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Tag: Dickson

  • Dickson accuses pro-Jonathan group of destabilising Bayelsa

    Dickson accuses pro-Jonathan group of destabilising Bayelsa

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State yesterday drew the battle line between him and the state leadership of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), the group in the vanguard of a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Seriake who has been locked in a power struggle with the group yesterday alleged ‘subversive tendencies’ which according to him “have almost been taken to a treasonable level.”

    The governor  mentioned no names in a statement by his  Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, but he recently sacked his Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, and his special adviser, Mrs. Remi Kuku, for allegedly romancing with his detractors led by the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu.

    The state’s TAN is firmly in the grips of loyalists of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who are believed to be working hard to sack the governor or prevent him from getting a second term.

    Some members of the group were said to have joined in taunting the governor at the recent traditional wedding of the president’s daughter in his Otuoke country home.

    Iworiso-Markson in his statement yesterday accused the leadership of TAN in the state of causing division within the PDP.

    Although the governor reaffirmed his total support and commitment to the re-election of the President, he vowed that he would not allow enemies of the state to disorganise the ongoing restoration in the state.

    Dickson said that contrary to reports that he ordered his aides not to attend the president’s daughter’s wedding, he  as the leader of the government and PDP, personally mobilised women and youth groups from all over the state and also led the state delegation to attend the ceremony.

    He berated politicians led by Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu, Kuku and “their cohorts” for creating divisions among the women.

    He said Seibarugu and co were creating division mostly to serve their own selfish interest other than promoting the genuine objectives of TAN.

    He described their antics as childish and most deplorable and said their activities belie their claims of working for the success of PDP and President Jonathan in the forthcoming elections.

    Dickson said while Seibarugu and his group were operating under the aegis of TAN, they rallied senior members of the previous administration in the state to engage and promote the politics of subversion and needless divisions in the state.

    He said Kuku did not only create division among the women, but also displayed total disrespect for senior officials of the state government by her actions.

    He said such attitude of Kuku could no longer be condoned in his government.

    He said: “We want to sound a clear note of warning to all, that in the interest of peace, even as the elections draw near, that this state is bigger than every one of us and nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be spared from facing the wrath of the law, if found wanting.

    “Similarly, ahead of the 2015 general elections, we warn politicians in the state to eschew every form of subversive and divisive tendencies, capable of threatening the existing peaceful, harmonious, united and conducive environment the restoration government has worked hard to put in place that has also ushered in the rapid and massive development in the state.”

    He called on security agencies in the state to be alive to their constitutional roles and duties.

  • Why Bayelsa should vote for Jonathan, by Dickson

    Why Bayelsa should vote for Jonathan, by Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson spoke with reporters in Yenagoa, the state capital, on his activities. He also explained why the people should vote for President Goodluck Jonathan. MIKE ODIEGWU was there.

    The governorship election will not hold in Bayelsa State. But, can you deliver the state to the PDP at the presidential election?

    Nobody is talking about the governorship election in this state, because it is still far away. Anybody who is doing that has not calculated well. They are dancing too early and you know what happens to early dancers; they get tired early and fizzle out. Let us for now; sink all those ambitious; reasonable, unrealistic, whatever ambitious they may be. When the time comes, you put yourselves up for nominations.

    Let us gather and support the President’s election and deliver Bayelsa. Let’s join our leaders and friends across the country to work for the emergence of President Jonathan for him to continue with the business of transformation. And for Bayelsans, I look forward to collaborating with you all so that we can deliver a new and prosperous and peaceful Bayelsa State in Jesus name.

    What are your expectations about the poll?

    We are full of expectations concerning the presidential elections. For me unlike a number of people who seek power over men to bow down to other things; they do all kinds of funny things but we look up to God only. I believe that the fact that the presidential election is taking place on the anniversary of this government of restoration; it shows a very clear sign of victory. I have no doubt that the Peoples Democratic Party will be victorious. I have no doubt that our brother and leader, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will be victorious and the reasons are clear.

    We have a strong political party that is like a horse. If the war horse is strong, anyone can ride it to victory. The other party has not been tested yet at the national level. So, you are pitting the PDP tested old warhorse against an infantile contraption.

    We in the PDP through Mr President’s transformation agenda and the performing governors including myself have a good message of transformation that is powerful. What does the other side have? promises and criticisms and most of it sometimes unfair. So we believe that Nigerians will discern between what is real and on ground. It may not be perfect but they are seeing the honest efforts that the President is making.

    In every election, after you have talked about the platform and the programmes, you talk about the candidate himself. We have a good product to sell in President Jonathan and with the dexterity that he has shown in managing the affairs of the country at a time that is quite not too friendly; taking this country through this trying period, he has demonstrated that he is a statesman. I believe that our product is good enough to market itself. The Bible says, surely people will gather. It didn’t say people will not gather, but it tells you clearly what happens when the ungodly gather and they will surely scatter because when you do your best, God sees and He is interested in the affairs of the people because we are created in his image. When you do things to advance the cause of the people, then you become of interest to God. I call on you all to go and get your permanent voter’s cards because that is the power you will show. For us, we at the state are solidly behind the candidature of President Jonathan but we will not be able to join me to support if you don’t have your PVCs. I have told the chairman of councils and political leaders of the various local government areas to mobilize our people in order to get their PVCs so that they can cast their votes.

    The PDP in the state seems divided some any members of the party are still not happy about the outcome of the last party primaries. What is your take on the cracks in PDP?

    Let me assure you right away that the PDP in Bayelsa State is not divided; there is no crack. As a matter of fact, I want to use this opportunity to congratulate all the leaders and members of PDP in Bayelsa State and the work of the security agencies. If you have been following the political events and the outcome of the primaries, you will realize that the Bayelsa primaries were the least problematic. The Bayelsa primaries didn’t even give any challenge to the national authorities because members and aspirants conducted themselves peacefully. The processes that we followed were all inclusive and the outcome generally was more acceptable.

    Like in every contest, there are losers and winners. There are people who didn’t have the opportunity to actualize their ambition. And to such persons I say, today may not be your time, tomorrow may be yours. I keep reminding everybody that power flows from God. Generally, we are doing well as a party. There are very few cases of PDP members being dissatisfied and therefore going to contest against their party candidate’s on other platforms but we have not seen high level defections in this party arising from the primaries as we read about them in the newspapers everyday.

    The kind of leadership we are providing apart from building roads and other infrastructure extends to reforms in the political culture; that is why we subject people to their primaries. And in the local government elections, there was no single scratch or injuries to anybody. We have done what a lot of people thought was going to be very volatile party primaries. It was very peaceful. People should know that this is the hand of God visiting Bayelsa. It is only satanic and cultic characters that thrive in crisis; who always go against what is rationale and normal. This is not the time for such characters to come to Bayelsa because the light of God will repel and expose you. We may have had one or two isolated cases, which you can’t really rule out in the most advanced democratic governments. So it is a negligible phenomenon and by the time our reconciliation committee run its full course, there will be some understanding.

    Only recently we’ve witnessed an upsurge of criminal activities along the waterways and creeks in Bayelsa particularly the challenge of sea piracy. Also last year, the Maritime Union went on strike twice because of the issue of sea piracy, is your administration bothered about this problem and what is government doing to stem this tide?

    We are a government of law and order. If there is any government that has put security on the front burner, it is this restoration government. So we are concerned. Do we have an ideal security situation? No human security situation can be ideal and particularly the situation in our waterways has always presented a challenge. This is because of the difficult terrain and the challenge of funding. Security is very expensive. We know what we spent to maintain even the operation Doo Akpor when we came on board because we needed to reduce crime. We know the investments we have made. Security is expensive; you’ve to procure equipment, train men, pay allowances and so on. People don’t know what running a government means.

    They don’t know the sacrifices that we officials of government and security agents make. Just some days back I heard the news of the killing of law enforcement officers on the waterways but it is a challenge that we are responding to. I don’t think the approach the maritime workers took was the best. The maritime workers themselves have a role to play. They need to collaborate more with security agents because it is their own drivers who know the waterways and the terrain. All of us need to work together, so I call on members of the public to continue to collaborate with security agencies and give information on how sea pirates get their funding and so on.

    It is a disturbing trend but now in areas like Nembe, the incidence of sea piracy has reduced somewhat except for Brass, Akassa and parts of Southern Ijaw local government, which have always been areas of concern. If it hadn’t been the dwindling finances, we would have provided more support in terms of more platforms to security agencies. We had earlier provided 25 patrol gunboats to support their efforts.

  • ‘Dickson, First Lady’s feud splits Bayelsa PDP’

    The ambition of Dame Patience, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, to kick Governor Seriake Dickson out of the Government House in Bayelsa State has clearly divided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    It was observed on Tuesday that the party which hitherto paraded itself as a close-knit family had now split into two – Dickson’s and First Lady’s camps.

    The two camps are said to be separate and distinct as they try not to be found together in social and political gatherings.

    Persons found to be associating with Patience loyalists are viewed as haters of Dickson and vice versa.

    The Nation gathered that while the camp of Patience is wooing more loyalists of the governor to identify with its plot, the think-tank in Dickson’s camp is wary of the first lady’s moles.
    It was gathered that Dickson’s haters are President Jonathan’s loyalists from the Presidency and other Abuja-based politicians who are mainly members of the National Assembly from the state.

    First Lady’s bloc was said to have more disciples following the outcome of the just-concluded PDP primaries in the state.

    Party members who lost out of the contest have reportedly moved en masse to the anti-Dickson’s camp to ventilate their grievances.

     

  • Battle of wits in Dickson’s senatorial district

    Battle of wits in Dickson’s senatorial district

    Mike Odiegwu in Yenogoa, reports on the intrigues in Bayelsa West Senatorial District ahead PDP primaries

    WHO flies the senatorial flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Bayelsa West Senatorial District? This is a question leaders and elders in the party are anxiously working round the clock to find answers to.

    The solution to the puzzle, however, lies in the bosom of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson. The governor politically owns the senatorial district which comprises Sagbama and Ekeremor local government areas. Dickson hails from Toru-Orua in Sagbama.

    Unless the Presidency thinks otherwise, the governor reserves the exclusive rights to decide who picks the senatorial ticket of the PDP in his district. But with the calibre of persons who have indicated interests for the job in PDP, the governor may be in dilemma.

    In fact, the district currently parades eminently qualified political heavyweights who are scrambling for the ticket and seeking the approval of the governor and elders from the area. Interestingly, the major contenders in the party are all doctorate degree holders.

    One of such persons is Dr. Stella Dorgu. She is perhaps the only female in the state aspiring to occupy a seat in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly in 2015. A retired broadcaster, Dorgu currently occupies the Ekeremor-Sagbama Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

    Indeed, her closeness to the governor is a source of worry to other aspirants. First, she floated the Keme-to-Keme (house-to-house) campaign that sold the governorship ambition of Dickson to almost all the homes in the state. It is believed that her unique penetrative political sermon helped Dickson to emerge as the governor in 2012.

    The governor has always believed in Dorgu’s loyalty. Shortly after emerging as the governor of the state, Dickson supported Dorgu in a bye-election to replace him and complete the job he abandoned in the House of Representative. It is believed that the governor may also throw his weight behind the woman out of his gender sensitive demenaour and his appraisal of Dorgu’s performance in her constituency in just two years.

    For instance, the governor has been urging women to vie for elective positions in 2015. He recently gave Dorgu’s aspirations a boost when he said he would like a woman to succeed him.

    Dickson, who spoke in Yenagoa recently at the state secretariat of the PDP, said: “When I have to vacate my seat at the end of my tenure as governor of Bayelsa State, I have to search for a woman to succeed me.”

    He urged female politicians to seek elective positions and promised to support them to realise their ambitions. Declaring PDP as a women-friendly party, the governor asked party faithful to be prepared to see more women as members in the next session of the state House of Assembly and other elective positions.

    Therefore, other senatorial aspirants are apprehensive that the governor, based on his gender sensitivity, would support Dorgu, the only female aspirant, for the top legislative job.

    Besides, elders and leaders of thought from the district were said to have mounted pressure on Dickson to back Dorgu. They were said to have told Dickson that within two years in the House of Representatives, Dorgu has given employment to over 10 indigenes of the district in federal institutions; scholarships to about 20 persons; attracted three federal projects in rural communities and sponsored many free medical missions.

    The elders were said to have made serious appeals to the governor highlighting other achievements of Dorgu. They assured the governor that if supported to win the senatorial seat, Dorgu would attract more development to the district and remain loyal to his administration.

    Dorgu also believes that she is the best aspirant to fly the flag of the party. She said: “I believe I am a qualified daughter of Ijawland and if my people say that they want to repose that confidence in me the same way that they reposed the confidence in me to make me a member of the House of Representatives, then I will be privileged and honoured”.

    Apart from Dorgu, another aspirant that has declared readiness to clinch the party’s ticket is Dr. Ayakeme Whisky. He has served at various times as a commissioner in the state. Whisky, who hails from Bolu-Orua, a community that shares boundary with Dickson’s Toru-Orua, is believed to be close to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He has been a leader in the South-South for many years and for eight years has served as the Secretary of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA). He is also one of the board members of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

    Whiskey said:  “I served Bayelsa State perfectly when I was a commissioner to the extent that I had to contradict my governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, simply because the way the governor was operating was antithetic to the governed.

    “When the former governor collaborated with a cabal to frustrate Jonathan to emerge as the Acting President, I was not part of it and that was why I fell out of favour with his government. For the past 33 years, I have devoted the greatest part of my life to fight the cause of Ijaw land. There is no issue in Ijaw land that is alien to me”.

    Another senatorial aspirant hustling for the ticket of the PDP in the district is Mr. Foster Ogola. Ogola, an evangelist who currently presides over the state scholarship board is said to have over 40 years experience in private and public sector. He was a former Special Adviser on Investment and Economic Development to President Jonathan when the latter was the governor of the state.

    Ogola is reputed to have led a delegation of Ijaw people as an elected delegate to the 1994-95 Constitutional Conference in Abuja, where he participated in the writing of the 1999 Constitution, already amended twice.

    However, it seems Ogola is having a tough time managing the scholarship board as some scholarship students from the state, especially those studying abroad, have expressed dissatisfaction in his team.

    Under his management, the state’s scholarship students in Russia have on many occasions lamented their neglect by the board. A similar outcry once emanated from the United Kingdom. Besides, some students from Malaysia were said to have dragged the scholarship board Chairman to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    So, his critics are of the opinion that instead of seeking a senatorial seat, he should first strengthen matters on the board and help Dickson to actualise his dreams in the educational sector.

    But all the aspirants are up against the incumbent senator representing the district, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. The senator known for his contributions on the floor of the House has occupied the position for two terms of eight years. He is said to be interested in returning to his seat in 2015.

    Lokpobiri, however, has a battle with elders and leaders in his district who in the interest of zoning had foreclosed his chances of returning for a third term. Following the development, the senatorial seat has been zoned to Sagbama. But Lokpobiri is from Ekeremor.

    In fact, the chairmen of Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas, Mr. Billy Tobiyei and Willy Oyadongha, respectively immediately upheld the decision. They called on indigenes of their various LGAs to remain committed to the zoning formula adopted by the political leaders, elders and stakeholders of the district.

    The ongoing agitation for zoning predicated on the principles of equity, peace and justice, may have, according to some observers, narrowed the chances of Lokpobiri.

    Though the senator has been quiet over the matter, his loyalists have risen in his defence. Persons disposed to the senator argue that Lokpobiri should return to the senate in the spirits of ranking and experience.

    The big question however remains: Who does the cap fit?

  • No tears for Dickson

    No tears for Dickson

    ACT one, scene one: Once upon a time, Bayelsa State had a governor named Timipre Sylva.  He led the state to the best of his ability. Not all were pleased with his style of leadership. So, there were voices against some of his actions. But what did him in was not whether or not he was perspicacious; it was his loss of the support of President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience.

    Sylva was Jonathan’s governor because the president hails from Otuoke, a community in Bayelsa. Mrs Jonathan, by marriage, is also from Otuoke. By birth, she is from Okrika, Rivers State. She takes more than a cursory interest in political developments in both states. She has openly endorsed  former Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer in Rivers. The other close to 20 aspirants can go to hell for all she cares.

    Some will vow that Sylva lost out more because he fell out with the First Lady, who convinced her husband to disallow him from securing the PDP ticket to run for a second term of office. I can’t confirm this.

    Mrs Jonathan never publicly listed Sylva’s sins. But her husband did. Jonathan said Sylva was prevented from participating in the November 2011 governorship primaries of the PDP in Bayelsa State because of failure to make impact. He described his reign as “monumental disgrace”.

    Jonathan accused his successor of failure to stimulate development and complete worthy projects left behind by his administration. He cited the five-star hotel project among such projects. He did not forget to say the people were frustrated and “openly stoned him (Sylva) during the Presidential rally sometime in October 2010.”

    His words: “I was second in command to Alamieyeseigha. One thing I remember is the Tower Hotel. It was not my dream but it was conceptualised under the Alamieyeseigha administration. He discussed with the contractors. It was supposed to be a 5-star hotel and it would attract people from all over the world. But now, it is a monument of disgrace.”

    While Jonathan was speaking, Seriake Dickson was seemingly enjoying the drama. He was the ultimate beneficiary of Sylva’s loss. Dame Jonathan was also happy that her husband was painting Sylva black. It was good for the project-install-Dickson.

    Jonathan added at a point: “Dickson you brought the people from Abuja to present flag, the only thing I want to do is to tell you that sometimes ago I was in Bayelsa and the people stoned the governor. I was here and you must work hard for Bayelsa not to stone you. The day they stone you, I will join to stone you.”

    Dickson spoke too that day. His words were those of a man who believed every brick thrown at Sylva was well-deserved. He also accused Sylva of directing “unwarranted attack” at the president.

    He said: “In the new PDP government in the state, we will be working with the youths and elders to replace Bayelsa lost glory. We want to turn Bayelsa to the Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation. We will work with the people. I am aware of the unwarranted attack on the President, the blackmails and the rest.”

    PDP’s Mr Fix-It Chief Tony Anenih was also at that event where Dickson received the party’s flag. He spoke in riddles, but the long and short of it was that Sylva wanted to be taller than his father and deserved to be banished.

    Act one, scene two:  For some time now, there have been speculations about whether or not all is well between Dickson and Mrs Jonathan. These speculations bring to mind how Sylva’s problem with the First Family began. It all started as a rumour. But time proved it.

    Five months into his inauguration in July 2012, Dickson caused uproar in the country when he announced the appointment of Mrs Jonathan as a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa civil service.

    It emerged last week that Mrs Jonathan voluntarily retired as a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa, a position Dickson appointed her under controversial circumstances.

    Civil society screamed. Human rights activists condemned the appointment. They urged the First Lady to reject it. But the First Lady not only accepted the appointment, she personally went to Yenagoa to be sworn-in on July 21, 2012. She was one of 17 who took the oath of office that day at the Government House Banquet Hall.

    The governor shrugged off criticism of arbitrary use of constitutional powers.

    He rationalised the appointment, saying he did it based on the power conferred on him by Section 203 of the constitution. He added that the First Lady merited it because of her services to the state and the nation. He did not forget to remind Nigerians that she was a directorate level officer in the civil service and was only on leave of absence to support her husband.

    For the discerning, Dickson was only playing to the gallery. Many wondered why the appointment could not wait until she finishes her tour of duty as First Lady. The general consensus, which I share, is that His Excellency only wanted to help his benefactress to reach the summit of the civil service. Something tells me he did it under duress.

    It has been over two years since then and things seemed to have fallen apart between the duo. They may never give us the details, which are usually ugly and shared only in private circles. Like the First Family complained of Sylva, Dickson’s leadership style, we hear, is also being bandied around here.

    A source said of the 57-year old First Lady: “The whole thing is political. It appears Madam Peace is not happy with the governor. I feel the President’s wife resigned to enable her to have the moral right to slug it out with Dickson ahead of the governorship poll in the state. Let no one deceive you, the whole thing is politics. After all, she is 57 and the retirement age is 60.”

    Now, she is awaiting her entitlements and for life, she will also be entitled to the pension of a permanent secretary. All thanks to a godson now about to give way to another favoured son in the person of Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa, who is the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters.

    Before curtain falls: The Bayelsa governor’s tenure will not lapse until 2016. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may not hold the election until the last quarter of next year. By then, the 2015 rush will have died down. As they say, 24 hours is a long time in politics. So, Dickson can still re-find favour in the First Lady. But the poser still remains: Will there be a repeat of Jonathan, the Dame and the PDP top echelon handing over the PDP governorship standard bearer flag to a candidate other than Dickson and expletives being poured on him? It won’t be surprising. After all, what goes around, they say, comes around. And like the Yoruba will say: “The cane with which the first wife was flogged is still there for the enjoyment of the second wife.”

    Really, I have got no tears for Dickson. I admire him and have absolutely nothing personal against him. I am only guided by the law of gravity that says: “What goes up must come down”. It remains to be seen if the law will come to fruition in this case or not.

    I must add that I don’t think it is right for Mrs Jonathan to choose Bayelsa governor.  I also beg the president that whatever the First Family decides to do with Dickson, please don’t join in stoning him. It is not presidential.

    The end? Not quite. So, watch out.

  • Dickson, lawmakers clash over return tickets

    Dickson, lawmakers clash over return tickets

    Senators and House of Representatives members from Bayelsa State are at loggerheads with Governor Seriake Dickson over zoning.

    The crisis was said to have been triggered by a statement by the pioneer state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Charles Dorgu, at a rally in Sagbama last week.

    Dorgu was quoted to have said that the state chapter had zoned the three senatorial seats and the five House of Reps seats to areas outside the lawmakers’ wards.

    He was also quoted to have insisted that the tickets would be zoned for two terms with Sagbama producing the senator for Bayelsa West and Ekeremor producing the House of Rep member.

    The senators affected by the controversial zoning formula include Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) and Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East).

    Their counterparts in the House of Representatives are Foingha Jephthah (Nembe/Brass); Henry Ofongo (Southern Ijaw); Warman Ogoriba (Yenegoa/Kolokuma-Opokumo); Dr Stella Dorgu (Sagbama/Ekeremor) and Nadu Karibo (Ogbia).

    Stakeholders from Ekeremor and Sagbama in Bayelsa West have kicked against the move, describing it as an attempt to cause disaffection among the people.

    At a meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, the stakeholders insisted that the 26 electoral wards in Bayelsa West had ceded the ticket to Lokpobiri.

    Convener of the meeting and group leader Dennis Daunemighan was quoted to have said that the zoning arrangement being canvassed was divisive and inciting.

    He said: “The decision on who represents Bayelsa West at the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, should be informed by cognate experience, proven track record of competence, capacity to attract infrastructural development and ability to bring about robust perspective to help stabilise the polity at this crucial period of our national history.”

    A party chieftain, Abeke Ebikake, said Sagbama had produced three senators.

    He listed them as Felix Obaro, Diffa Emmanuel and John Braibaifa, adding that Ekeremor had served only twice.

    “The pronouncement that the senatorial seat should go to Sagbama again is wrong. It is not proper.”

  • Dickson warns against intimidation

    Dickson warns against intimidation

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has advised politicians to play by the rules ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    The governor’s comments followed the alleged summons of his key supporters by the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

     The senator representing the Bayelsa Central, Emmanuel Paulker.

    Paulker, who was said to be aspiring to be governor, was accused of influencing the summons, owing to his closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Dickson spoke in Yenagoa yesterday at a state banquet to mark the 54th Independence celebration and the state’s 18th anniversary.

    He advised persons seeking elective positions to win the heart of the people, instead of deploying what he described as, “politics of thuggery and intimidation”.

    Dickson said: “I enjoin all those who are aspiring for one office or the other to play the game according to the rules. We have always won election without even buying any ammunition.

    “This state has no room for that anymore. I, working closely with the President, our leader, am determined to keep Bayelsa safe, so that Bayelsa will not be turned into what our detractors would want us to be.

    “As I said on the day of my inauguration, we will not play politics with your development at all, we will not play politics with security issues; we will not play politics with issues that have to do with the protection of the Ijaw national interest.”

    The governor said his administration had worked hard, in collaboration with the Federal Government, to keep the state peaceful and stable.

    He said government would not condone any form of violence or act capable of destabilising the state.

    He paid tributes to the founding fathers and past military administrators as well as governors for their contributions to the development of the state.

    The governor also praised security agencies for their selfless efforts at sustaining peace in the state.

    He said: “You can see the benefits of the creation of this great state. From the first military administrator, right down to my humble self, everyone is contributing his bit to the Bayelsa success story that we are all witnessing.

  • Sagbama, Ekeremor defy rain, forego churches for Jonathan, Dickson

    The rain initially drizzled. Eventually, it got to a torrential level pounding roofs and drenching whatever and whoever stood in its way. Most people in Sagbama, the local government area of Governor Seriake Dickson in Bayelsa State ran helter-skelter scrambling for shelter.

    But many others were not afraid of the rain. They trudged along the streets and roads that criss-crossed the ancient city in search of the venue for the grand endorsement rally organised on Sunday by the Bayelsa West Senatorial District.

    The district comprising Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas  organised what it called the mother of all rallies  to drum support for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and Governor Seriake Dickson in 2016.

    The party faithful apparently forego their churches and other worship centres to be counted among persons who gathered at the Sagbama Council Park for the event.

    Perhaps viewing the inclement weather as a shower of blessing, the political juggernauts, women of influence, youth leaders and masses from the district trooped to the event centre to take a stand for Jonathan and Dickson.

    They danced in the rains. Women dressed in Ijaw wrappers and blouses with headgears to match and different colours of beads hanging round their necks and festooned to their wrists danced in excitement.

    The district boasts of many political heavyweights and opinion leaders. Many of them were on parade that day. The Chairman, Ekeremor LGA Restoration Caucus, Chief Thompson Okorotie took the centre stage as one of the brains behind the ceremony.

    The former Acting Governor in the state and member of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Nestor Binabo; Governor’s Special Representatives, Sagbama, Mr. Collins Cocodia; his counterpart from Ekeremor, Mr. Pius Jonah and the pioneer state Chairman, PDP, Sir. Charles Dorgu, who is also the Chairman of Sagbama LGA Restoration Caucus, were in attendance.

    A member representing Sagbama/ Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Dr. Stella Dorgu who replaced Governor Seriake Dickson in the House of Representatives after his election as governor of the state in 2012 was also there. The chairmen of Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas, Mr. Billy Tobiyei and Mr. Willy Oyadongha, we’re also present.

    It was, indeed, a gathering of who-is-who in the senatorial district as the list was endless. The youths swarm like bees around the venue as they held many placards declaring support for their candidates.

    Okorotie who is also the Chairman, Organising Committee, Bayelsa West Senatorial District Grand Rally, went spiritual in his address. He said leaders are chosen by God and that the people are divine vessels for the actualisation of God’s will.

    “The choice of President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson are products of God and we are the divine vessels for His purpose.

    “During the campaign for the first term of our son, father and leader, we told Nigerians that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan whom we are presenting to Nigeria is a good product”, he said.

    He said Jonathan’s achievements in governance bore eloquent testimony to he veracity of that statement. He said that President Jonathan had recorded landmark achievements in different sectors of the economy especially in agriculture, education, road infrastructure, investment promotion, railway transportation and power.

    He claimed that Jonathan surpassed the achievements of past presidents in all the areas he mentioned.  He gave Jonathan kudos in his war against insurgency.

    Speaking about Governor Dickson, he said the governor was a special gift to the state just as he described him as a man of uncommon courage and a restoration giant.

    He said: “A man who came on board on February 14, 2011 with a development storm that has been persistent, robust and vigorous. In only two and a half years, our son father and leader has achieved much more than has been done by any previous administrations in the state”.

    He commended the people of the district for their political sagacity and vibrancy saying they have always shown such qualities right from their days in the old Rivers State. He said their consistent support to other parts of the state was rewarded by the emergence of Dickson as the governor.

    So, the speeches rang on. The Commissioner for Education, Mr. Salo Adikumo, mounted the podium. He said Jonathan and Dickson had performed and deserved a second chance. For instance, he said Dickson had shown strength of character in education and infrastructural revolution.

    The former Deputy Governor, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi; the Paramount Ruler of Ebedebiri Federated Communities, King Anderson Esemokumo and many other speakers took turns to mobilise support for Jonathan and Dickson.

    The highpoint of the ceremony was when Okorotie and some leaders mounted the podium and moved a motion endorsing Jonathan and Dickson for a second term. The motion was unanimously supported by everybody in attendance.

  • Ijaw indigenes score Dickson high on projects

    Ijaw indigenes score Dickson high on projects

    IJAW indigenes have scored the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State high on projects execution, following an assessment tour of projects sites across the state.

     It was gathered that the indigenes, under the auspices of Ijaw Nation Forum (INF), embarked on the assessment tour following claims in some quarters that the governor had failed to justify allocations he received from the Federal Government.

     Members of the team include the state Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Tonye Okio; State Chairman, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Chief Nengi James; Dr. Felix Tuodolo and the leader of the forum, Mr. Fred Brisibe among others. The INF is made up of Ijaw indigenes from across the country. The members visited some parts of the state and assessed projects so far executed by the Dickson-led administration since he became governor two and a half years ago.

     In his assessment of Dickson’s projects, Okio, who is a known critic of the governor, said Dickson had tried his best, just like the former Governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva. He said: “I am not impressed with the houses that are there, but the roads.

     It is the most important thing and it is a good development. Houses are toy toy things. The main thing is the roads. “Just like former Governor Timipre Sylva who came and also tried his best, Governor Dickson is playing his part in the development of Bayelsa State. “No one person can develop this state.

    And that is the spirit. Any person that comes in must try his best and then leave the rest for God. At the moment, Dickson is trying.” Okio claimed that between January and July this year, the state had received about N145bn. He said: “I am more impressed with the Governor’s village. I want President Goodluck Jonathan to also imitate that. He should realise that he has his people. In Ogbia, there is nothing to show for them at home.”

  • Dickson blasts senator over disaffection with Jonathan

    Dickson blasts senator over disaffection with Jonathan

    •PDP says First Lady not hijacking it

    Governor Seriake Dickson of  Bayelsa State has lifted the lid on the much speculated disaffection between him and President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He is blaming a Senator said to be close to the president for engineering the rift.

    Dickson also accused the senator whom he did not name of plotting to destabilise his government by misrepresenting him before the president.

    The governor, who was responding to questions at the just-concluded transparency briefing in Yenagoa at the weekend said some Abuja-based politicians from the state had made it their past time to spread rumour about his administration with a view to distracting the people, and creating confusion in the state.

    He, however, said that such politicians would not succeed in breaking up the relationship between him and the president, whose political son he claimed to be.

    He said: “I don’t dwell on rumour. If I listen to rumour, we will not be where we are today in this state. There are people who have appetite for rumour mongering and all they do is to spread small stories around without knowing that I am the president’s first son politically.

    “We don’t talk while we are working because it is our work that will speak for us. We are busy in the engine room and some people are abusing the work. Most of the rumour mongers want to reap where they did not sow.

    “In Imo State, and other non-PDP states, the senators assist the president, but in our own Bayelsa, it is not like that. A senator (I won’t mention his name) claims to be living inside Mr. President’s bedroom.

    “But what has he done for the people? He is busy building houses and spreading rumour that there is hunger back home.”

    Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has denied speculations that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is in the process of hijacking the party machinery ahead of the 2016 governorship election.

    The party in a statement by its state Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), described the alleged moves as the handiwork of mischief makers.

    Inokoba referred to the state PDP as a formidable family adding that the report was designed to disrupt the existing peace and cordial relationship between the first family and Governor Seriake Dickson.

    He said that Dickson has remained resolute in his commitment in promoting an all-inclusive, peaceful and stable polity in the state.

    He said: “Governor Dickson remains the leader of the party and we are not aware of any plan of any person or group of persons to hijack the structure of the party from him.

    “There is cordial relationship between the president and the governor contrary to the report being orchestrated by some elements that do not mean well for the state.”

    To demonstrate its support for the president and the governor, he said the state leadership of the party recently passed a vote of confidence in Dickson and Jonathan.