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Tag: Dickson

  • Dickson warns against killings, violence during political campaigns

    BAYELSA State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, on Friday warned against killings and violence during political campaigns as Bayelsa celebrates the 7th edition of the Annual Thanksgiving Day. Speaking during the event at the 15,000 seater Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene, Yenagoa, Dickson stressed that power only comes from God. He urged unscrupulous elements planning to destabilize the hard-earned peace in the state of desist from such acts. Dickson urged the political class to go about their campaigns in a peaceful manner devoid of violence, thuggery and focus more on issues bordering on the stability , development peace and security of the state.

    Governor Dickson was joined by the Archbishop of the Church of God Mission International, Arch Margaret Idahosa, Senior Pastor, House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefaransi, the Presiding Bishop of Logos Ministries International Church, Bishop Yomi Isijola, the Senior Pastor Royal House òf Grace, Apostle Zilly Aggrey and other men of God to mark the 7 edition of the Bayelsa Annual Thanksgiving Day anniversary. He said, “There is something very important that I wish to say here. Bayelsa is a blessed land. It is rated one of the most peaceful states in the country.

    Our state is one of the fastest developing in Nigeria. “As we go into effective politicking, Politicians should know that power comes only from the Almighty God. Our politicians should note that you don’t get power by violence, you don’t get political control because you are a deadlier killer. People should go about their campaigns without disrupting the peace and stability of the state. “I urge you all to pray against a few criminal elements plotting to cause mayhem in the state.

    They are plotting to buy guns for young people, and cultists to kill innocent people, they want destabilize our state, we should pray that God should shut out such people.” Describing the celebration as an opportunity for Bayelsans to renew their covenant of blessings with God, the governor called on the people to cultivate the habit of thanksgiving to attract more blessings. His words: “What we do here in Bayelsa permeates from Arogbo in Western frontiers of the Ijaw nation Arogbo to Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom. All we do here affects the entire Ijaw nation. I congratulate all Bayelsans on the 7th anniversary of thanksgiving. In the new Bayelsa, all good human being who come here, who do well are all Bayelsans. “

  • Dickson extols Omatseye’s mum

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has extolled the virtues of the late Madam Salome Omotemevo Omatseye, mother of The Nation’s Editorial Board Chairman Sam Omatseye.

    Madam Omatseye’s funeral is slated for Lagos on November 9.

    In a tribute addressed to Mr. Omatseye, Dickson said: “Mama exuded so much love, warmth, care and affection.

    “Your mother also positively impacted her immediate environment and the society at large.

    “So, the passing of Madam Salome Omotemevo Omatseye is indeed sad.

    “However, we take solace in the fact that she lived an impactful life in which her cherished ideals are worthy of emulation.

    “On behalf of the government, my family and the good people of Bayelsa State, I extend my deepest condolences to the Omatseye family”

  • Dickson, Okowa launch Safe Motherhood project in Bayelsa

    BAYELSA and Delta State governors Seriake Dickson, and Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, inaugurated the Safe Motherhood Scheme in Bayelsa State.

    The scheme, which was launched at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Hall, Yenagoa, involved free cash transfers of N3,000 monthly to each registered expectant woman in the state.

    The launching, which attracted over 1,000 registered women, is part of the Safe Motherhood programme initiated by Dickson to reduce to high maternal and infant mortality rates.

    Speaking to the crowd, Dickson recalled that on July 31, the government convened a summit of stakeholders in healthcare to deal with mortality.

    He said part of the resolutions was the introduction of safe motherhood policies, adding that all medical architectures worked hard to formulate the scheme.

    Dickson said: “A lot of work has been done in the area of sensitization. There is still a need for constant enlightenment. A number of the causes of death attributed to witchcraft are as a result of lack of knowledge.

    “So, we have a lot of work to do to educate our people on the need to register for ante-natal services and to deliver in the hands of a trained healthcare provider. We are here to demonstrate the policy that was announced.

    “What we held in July was a summit. But we have gathered for the official launch of that programme. We made an announcement of N3000 allowance to every pregnant woman in Bayelsa.

    “We made it clear that the money was not just to be giving to every woman that is pregnant, you have to first go the healthcare delivery centre. We have enough healthcare facilities for all our pregnant women to be attended to”.

    The governor encouraged expectant mothers to register to enable them qualify for the cash transfers and other ante-natal and neo-natal care.

    He said: “Once you are registered and it is confirmed through basic tests that you are organ ant, you are automatically eligible to N3000 every month. It is your right and you don’t need to beg anybody for it. But be sure we are following up on the attendance.

    “Once you register, you won’t get the money until there is evidence that you have registered. Your regular attendance at the healthcare provider will determine whether you will continue all through your pregnancy to receive the money. We want to monitor the attendance”.

    The governor praised Okowa for his leadership and performance and for coming to Bayelsa to inaugurate the scheme.

  • Dickson, Okowa launch Safe Motherhood project in Bayelsa

    BAYELSA and Delta State governors Seriake Dickson, and Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, inaugurated the Safe Motherhood Scheme in Bayelsa State.

    The scheme, which was launched at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Hall, Yenagoa, involved free cash transfers of N3,000 monthly to each registered expectant woman in the state.

    The launching, which attracted over 1,000 registered women, is part of the Safe Motherhood programme initiated by Dickson to reduce to high maternal and infant mortality rates.

    Speaking to the crowd, Dickson recalled that on July 31, the government convened a summit of stakeholders in healthcare to deal with mortality.

    He said part of the resolutions was the introduction of safe motherhood policies, adding that all medical architectures worked hard to formulate the scheme.

    Dickson said: “A lot of work has been done in the area of sensitization. There is still a need for constant enlightenment. A number of the causes of death attributed to witchcraft are as a result of lack of knowledge.

    “So, we have a lot of work to do to educate our people on the need to register for ante-natal services and to deliver in the hands of a trained healthcare provider. We are here to demonstrate the policy that was announced.

    “What we held in July was a summit. But we have gathered for the official launch of that programme. We made an announcement of N3000 allowance to every pregnant woman in Bayelsa.

    “We made it clear that the money was not just to be giving to every woman that is pregnant, you have to first go the healthcare delivery centre. We have enough healthcare facilities for all our pregnant women to be attended to”.

    The governor encouraged expectant mothers to register to enable them qualify for the cash transfers and other ante-natal and neo-natal care.

    He said: “Once you are registered and it is confirmed through basic tests that you are organ ant, you are automatically eligible to N3000 every month. It is your right and you don’t need to beg anybody for it. But be sure we are following up on the attendance.

    “Once you register, you won’t get the money until there is evidence that you have registered. Your regular attendance at the healthcare provider will determine whether you will continue all through your pregnancy to receive the money. We want to monitor the attendance”.

    The governor praised Okowa for his leadership and performance and for coming to Bayelsa to inaugurate the scheme.

  • Tambuwal, Makarfi pledge support for Atiku as Dickson, others visit

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi have pledged full support for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    Tambuwal and Makarfi lost at the presidential primary in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    They gave their commitment yesterday when Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson led two other PDP governors to their Abuja homes.

    Dickson told reportersafter the meeting tha Tambuwal stressed the need for the PDP to remain a strong united party adding that the emphasis should be on the country and not on his personal ambition.

    Tambuwal who observed that the country was being run by proxy said the country needed a president who would deliver effective governance.

    Makarfi said although the 12 aspirants went into the primary election as contestants, the emergence of one of them was a collective victory for party.

    Makarfi said he had a long-standing political relationship with Atiku spanning many years and that it was too late in the day for him to jettison that relationship over presidential primaries.

    He predicted a resounding victory for the PDP in the 2019 elections

    Dickson together with Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) hailed Tambuwal and Makarfi for their understanding and spirit of sportsmanship.

    Dickson who heads the Standing Committee on Reconciliation of the PDP, said the party had commenced series of consultative talks with other categories of aspirants and leaders of the party so as to present a united front.

    Dickson said: “I am leading a team of the committee of governors to interact and compare notes with our brothers, Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    “They ran a great race and we are all proud of what they did and what they continue to do. We appreciate their statesmanship, we appreciate the way and manner they have been of help in consolidating the gains the party is making.

    “This is just the beginning of several interactions formally and informally that we are going to have with them and with several other leaders of our party.

    “As you all know, they are very key players in the unfolding political scenario and we are all committed to reclaiming our country and building a new Nigeria”.

    Dickson stressed the need for leaders of the PDP to close ranks and to hold regular talks as opposition politicians to reposition the PDP for electoral victory.

  • Bayelsa votes for pro-restructuring aspirant, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday said all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  delegates from the state would vote for a presidential aspirant with the capacity to restructure the country.

    The governor said the state’s bloc votes in the Presidential Convention scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for the candidate that, displayed enough courage and capacity to restructure the country. Dickson, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, spoke  during a meeting with leaders and other stakeholders of the party in Government House, Yenagoa.

    He said that the state and the entire Ijaw nation would only vote for a candidate that is ready to promote mutual respect for all Nigerians as well as create a level-playing ground for all, irrespective of ethnic and religious leanings.

    He said the Ijaw nation would only support and work with a candidate that would give the people equal opportunities and stake in the oil and gas industry adding that the Ijaws had been relegated to the background over the years, despite, their enviable role as oil-producing areas.

    Dickson said: “Why I have assembled you all is about the position that we will all take as a state and the entire Ijaw nation. All the delegates will vote at the PDP Presidential Convention in one direction and as a bloc. No one delegate’s vote will be lost because the 2019 general election is a very serious election for our people.”

    Describing the primaries that had taken place across the state as largely peaceful and transparent, he said the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on all those involved in the attempt to disrupt the process no matter how highly placed.

     

    He said: “I have made it clear to the party and the panel that, we don’t want any more violence or any attempt at violence. The exercise in our state has gone on fairly smoothly. And, I condemn those who shot guns yesterday at the Sports Complex and at Ogbia Town and I have directed investigations.

    “When people take the laws into their hands and do what is wrong, there are consequences and those consequences must flow irrespective of who is concerned. And when the consequences come, people should not read meanings.  When the law takes its course, they will now be looking for people to blame. We will punish each and every one who took part in that. Investigations have already started.”

    Dickson also urged all political aspirants in the state to exhibit team spirit, stressing that, politics should be seen as an opportunity to serve the people and not a one man game.

    He said: “In politics, things change. There are some people, if it is not their own way, it is the highway, everybody will go and crash, they don’t care. Those are not politicians but mercenaries.

    “This game is a group game and never about one man or one woman. The day we worked for them and they became senators, it was not imposition. Some stayed there for 8 and 12 years and others for 4 years. They tend to forget that this game of political service requires loyalty.”

    The governor said he would convene a meeting with all those, who lost out of the primaries, noting that, the political system had a way of making them relevant by offering them other opportunities to contribute to the development of the state.

  • Nigeria sitting on keg of gunpowder, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said the country  is sitting on a keg of gunpowder, saying Nigeria is more divided at 58.

    Dickson noted that it was unfortunate that at 58, Nigeria still talks about elemental issues as unity, federal character, fairness and justice.

    Speaking in a radio broadcast in Government House, Yenagoa, he blamed leaders, who have squandered opportunities to reposition the country.

    Dickson said simple issues as appointments, respect for geopolitical zones, and decision-making had divided the country.

    He noted that leadership is demonstrated by taking steps and actions to engender equality, justice and creation of a sense of unity and not political slogans for selfish interest.

    “At the national level, Nigeria could have done better too. Nigeria at 58, we are still talking about elementary issues like unity of our country, and the more people talk about unity, the more disunited we portray ourselves to be. These are some of the things we grapple with which are actually, elementary issues.

    ” Unfortunately, those at leadership levels who ought to take concrete steps are doing little or nothing about uniting the people. Unity should be shown by steps or actions a leader takes and not platitudes and political slogans people pronounce when it is convenient.

    “Leadership is measured by the decisions you take, appointments made by taking deliberate steps to treat everybody equally to create a sense of unity, equality and justice.

    “Once you do those things, you will build bridges of unity and solidarity.

    That is one area our country clearly seems to be sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The country is more divided than ever before. However, our country has also made some progress at 58.

    “Our democracy is taking roots because nation-building is not to be accomplished in four or eight years, or even in one’s lifetime but from one generation to another. We have a lot of national challenges, which all leaders should apply themselves.”

    On the state’s progress at 22,  Dickson said he was fulfilled by the achievements of his administration in critical infrastructure, education, health, security and tourism.

  • We need detribalised President, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday said the country needed a highly educated and competent President.

    Dickson said it was time for Nigeria to be led by a visionary leader, a detribalised person, a nation builder and a democrat.

    A statement by his Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said Dickson spoke during a visit by the presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Sokoto State,  Aminu Tambuwal.

    Tambuwal was in the state to seek the support of Dickson and PDP members on his ambition to secure the party’s presidential ticket.

    Dickson stressed that Nigeria should produce a detribalised consensus builder as President.

    The governor said those to lead the country in 2019  have a responsibility to rescue the country.

    He said: “Nigeria needs a competent leader, an educated leader. I know you all, all your certificates are genuine.  Nigeria needs a nation builder, a bridge builder. Nigeria needs a democrat and I know you are all of these.

    “The nation needs a detribalised consensus builder, who knows that he has a responsibility to all; We have got a responsibility to rescue this nation.”

    The governor restated the position of Bayelsa State, the Ijaw and associates in Niger Delta that the 2019 election would be a referendum on restructuring.

    According to him, the people’s votes will go to candidates with commitment to restructure the country and address its obvious imbalances.

    He said it was the desire of the Ijaw and Niger Delta to have a country to protect Nigerians and provide for all, irrespective of region, religion and ethnicity.

    Earlier, Tambuwal canvassed the support of Bayelsa and delegates of the Ijaw, promising to initiate a robust debate on restructuring, if elected President.

    He said the pressing demand for resource control  and fairness  in resource allocation in Niger Delta, and the demand for true federalism would be given attention.

    Tambuwal promised to revisit the issue of poverty in the North, and transparency in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), with the re-introduction of the Petroleum Industry bill (PIB).

    “We shall initiate a robust debate on restructuring and how this country should be governed going forward”.

     

  • 2019 Presidency: Tambuwal woos delegates in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Niger

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, today visited Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Niger states to solicit votes of delegates ahead the party’s convention slated for October 5 and 6 in Port Harcourt.

    The governor, who has been visiting major stakeholders in the country and delegates across the states told journalists in Minna that he was satisfied with the conduct of the party’s screening exercise held on Monday, stressing that he has no issue with the venue of the convention as well.

    He said “I have no fixation about venue of our party’s convention. It could be here in Minna or anywhere else in Nigeria. What is important is for the party to consider a venue that will be convenient for delegates and observers. We as aspirants can only be consulted as stakeholders in the process, but the decision is that of the party leadership.”

    In Asaba, Tambuwal told delegates that arms and ammunition cannot secure the nation if the rate of unemployment is unchecked.

    In Yenagoa he said challenges gives nation its authenticity, urging the delegates and Nigerians to stand together with him in order to usher in a new type of leadership that will be people-oriented.

    “There is no great Nation that did not face challenges on its path to greatness. The effort gives a nation its authenticity and affirms its right to stand tall in the comity of Nations. Come, let us stand together to usher in a new type of leadership for Nigeria”

    Tambuwal in Port Harcourt told delegates that the Niger Delta question must be resolved, environmental pollution addressed and the people helped to fulfil their full potentials.

  • Dickson, Lokpobiri clash over alleged arming of militants

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development Heineken Lokpobiri are at logger head over alleged arming of a group militants to unleash terror on innocent citizens opposed to the state government.

    The minister, in a statement by his media aide, George Obi said it was unfortunate that the governor has not been able to live by the oath of his office to protect citizens of the state.

    But Dickson said Lokpobiri’s allegation was false.

    The minister’s statement reads: “The attention of the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been drawn to a statement credited to the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson blaming President Muhammad Buhari for allowing the Minister and the former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva to undermine security in the state.

    “The governor also alleged that President Buhari’s silence and inaction had emboldened Sylva and Lokpobiri to continually cause insecurity and instability in Bayelsa.

    “Dickson was also quoted as expressing shock that the President has failed to take any action against the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and their cohorts who allegedly cause mayhem in the state despite making several reports and complaints to him and the security agencies.

    “It is important to remind the governor that the honorable minister expends his valuable time supporting the President to deliver on the dividends of the electoral covenants the present administration has with the Nigerian people, and therefore, does not have the luxury of time to meddle with the politics of Bayelsa State.

    “As a result of this, the immediate reaction of the honorable minister is as usual, to dismiss such allegations as one of those baseless and unfounded rantings by a drowning governor who has no explanations to justify his continued lack of performance in office.

    “However, because what is at stake here is the life of innocent Bayelsa citizens and in order not to allow the governor create the wrong impressions in the minds of the impoverished and suffering people of the state, the minister is compelled to dignify His Excellency with a response.

    “The minister is shocked that a governor who was elected, primarily to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of the people is not ashamed that under his very watch, and with his active connivance, political thugs and state-bred miscreants are having field days, snuffing out the lives of innocent Bayelsans while the governor is busy playing blame game and politics with such a serious and heinous acts.

    “It is the advice of the honourable minister that instead of busying himself on irrelevant acts of shadow-chasing of perceived political opponents, the governor should put on his thinking cap and embark on laudable programmes that would help create wealth and lift the largely impoverished people of Bayelsa State from the pangs of poverty and want.

    “Whether he likes it or not, there will be no hiding place for governor Dickson to account for the multiplicity of the lives of innocent Bayelsans he has cruelly destroyed, including the huge resources of the State he has wasted without records.”

    Dickson, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said it was a common knowledge on the streets of Bayelsa that Lokpobiri was behind arming of youths and thugs in the state.

    Alabrah said: “Everybody in Bayelsa knows those behind the arming of youths, thugs or militants during elections. If one finger is pointing at the governor, four fingers are pointing at Lokpobiri.

    “We all know what happened in Bayelsa during the last elections and those who armed youths to attack, maim and kill political opponents. Lokpobiri cannot excuse himself from such acts. So, everybody in Bayelsa knows those who play violent politics”.

    Alabrah faulted the claims of Lokpobiri that the state was owing N800bn debts saying such figures were unverifiable.

    He asked Lokpobiri to clarify the figure saying no official institution of the government including the Debt Management Office (DMO) had such figure against the state.

    He said: “I am only concerned about the N800bn debt he has been peddling. The Minister himself has to explain it because even the Federal Government Debt Management Office doesn’t have such figures.

    “The official figure today is not more than N123bn. We wonder where he gets his N800bn any time he wants to criticise the government. Even the N123bn the state  owing, the Dickson administration has not taken any loan more than N50bn.

    “The chunk of the money was inherited by this administration. It was almost about N200bn when the government took over in 2012, but the administration reduced the figure to N123bn.

    “So, we wonder where he gets this figure. It is a political figure he is bandying and the Bayelsa people laugh at him each time he makes spurious claims that cannot be verified anywhere.

    “So, the minister should do well to go and look at the figures again. The Dickson’s administration has shown financial prudence in government. The government is using the allocations accruing to the state to execute projects.

    “As a minister, can he point at anything that he has attracted to the state. Today, we don’t have a minister because we don’t see their impact. Today, the state government is doing a road to Lokpobiri’s government in Ekeremor. So, we challenge him to tell the people what he has done as a minster.”