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Tag: Dickson

  • Bayelsa communities unite for Jonathan, Dickson

    Bayelsa communities unite for Jonathan, Dickson

    President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson  are getting more supporters for their re-election bids. For their sake, communities in the state seem to have dropped their acrimonies and feudal battles to queue up behind and identify with them.

    In fact, local government areas are taking turns to shower encomiums on and declare support for the duo. Sagbama, Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma local councils at separate occasions  assembled their sons and daughters to make statements and tell Nigerians how much love they have for their kinsman, President Jonathan and their Governor, Dickson.

    Niger Delta Report monitored a similar communal meeting involving the communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area under the aegis of the Yenagoa Stakeholders’ Forum (YSF) recently.

    The hall ‘overflew’ with representatives of the communities that constitute the council. Most of the enthused participants wore their best traditional regalia festooned with beads and other symbols of Ijaw culture. Women in their various groups adorned themselves in their best outfits woven around colourful wrappers with headgears of different sizes to match.

    Community leaders, aides to the governor from the council and lawmakers representing the council at the state House of Assembly  as well as representatives of non-indigenes flocked the hall to identify with the occasion.

    The Chief of Staff, Government House, Abuja, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, was one of the brains behind the success of the event.

    Also present were the Commissioner for Information, Deacon Markson Fefegha, the Chairman of the forum, Chief GM. Odumgba, the forum’s Secretary and governor’s Representative, Mr. Ebiwarie Wariowei.

    Others were the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Lawrence Ewrujakpor, Chief of Staff, Yenagoa Government House, the Mayor of Yenagoa, Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, Yenagoa chapter and Commissioner for Tourism. In fact, everybody who matters in politics and tradition of the council was in attendance.

    Describing Jonathan and Dickson as the two illustrious sons of the state, he appealed to the people to urge the duo to contest the the presidential and governorship elections in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

    “The reason for this clarion calls by the people are not far-fetched. Both have performed creditably to deserve a second term. He enumerated the near completion of the East-West Road, handling of the insurgency in the North-East, establishment of federal universities and implementation of the amnesty programmes among the achievements of their son, Jonathan.

    On Dickson, he said his Restoration Government has performed marvelously within record time.

    “This has not only attracted the people’s admiration, it has set the tone for so many pressure group’s and organisations to call for the endorsement of the governor for a second term”, he said.

    He reeled out the Isaac Boro Expressway, the Yenagoa-Angiama-Ayama Road, the New Gateway Road, the Tombia-Amasoma Road and the flyovers among others as the evidence of Dickson’s performance.

    “The various housing structures that have changed the landscape of Yenagoa cannot but be appreciated. The new ADR building for the judiciary, the Traditional Rulers secretariat, the Okaka Housing Estate and many others are commendable strides of this pragmatic administration,” he said.

    Also, the representative of non-indigenes, Chief Sunny Chukwueze, was excited that Yenagoa had risen to make a statement. He said he was initially uncomfortable that the council was mute when people all over the country were speaking.

    “Today, the jinx is broken and Yenagoa is speaking”, he said adding that President Jonathan had shown enough commitment to pilot the affairs f the country. He was, however, particular about Dickson whom he referred to as a friend to non-indigenes.

    He said Dickson won the love of non-indigenes by appointing some of them to his cabinet and paying them a thank-you visit after his election. He said in the history of the state, no leader had returned to thank the non-indigenes for their support after election.

    He said in June non-indigenes made a statement to support the reelection of Dickson. “Today, I am reaffirming the endorsement of Dickson and Jonathan”, he said.

    The Chairman of Yenagoa Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenamowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Funpere Akah, asked Jonathan to declare for 2015.

    “We are saying boldly that we are behind him and that he is going to win”, he said. The royal father also drew applauses from the crowd when he claimed that he saw Jonathan in his dream emerging victorious after the 2015 elections.”

    He further said Dickson had fulfilled his promise of turning Yenagoa to a construction site. “He has performed beyond expectations. Our traditional rulers council secretariat is first class and the police officers’ mess is one of the most beautiful in the country”, he said.

     

  • Ex-militants intervene in Dickson, Ogunboss feud

    Ex-militants intervene in Dickson, Ogunboss feud

    Former militant leaders have raised a committee to resolve the dispute between Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and one of them, Mr. Eris Paul, popularly called Ogunboss.

    Ogunboss  accused Dickson of working against President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election ambition.

    He sent an open letter to the President, highlighting the governor’s alleged moves to scuttle his campaign.

    Dickson said the ex-militant leader was angry because his administration’s intolerance of criminality ran him out of business.

    Worried by the development, ex-militant leaders, under the aegis of the Leadership for Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), held an emergency meeting at the weekend in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    After the meeting, LPCDI Chairman Pastor Reuben said the group raised a five-man committee to reconcile the governor and Ogunboss.

    He said it was wrong of Ogunboss to have used their forum to write the President, adding that the ex-militant leader would be persuaded to embrace peace.

    Reuben urged former militant leaders to beware of Abuja-based politicians, “who are only interested in creating confusion in the state”.

    He said former militant leaders had resolved not to be used by politicians in the forthcoming elections, adding: “We don’t want Ogunboss to have a problem with Dickson. We supported the governor and we cannot turn our backs on him now.”

    Reuben hailed the governor for appointing five ex-militant leaders as members of the 11-man committee set up to fight insecurity on the waterways.

    He pledged their support for the president and the governor.

  • ‘Support Dickson’s re-election’

    ‘Support Dickson’s re-election’

    A group, the Grassroots Connect for Restoration (GrassCore), has reiterated its support for the re-election of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson in 2016.

    The group flayed anti-development forces for trying to destroy the relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Dickson.

    The National Coordinator, Nyenye Kuro, regretted that some anti-Dickson politicians were bent on plunging the state back to the dark days of underdevelopment.

    Kuro said the group had spread its activities to the eight local governments and hoped that Dickson would break the reelection jinx in 2016.

    He said although the governorship race in the state had not begun, Dickson should seek re-election based on his performance and loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Dickson, based on his performance index in the last two years, has shown loyalty to the PDP and the President. He has shown that by building over 50 roads and bridges across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    “The President’s home state is transformed.The President’s commendations at different fora, including the just concluded investment and business forum, alluded to these.”

  • Dickson gives N30m to women in Lagos

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday in Lagos presented a N30million draft as revolving loan for Niger Delta women in Lagos. He said the era of free money was over in the state.

    Speaking at a programme at the Navy Barracks, Ajegunle, Apapa, which was attended by the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Uche Secondus and over 3,000 women, the governor said the loan could be accessed through the formation of cooperative societies.

    Dickson, who urged the women groups to make prudent use of the facility to improve their economic fortunes, assured them of his preparedness to make more funds available, if they justify the purpose of the scheme.

    According to him, the state government is collaborating effectively with credible financial institutions to raise about N30million as trust fund to drive its small and medium enterprises development policy.

    He stated that a similar programme was going on in Bayelsa State and “the aim is to make our women less dependent as well as contribute their quota to the GDP of the state.”

  • Dickson, police lambast NGOs for Dutch abduction

    The Bayelsa State government and the police  explained yesterday the circumstances that led to the abduction of three Dutch and two Nigerians at Letugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    The police and the government blamed the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) involved in the visit of the Dutch to the Niger Delta.

    They derided the NGOs for not informing security agencies about the presence and mission of the expatriates, describing their action as irresponsible.

    Their reactions came shortly after our reporter gathered that the gunmen demanded N500million to free their victims.

    Gunmen on Sunday kidnapped three Dutch and two Nigerians, who are naturalised Dutch.

    The gunmen, however, released Femi Soewu and Sunny Ofehe on Monday but withheld Erhard Leffers, Marianne Vos and Jan Andre Groenendijk.

    Ofehe, the Founder/Executive Director Hope for Niger Delta Campaign, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) based in the Netherlands, brought the Dutch to Amatu ll in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, on a charity mission.

    Commissioner of Police Hilary Opara said another NGO, Dodo Rivers Regional Development Association (DRRDA), was also involved in negotiating the visit of the Dutch nationals.

    He said the victims left Warri, Delta State, for the creeks without informing the police in Delta State.

    He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area was kept in the dark, adding that the NGO that facilitated the visit failed to contact security agencies.

    “At Letugbene, the kidnappers abducted the five of them. The two Nigerians, Femi Soewu and Sunny Ofehe, are also Dutch nationals.

    “We asked the DPO if he was informed. He said he was not. I called the police commissioner in Delta and he said he was not informed.

    “I want to make it clear that these people came in without alerting the police and security agencies. We would have made adequate arrangement to secure them,” he said.

    The police boss said people visiting remote areas in the creeks, especially expatriates, should inform security agencies.

    “We are not saying that the water ways are not safe. What we are saying is that people should let us know, particularly persons visiting the creeks,”he said.

    Opara said the police invited the Head of DRRDA, Barry Negrese, whose association invited the Dutch to the region.

    He also explained that Ofehe and Soewu were also invited for debriefing at the police command in Yenagoa.

    “After their release, we invited them alongside Chief Benson Dodoru, who is from Letugbene.

    “They came on Tuesday, we took their statements and yesterday morning, we interacted with them again and asked them to go,” Opara said.

    He said others were released after interrogation but Dodoru was asked to remain to help the police in further investigations.

    The police chief denied that Ofehe and Soewu were  arrested and detained.

     Opara said their debriefing was normal security procedure.

    He added that the victims also promised to help the police in finding their colleagues.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Seriake Dickson on Security, Col. Bernard Kennebai (rtd), condemned the action of the NGOs and their promoters.

     He wondered why they failed to consult security agencies.

    Kennebai said their action had painted Bayelsa in bad light, lamenting that the incident could have been avoided, if the organisers had taken the necessary measures.

    He said: “This is not fair and we want to place on record that they actually embarked on something that can also be considered as an adventure.

    “As a state we don’t feel good about that because these are avoidable in the first place, if the right measures were taken.”

  • Ripples as Dickson reshuffles cabinet

    Ripples as Dickson reshuffles cabinet

    THERE were concerns in Bayelsa State on Friday after the governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, inaugurated eight new commissioners and carried out a major cabinet reshuffle. Some said the governor carried out the exercise to politically cleanse his cabinet and prepare it for a looming reelection battle. The new commissioners were sworn in to fill the vacancies created by the recent sacking of eight cabinet members. Dickson scrapped the Ministry of Capital City Development and ordered that the functions of the ministry be transferred to the Capital City Development Authority (CCDA). He said all the ongoing projects in the scarapped ministry should be transferred to the Ministry of Special Projects in the Governor’s Office. The governor further divided the Ministry of Energy into two, creating the ministries of Power and Mineral Resources. He also split the Ministry of Local Government into the ministries of Community Development, Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government Administration.

  • Dickson sacks seven commissioners

    Dickson sacks seven commissioners

    Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on Thursday tinkered with his cabinet and sacked seven commissioners.

    The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Francis Egele; Trade and Investment, Mr. Ayakeme Massa and Health, Dr. Anapurere Michael Awoli, were asked to go.

    Others affected in the surprising cabinet shake-up are commissioners for Tourism Development, Mr. Nelson Belief; Special Duties (Federal Projects), Mr. Gesiye Isowo; Science, Technology and Manpower Development, Mr. Parkinson Macmanuel and Environment, Dr. Sylvanus Abila.

    A statement signed by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the action was informed by “the ongoing re-organisation of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for a more optimal implementation of the Restoration Agenda”.

    The governor asked the affected persons to immediately vacate their positions and hand over to the permanent secretaries in their various ministries.

    He expressed his gratitude to them for their commitment to “service, diligence, hard work and invaluable contributions to the successes attained by his administration in the last two years.”

    He wished them well in all their future endeavours saying he could call on them again to serve the state in other capacities.

    Dickson said: “The reorganization of the machinery of government for improved service delivery in the execution of Government programmes and policies as well as the redeployment of relevant officers will be a continuous exercise.”

  • Bayelsa loses N5b monthly to shortfall, says Dickson

    Bayelsa loses N5b monthly to shortfall, says Dickson

    BAYELSA’s revenue from the Federation Account has reduced by N5 billion, Governor Seriake Dickson said yesterday.

    The governor said measures must be taken to diversify the economy, adding that if something was not done, the situation would have a serious impact on the economy.

    Dickson spoke when he signed the Appropriation Bill of N332 billion into law.

    He said: “From the time I started till now, our monthly revenue has dropped by over N5 billion. If we don’t build alternative revenue sources, we will get to a situation where the federal revenue will not be enough to meet our minimum obligation as a state, bearing in mind our high wage bill.”

    He blamed the development on economic downturn, which he said had affected the federation account.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor said his administration took steps to create alternative sources of income to boost the revenue profile of the state.

    Dickson directed members of his economic team to work out modalities to cut down the wage bill.

    The governor said remunerations for corporations and travel allowances for government functionaries, including himself, should be reduced.

    “We are experiencing a decline in our inflows. This is why we have exercised maximum prudence, particularly in approvals related to recurrent expenditure.”

  • Dickson to Northeast leaders: Address insecurity in your zone

    Dickson to Northeast leaders: Address insecurity in your zone

    Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on Tuesday asked religious and political leaders in the northeast part of the country to address the insecurity in the area.

    A statement signed by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the governor spoke while presenting a letter of appointment to Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubarkar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, as the Chancellor of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU).

    The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Edmond Allison-Oguru, in the brief ceremony that was held in Abuja, said his administration chose the Shehu of Borno because of his impressive academic, moral and political profiles.

    He, however, regretted that the security situation in the northeast prevented the ceremony from holding in the Shehu’s palace.

    He said the gesture would also help his government to build bridges of unity among the different sections of the country.

    The governor appealed to some sections of the country and some highly placed politicians fanning the embers of ethnic and religious disunity to retrace their steps in the interest of the country’s unity.

     

  • Dickson… Talk na do governor

    Dickson… Talk na do governor

    What does Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson have up his sleeves? Dickson has asked his critics to wait till February 14 to see the manifestation of his nickname, “Talk na do governor”, writes Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson believes his critics should pause and listen. “Come to Bayelsa and see my magic touch”, he seems to be telling them. The governor took over the reign on Valentine’s Day of 2012. Then, the state wore insecurity as a daily toga. Cultists, unrepentant militants, armed robbers overran the state and created panic among the residents especially those who lived in Yenagoa, the state capital. Like a plane, nightlife flew out of the state. People were cut down in their primes by dare-devil gunmen who operated with impunity.

    Investors, construction giants, such as lJulius Berger and SETRACO, left the state in a hurry. Most of the high-profile events that were supposed to be hosted in the state were diverted to neighbouring states. No day passed by without reports of killings in the state of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But Dickson can now beat his chest and tell his critics that security has returned to the state, especially the capital city. He can boldly roll out his massive investment in the sector. Security infrastructure, digital hardwares and his uncommon commitment in the sector had pulled Julius Berger, SETRACO and other construction firms back to the state.

    He can direct his critics’ minds to the hosting of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) beauty pageant, 38 damsels in Centenary Pageant, African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), International Jazz Festival and World Tourism Day as eloquent testimonies of pervasive security in the state.

    Besides, he told his detractors that Yenagoa for the first time accommodated over 70 international experts who assembled at the Ijaw House for the first Underwater Conference organised in Africa by the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

    It was with pride that Dickson boasted to the Zonal Commandant, Zone G, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant Commandant-General Joseph Oragande, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa, last year that Bayelsa was the safest state.

    He said: “I like to thank you for what your men are doing. Going forward and working together with all other agencies, Bayelsa will even be safer as we move on. As our security plans and activities take more root and people get better sensitised on what we are doing, particularly about their role in working with security agencies, this place will even be much more secure than it is.

    “This government has a zero tolerance approach to criminality, brigandage and violence and we are very happy with the cooperation and hard work that all security agencies have made available at the service of our state and country.”

    The Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of police,in charge of Zone 5 command, Hashimu Argungu, also agreed with the governor. During one of his visits to the state, he declared Bayelsa as the safest state in the zone. The zone comprises Delta, Edo and Bayelsa.

    Dickson’s state’s security outfit, Operation Door-Akpo, had also received kudos for its approach in fighting crimes in the state. The efforts of the outfit compelled the Security Watch Africa in South Africa to confer on Dickson the award of the Best Security Governor in West Africa.

    Like him or hate him, many residents of the state are commending the governor’s stride in security. They believe that though some incidents of kidnapping and killings still occur, they are indications that even in the most developed countries crimes cannot be totally eradicated.

    A human rights activist and former Secretary, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Mr. Alagoa Morris, in his open letter to the governor praised the security situation in the state. He condemned the human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings prevalent in the state during the reign of the proscribed Operation Famou Tangbei.

    He said: “Compared to past administrations; the security arrangement currently in place is better, even though there may be room for improvement. Apart from direct observations; from the pulse of fellow Bayelsans, information about the exploits of Operation Doo Akpo is felt; especially in the areas of swift response to distress calls and Human Rights related issues.

    “And, although the current security outfit is a great improvement when compared to Operation Famou Tamgbe; that wicked, lawless and violent security outfit put in place by the immediate past administration. And, as a group; the Civil Liberties Organisation spoke out against the condemnable Human Rights violations committed by Operation Famou Tangbe.

    “Operation Famou Tangbe had a torture chamber where cases of attempted rape of victims, torture, intimidation and extortion were perpetrated.

    “This was beside the molestation of members of the public, jumping into minor family affairs and carrying out extra-judicial killings. I hope, even though little or no such complains have reached the Human Rights community; that such unlawful acts are not being perpetrated within the office area of Operation Doo Akpo, the new security outfit established by your administration.

    But he advised: “Your Excellency should ensure that, not only the Rule of Law is upheld; the fundamental rights of citizens should be protected. In this connection, it would be pertinent not to keep accused in the custody of Operation Doo Akpo for more than the initial hours of arrest and documentation.

    “All arrested persons should be handed over to the regular police stations after documentations for proper investigation of alleged offences/crimes and prosecute them in courts of competent jurisdiction.

    “For, during the reign of Operation Famou Tamgbe, night life in Yenagoa was restricted and Bayelsans moved about with fear at all times of the day. I am happy that, even though I am not a night person, members of the public are enjoying night life in Yenagoa now without the usual molestation/harassment, arrest and detention associated with Operation Famou Tamgbe.”

    Besides Morris, others who spoke to the Niger Delta Reports on the streets of Yenagoa scored Dickson very high on security. A petty trader on Imgbi Road who identified herself as Patience said her business had improved greatly.

    “I am a recharge card and orange seller. I recalled how bad boys used to deal with me before this government came. On three occasions, they came to where I was selling my goods, showed me gun and forced me to give them all my money.

    “After the third time, l learnt to close before 7pm. But now, I have never experienced such things. No more gunshots. No more harassment. I can now do business without fears. I can stay till any time l like before closing. Who said it would not be better for Dickson? That person should examine his head. He has tried in security.”

    Also, a non-indigene of the state, who identified himself as Julius Abayomi, said for the first time he could sleep with his eyes closed. “We have never had it this good in terms of security. There used to be war in Bayelsa and people used to call me to ask me to come home.

    “But those who used to call me to come back home have been visiting in in the state. Dickson has done well in security and we should encourage him to do better”, he said.

    On the disturbances in waterways following reports of kidnapping and attacks on vessels by pirates, Dickson said he had mapped out a strategy to end it. His Security Adviser, Col. Benard Kennebai (retd) said the days of waterways criminals were numbered.

    He said: “We are ensuring that things are ready for us to launch fully into the waterways. Soon, the criminality in the waterways will be brought to a standstill. I can guarantee you that.”