The findings show that a good percentage of people of the state are not favourably disposed to the re-election bid of the governor.

    “The state of affairs is the result of what the people perceive as Dickson’s failure to meet the expectations of the people who elected him in 2011, coupled with his hostile and divisive leadership style. Being the flag bearer of the PDP may lead to the loss of the party in the state.”

    The PDP chieftain claimed that the group’s interface with the political class and civil society organisations (CSOs) in the last three months revealed deep seated disdain and disappointment in the quality of leadership Dickson has offered.

    Welson said the governor’s leadership style caused acrimony in the PDP, adding that his administration had failed to offer basic amenities, such as roads, hospitals and potable water, after three and a half years in office.

    He said: “…The BDDI admonishes the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), not to take Bayelsans for granted by solely relying on the perceived and assumed influence of the Federal Government for their fortune at the forthcoming election.

    “The APC must work hard to present a candidate that is competent, credible and capable of governing the people.”

    The PDP chieftain advised politicians and the civil society to elect the best person to achieve social justice and good governance in Bayelsa.

    But Okorotie said the governor remained the best candidate the PDP could offer for the election.

    He said: “First, he has performed creditably, comparatively with any other governor that has ever ruled here. What he did in two and the half years is history. What has slowed down projects is purely a function of economic downturn.

    “You can only develop with money, especially when you are running a government of prudence and one that is not corrupt.

    “He (Dickson) has credibility. Apart from that, he is going into areas other governors did not have the courage to go into. For example, the three senatorial roads are federal roads. But he has gone to them. A road has reached Nembe; a road is approaching Oporoma.”

     

  • Dickson in make or mar contest for second term

    Dickson in make or mar contest for second term

    THE battle over who occupies Creek Haven, the nickname for the Bayelsa State Government House in Yenogoa, the capital city, come February 14, 2016 has intensified with the recent announcement that the governorship election will take place on December 5, 2015. The race for the Government house has been on even before the recent general elections. But, it was only after the March and April polls that it became more pronounced. With the general elections concluded, the two major parties, the Peoples’ Democratic party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), have started working towards the December election.

    The spate of defections in recent times from the PDP to the APC has set the stage for the December 5 election. Politicians are leaving the PDP in their numbers, to realise their political ambition in the APC, which is growing in popularity in the Southsouth state. For instance, scores of such politicians defected to the APC at the weekend, including a two-time member of House of Representatives Chief Warman Ogoriba, some former aides of incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson and their supporters. In recent times, former commissioners, such as Charles Opuola, Nelson Belief, Sylvanus Abila, and Ayiba Nelson have dumped the ruling party. Other party bigwigs such as Adolphus Ofongo, Lucky Yeboah, Romeo Ebizimor, Williams Ofoni, John Ebikake and Moses Tariebe have also joined the APC train. The Bayelsa chapter of the PDP has described the defectors as “traitors and enemies of the Ijaw nation”.

    Coming on the heels of the recent defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from the state, the December election in Bayelsa is generating a lot of interests. Like Anambra, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Kogi and Osun, there was no governorship poll in Bayelsa State during the last general elections. This is because of the nullification of the election of the election of former Governor Timipre Sylva in April 2008 by the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which necessitated the conduct of a fresh one.

    Sylva, again running as the PDP candidate, was overwhelmingly elected on May 24, 2008, with 588,204 out of about 598,000 votes cast. He was sworn in again three days later on May 27. Nevertheless, on January 27, 2012, his tenure was terminated by the Supreme Court with an acting governor appointed to oversee the state until the election of February 2012. One feature of previous elections in Bayelsa is that there were no keen contests; they were dominated by the ruling party.

    But, this time around, indications are that it is going to be a different ballgame. Observers say Jonathan’s defeat and the larger than life image of President Muhammadu Buhari and that of the APC appear to have altered the dynamics of politics in the state.

    The defeat of Jonathan at the polls has brought internal crisis in its wake within the state chapter of the PDP. This has elicited an element of disloyalty among its members. Others have even left the fold to join the APC, which is growing popular in the Southsouth state. Depending on who emerges as the party’s flag bearer, one cannot rule out a political tsunami that will see the ruling party at the centre wrestling power from the PDP.

    Governor Dickson had declared with confidence that Bayelsa will always belong to the PDP, despite the defeat of the former president. But, this can no longer be taken for granted with the recent incursions made by the APC into the House of Assembly, following the defection of four members and a senator from the state. The defections have ignited the fear of a possible tsunami during the governorship polls.

    Aside from Jonathan’s defeat and the rising profile of the APC, another factor that will shape the contest is the sentiment that the Southsouth is the last stronghold of the PDP. The Ijaw ethnic group that populates Bayelsa may want to go along with other states in the region that is predominantly PDP.  Indeed, the PDP and Governor Dickson seem to be a step ahead in terms of structure and finance.

    The defeat at the recent general elections notwithstanding, indications are that Jonathan will always remain a factor in Bayelsa politics. He has always been the stabilising factor in the PDP and the politics of the state. For many political appointees and elected representatives, the former President will always be their benefactor. In recent times Dickson has taken it upon himself to lead the party in the absence of the president. The Dickson-led PDP is battling to weed away perceived moles and parasites within the party, taking the bull by the horn and moving against perceived political enemies and those involved in alleged anti-party activities during the general elections.

    The move by the governor, which is generating tension among perceived opponents, is alleged to be an in-house cleaning process to flush out those loyal to the wife of the former president and those against the governor’s second term bid. This has generated internal crisis within the PDP chapter. In the last few months, some party stakeholders have been up in arms against the incumbent governor over the in-house cleaning process.

    For this reason, Dickson has personalities like the former Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Heineken Lokpobiri, his counterpart in Bayelsa Central, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Senator Ikisikpo, who has since defected to the APC and the former Senior Special Assistant to ex- President Jonathan on Domestic Matters, Wariponmowei Dudafagh, to contend with to realise his second term ambition.

    Dudafagh, according to reports, is the preferred candidate of former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, to succeed Dickson. Obviously aware of the opposition arrayed against him, the incumbent governor appears ready to go for the broke. Some weeks ago, the Bayelsa PDP, allegedly acting on Dickson’s promptings, suspended some members of the party, while others led by Dudafagha were out-rightly expelled for alleged anti-party activities.

    The main opposition party, the APC, is the major beneficiary from the crisis within the ruling PDP. Against the background of the defections from the ruling party to the APC, observers are in agreement that the December governorship race will no doubt be the toughest so far for the PDP, which has been at the helm of affairs in the state since the return of civil rule in 1999.

    Since the March 28 presidential elections, when the former president was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari, the profile of the Timipre Sylva-led APC in Bayelsa State has been rising. Today, the APC is believed to be shopping for viable candidate to face the incumbent Governor Dickson at the polls. The open-door policy adopted by the party has attracted many viable contenders into its fold.

    The big names that are being mentioned in connection with the race for the APC ticket are: Sylva, former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former managing director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe. Others are: former commissioner for health Frank Akpoebi; permanent secretary in the ministry of power, Godknow Igali; state APC chairman, Tiwe Oruminighe; Preye Aganaba, who recently lost his senatorial bid; General Manager of the State Transport Company, Ebitimi Angbare; and the Convener of the Nigeria Professionals Leadership Forum, Moses Siasia.

    Other candidates interested in running for the state’s number seat include Timi Alaibe, a former managing director, Niger Delta Development Commission and the former Bayelsa State commissioner for health Frank Akpoebi.

    Sylva

    For now, Sylva, who is the leader of the Bayelsa APC chapter, is believed to have excluded himself from the list of possible candidates for the December 5 governorship race. But, this based on the understanding that he may be given an appointment to serve in the administration of President Buhari.

    Alamieyeseigha

    There are strong indications that Alamieyeseigha is seeking to govern Bayelsa State again. It was learnt that this time around, Alamieyeseigha, who in his first tenure, was called ‘Governor General of Niger Delta,’ wishes to actualise his ambition on the platform of the APC.

    Alamieyeseigha became the first civilian governor of the state in 1999 and was re-elected for a second term in 2003. He was later convicted of corruption and money laundering, leading to his impeachment by the state House of Assembly. He was subsequently prosecuted and convicted. But, he was pardoned by President Goodluck Jonathan, who described him as his political benefactor.

    He is believed to be holding high-level consultations with APC stalwarts, to consider the possibility of running under the APC platform. He is trying to exploit the alleged frosty relationship between the incumbent governor and former Niger Delta militants. He has assured the APC leadership that with him as governor, the militants will feel comfortable.

    Alaibe

    Alaibe, who had sought the ticket of the PDP twice in 1999 and 2003, was again denied the ticket of the party by those considered his political fathers. His decision to seek the same governorship ticket on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) was thwarted allegedly by the former President Jonathan. Political observers are of the opinion that he may a good choice for the APC, if the party is serious about its intent to end PDP’s era in the state.

    Before his sabbatical from the politics, Alaibe was a prominent politician who came close to clinching the 2007 PDP governorship ticket. He was allegedly asked to step down for Jonathan by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Anthony Anenih, the former Chairman, Board of Trustees. Though Alaibe stepped down from the race, he never got on well with Jonathan who won the 2007 governorship election. His political profile further took a downward slide following the surprise emergence of Jonathan as President in 2010.

    Nevertheless, Alamieyeseigha and Alaibe are yet to publicly declare for the APC.

    Anagbare

    Anagbare is the General Manager of the State Transport Company. Angbare, who has been quiet and hardworking aide in the Dickson’s administration, was the flag bearer of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) during the 2007 governorship race in Bayelsa State. He created an upset, by getting the court to annul the election of Sylva. The re-run ordered by the Federal Court of Appeal, was however won by Sylva. Incidentally, the Counsel to Angbare during the election petition tribunal was the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Others

    Others in the shopping list of the APC for the December contest are: former Commissioner for Health, Chief Frank Akpoebi; permanent secretary in the Ministry of Power, Godknow Igali, the APC state chairman Tiwe Oruminighe; the Convener of the Nigeria Professionals Leadership Forum, Moses Siasia; and Preye Aganaba, who recently lost his senatorial bid.

    Given the mounting opposition, Dickson is believed to be fighting dirty to realise his second term bid. The Dickson camp has dismissed insinuations that the APC is on its way to ending the PDP’s 16-year reign in Bayelsa.

    The governor, the group maintained, promised the people in 2012 that if voted into power, he would embark on accelerated infrastructural development, provide robust education, transparency, security and reforms in the governance structure and the public service. It insists that since he won the election, he has largely delivered on his election promises.

    The defeat of Jonathan at the polls has brought internal crisis in its wake within the state chapter of the PDP. This has elicited an element of disloyalty among its members

     

  • ‘Dickson’s “empire” not crumbling in Bayelsa’

    ‘Dickson’s “empire” not crumbling in Bayelsa’

    Ordinarily, I shouldn’t have responded to the story entitled Dickson’s Crumbling Empire in Bayelsa written by the Bayelsa Correspondent of Nation newspaper on Saturday,18 July, 2015 because as we approach the governorship election in the state on December 5, I should expect more falsehood fed the media by desperate politicians who want power for the sole aim of returning the littoral state to the days of the swarming locust.  Though I am not a government spokesman but after pondering about it, I decided to do a succinct rejoinder to the obviously misleading piece which was meant to give the tenuous impression to the All Progressives Congress (APC) apparatchiks that the party is the new kid on the Bayelsa block. The news analysis couldn’t sway Bayelsa voters to the opposition either!

    First, the writer alluded to an empire built by the Countryman Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, which he averred was crumbling as a result of the so called decamping of some members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. The governor has never had an empire and doesn’t intend to build any so I don’t know how a non-existent empire could crumble!

    In the past three and half years of Dickson’s sojourn in the Creek Haven, he has demystified governance by redefining the governance culture in the state, projected the frontiers of Ijaw national interest, stood by President Goodluck Jonathan at all times and above all, the Dickson administration has embarked on a massive infrastructural and human capital development of Bayelsans so much so that Bayelsa, the glory of all lands, has been restored to its pride of place in the comity of states. In other words, Dickson has delivered concrete developmental deliverables to Bayelsans and Ijaw nation as a whole. Under Dickson’s watch, security of life and property is a top priority of government. Our Bayelsa of today has zero tolerance for crime, criminality and corruption and this explains why all the businesses shut down by the hostile actions and inactions of the Governor Timipre Sylva Government have resurrected, leading to a boom in the business and night life of Bayelsa.

    Dickson declared a state of emergency in education and made education free and compulsory at the primary and secondary levels. Over N25 billion already spent on turning around primary and secondary education in the state. The Teachers Training Institute, several primary and model secondary schools and many more education projects are already lined up for commissioning in August.  The Dickson Government has spent over N7billion on the scholarship of post-graduate and Ph.D scholars in reputable universities abroad, the first of its kind since the creation of the state in 1996.  The beneficiaries of this scheme cut across all qualified Ijaws not necessarily Bayelsans. An audacious flyover and several roads on nylon tares have been constructed across the state. A world class diagnostic centre with a Drug Mart named after late Professor Dora Akunyili are testimony to the Dickson’s wonders in the state.  And of course, this government has provided employment for its citizens more than any one before it. Over 500 Bayelsans and still counting have been appointed into various positions in this government. In the face of the daunting credit crunch, when states with more  revenue receivables could not pay salaries, the Countryman Governor has kept a clean slate, paying salaries and pensions of all civil/public servants as and when due. With these uncommon strides in less than four years, pundits expect Dickson to roll out the drums and posture sanctimoniously with exaggerated swagger but not the Countryman. He tells those who care to listen that Bayelsa is a work in progress. And in return for the purposeful and accountable selfless leadership to the Ijaw nation, the people have resolved to stand by him like the rock of Gibraltar. The strength of Dickson is the people on whose shoulder, sovereignty lies, not the parasitic preservers of privileges that dot the polity or an empire as alluded to by the reporter. Empires come and go but human beings are constant decimal in politics. It was against this background that Dickson won a return ticket to the House of Representatives in 2011 against the wish of the iron-fisted incumbent governor, Sylva who sponsored Mr. William Ofoni against Dickson. The people made it possible for Dickson not empire. Similarly, the governor will rely on the people for re-election. Already, the clergy, the organized labour, the muslim community, market women, youth organisations and still counting have urged Dickson to throw his hat into the ring.

    In the last March and April elections, the same Sylva, in collaboration with some hawks in Abuja launched a vicious campaign against PDP, the people stood by Dickson and he trounced them. In all, Sylva lost his senatorial bid, only managed to win a House of Assembly seat for APC, his allies won a seat for APGA while the PDP swept the three senatorial seats, all the House of Representatives, 21 House of Assembly slots and of course, the presidential election.

    A cursory look at the defectors/anti Dickson elements shows clearly that over 98 percent of them have never supported Dickson’s bid to be governor. Almost all of them were either appointees under Sylva or former federal and state lawmakers imposed on the people by the Sylva government but who lost out in their return bids or in their bids to seek higher offices in the new Bayelsa. Former Senator Heineken Lokpobri, former House of Reps member, Hon Warman Ogoriba, former Commissioner for Agriculture and Chief of Staff to Government House, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha and former acting governors of the state, Hon. Werinipre Seibarugu and Hon. Nestor Ibinabo represent this tendency of defectors.  And the second category of the elements shouting ‘‘dethrone Dickson’’ are those encouraged and funded by the former first lady to supplant Dickson. The former Commissioner for Local Government under Sylva and Special Assistant on Domestic Matters to former president, Goodluck Jonathan, Hon Weripamowei Dudafa leads this pack. These same people were those that led the defunct Transformation Ambassadors of Nigerians (TAN) in Yenagoa to undermine Dickson in the build up to the last general election. The third category is made of politicians who are moving to APC to spite the former president. This group is led by the immediate past senator representing Jonathan (Bayelasa East), Chief Clever Ikisikpo and Dr. Tarila Tebepah.

    So those of us who know the antics of the politicians defecting to APC are not losing sleep. I can beat my chest that if Sylva or any of them throws his hat into the governorship ring, he will kiss the ground the way Sylva did on March 31 when Ben Bruce trounced him in the Bayelsa East senatorial contest.

    Already, the mainstream women and youth groups in the state, the clergy and Ijaw elders in Bayelsa have condemned the ambition of Sylva and the gale of defection of some Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) members to APC, many of whom were aides, appointees and associates of Sylva. The groups have consequently led the charge in the re-election of Governor Henry Dickson. Tagged Operation Retain Dickson in Creek Haven campaign, the groups particularly the elders, clergy, women and youth organisations  said they must  return Dickson to government house to prove that there is reward for hard work and selfless service to fatherland.

    At separate events, these groups endorsed the re-election of the Countryman Governor. Rising from an emergency meeting in Yenagoa last week, the elders led by the financial expert and political heavy weight, Chief Francis Duokpola cursed the APC and the PDP politicians defecting to the APC, describing them as vultures and a shame to the Ijaw nation. They wondered why a party that controversially wrested power from Dr. Jonathan, an Ijaw icon would be embraced by desperate politicians whom they describe as vultures and self-seeking. They vowed to stop APC from gaining root in Bayelsa State even as they declared; ‘‘The APC has declared war on the Ijaw nation. Right from the days of our forefathers, the Ijaws have never been conquered and our generation cannot be conquered by APC!’’

    Curiously, over 50 percent of those defecting want to govern the state at the same time. While the remaining 50 percent either pooh pooh Dickson out of petty jealousy as a result of his rising profile or for not opening the public treasury for them to loot as they had done in the past. It is no wonder that Sylva and many of them are currently undergoing trial in court. The ELECTORATE has never been with many of them and in this era of card reader, their emptiness and unpopularity will be more than ever exposed. Without the wind blowing, nobody sees the rump of the fowl and the December 5 polls is the wind that will expose their weakness!

    The politics of Dudafa and Ikiogha for example which Mr. Odiegwu harped on to high heaven is not new to Bayelsans. Two months to the 2012 governorship polls, they resigned from the Sylva government to join Dickson. Dudafa wanted to be Dickson’s running mate but couldn’t succeed. He turned against Dickson and started scheming to be governor, yet Governor Dickson compensated him with a contract to build a referral hospital in Kaiama. Chief Ikiogha, another beneficiary of government contracts parted ways with the Countryman Governor when he lost his bid to go to the National Assembly. With this short insight, is it not crystal clear that their disagreement with the governor is propelled by self and not the people? What baffled me most was the refusal of the reporter to celebrate Dickson for restoring peace and civility in the polity. Rather he dwelled so much celebrating the defectors knowing full well that many of these people are serial traitors and defectors who are trying to reposition themselves to either be governor for the fun of it or to trap favour from the federal government controlled by APC. Mr. Odiegwu knows that if the so called defection to the opposition had taken place in the days of Sylva, Boko Haram would have been imported to Yenagoa to bomb the venue of the defection as evident in 20011. It was also to the eternal glory of the Sylva administration that the presidential campaign of General Muhammadu Buhari in Yenagoa in 2011 was disrupted as the general and his team were pelted with stones.

    But the reverse was the case this year when he launched his campaign in Yenagoa. The state government provided tight security for the event to the admiration of President Buhari because a new governor with democratic ethos was in charge!

    In no distant future, the chicken will come home to roost. The governor, being a committed party man and consummate democrat will receive them back to the fold for the new Bayelsa accommodates the good, the bad and the ugly!

    Sagbama is a Public Affairs Analyst and Coordinator of Restoration Continuity, a support group for Governor Dickson’s Re-election 2015.