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Tag: Dickson

  • Turaki pays condolence visit to Dickson

    A presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Tanimu Kabiru Turaki, SAN, has described Nigeria as a country at a crossroads with increasing doubts about its unity.

    Turaki said that the country was in need of leaders like the governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, in sensitive political positions of leadership at the national level.

    He said Nigeria was in dire need of forthright and dependable leaders of courage who would be bold enough to say the truth and show the requisite compassion for the people in their moments of need.

    A statement by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, said Turaki made the comments while leading members of his campaign team on a condolence visit to the Toru Orua country home of Dickson to condole with him on the death of his mother, Mrs, Goldcoast Dickson yesterday.

    He stressed that Dickson had displayed exemplary leadership qualities in governing Bayelsa State, and deserved to occupy high political offices in the land.

    He called on leaders across the country to emulate Governor Dickson who he said was among the few genuinely patriotic and nationalistic leaders in Nigeria.

    He said: “You are one of the few patriotic and a highly nationalistic leaders we have. I call on leaders to emulate you in words and actions.

    “At this time that the country is so divided, we need leaders like you who have milk of human compassion; leaders who have the courage to say the truth; leaders who do not lie, leaders who sympathise with the people and leaders who have the fear of God in their lives, and you are one person with these qualities.

    “If there is one person who has built bridges across the country, between the North and the South, you are that person.

    “Today, Nigeria is at a crossroads. People are wondering if the Nigerian project will succeeed. Today, there is hunger, poverty, despondency in the land. Our patience is waning. We need people like you to continue what you are doing.”

    Turaki commended Dickson for his performance in education and the execution of health projects of international standard in the state.

    He said that the good nature of Dickson was responsible for the revolution in development in Bayelsa.

  •  Again, Dickson, Sylva bicker  over killings in Brass LG

    Bayelsa State governor, Hon Seriake Dickson and former governor Timipre  Sylva yesterday threw tantrums at each other over the spate of  bloody violence in the state especially at  the oil-rich Twon Brass, Brass Local Government Area.

    Dickson in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, blamed the continued bloody clashes, which caused deaths and injuries in Brass on the only All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker in the House of Assembly, Isreal Sunny-Goli.

    The governor directed the security agencies in the state to arrest and prosecute the legislator who represents Brass Constituency 1.

    Dickson warned that if Sunny-Goli was not arrested and prosecuted by law enforcement agencies, he would personally mobilise the people of the state to apprehend him.

    The governor alleged that the police authorities and the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to arrest the lawmaker because he belonged to the APC despite the plethora of petitions against him.

    He accused the lawmaker of being responsible for various crimes including murder, thuggery and cultism in his constituency and the whole of Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    He alleged that Sunny-Goli was one of the kingpins of cultism in the state responsible for several unresolved murders.

    He said: “Sunny-Goli is a criminal and a fugitive, who is running away from the law. He is responsible for several deaths in the state and runs to Abuja to seek refuge. The police authorities cannot continue to condone acts of criminality simply because Sunny-Goli (also known as Adi) is a member of the APC. The law must not be applied selectively.

    “The position of the Bayelsa State Government is that Sunny-Goli has to be arrested. We are asking the IG and the DSS to take steps to prevent an abuse of their powers by someone who terrorizes innocent people.

    ”I will mobilise the people of this state to arrest him since the law enforcement agencies cannot do it. As governor of this state, I do not and will not condone criminal acts by any individual no matter his position in the state. I have a zero tolerance for criminality and lawlessness.”

    He also expressed shock that President Muhammadu Buhari could allow former Governor Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri and other APC leaders to cause mayhem in the state despite several reports and complaints to him and security agencies.

    He added: “The President has allowed common criminals and terrorists such as Sylva and Lokpobiri to unleash violence on their people while the IG is sitting in Abuja to direct investigation of a petition against the Brass Council chairman.

    ”At the moment, they are attacking innocent people in Brass, who are members of the PDP, with people bloodied and houses burnt all in a bid to destabilise the state.”

    The governor alleged that Sunny-Goli had several pending cases before the police and the DSS for which he was invited but that he shunned the invitation.

    The governor accused the APC leaders in the state, including Sylva and Lokpobiri, of using the security agencies to shield criminals, intimidate and harass innocent citizens.

    But in a swift reaction, Sylva in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Julius Bokoru, asked Dickson to leave him and other “APC members out of his incompetence and shortcomings.”

    “What puzzles Sylva most is not how deeply untrue and infantile  Dickson’s statements are, but the fact that Dickson may have finally developed a complex  problem over  Sylva- a complex borne out of Dickson’s awareness that he is a classless opportunist who will never measure up intellectually, socially and morally to Sylva.

    ”If Dickson saw it fit to spend even a third of the energies he spends obsessing over Sylva on the task of governance before him, the state would have been better for it. Dickson can simply be described as a grand patron of criminality in Bayelsa State.

    ”He has turned the state government house into a shelter for all people of questionable characters chased out of the APC .

    ”While the APC and its leaders in the state are purging criminals out of its fold , Dickson and his lowly government welcome and celebrate them as he is building an army of criminally-minded elements to unleash terror on members of APC in the state.

    ”This can be confirmed in his statement when he threatened to take the law into his hands by mobilizing his people to arrest Hon Israel Sunny-Goli . The question is who are his people that he wants to mobilise?  The guess easily becomes his private army of criminals whom he also sent to resist the arrest of Mr. Victor Isiah who is wanted for multiple murders and brigandage,” he said.

    The statement further alleged that Dickson had penchant for violence adding that the governor was hypocritical with primordial capacity for brute mischief.

    The statement added: “Lest we forget, on March 30th 2015, Dickson personally led a gang of thugs to attack a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, an act which was caught on camera and extensively circulated on the media.

    ”That unabashed show of violence scored a new low for the office of the governor of Bayelsa State.   Even as governor, his instinctive appetite for violence could not keep him from personally partaking in that assault against lawyers and judges of a Federal High Court.

     

    “It is also on record how security operatives loyal to Dickson killed over 11 natives of Amassoma who were only protesting the arbitrary sack of thousands of Bayelsa State workers whose only crime was to be thought apologetic to the APC.”

  •  …Dickson after me for refusing to join PDP, says APC lawmaker 

    Hon. Isreal Sunny-Goli, the only lawmaker in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said the state governor, Seriake Dickson, was after him following his refusal to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Dickson in a damning statement accused Sunny-Goli of cultism and masterminding all the violent clashes that led to deaths and injuries in Twon Brass, Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    But the lawmaker in an interview denied all the allegations against him stating that Dickson and the PDP became desperate because he was contesting the Nembe/ Brass House Federal Constituency on the APC platform.

    Sunny-Goli, who represents Brass Constituency 1, said his persecution increased because he refused overtures to defect to the PDP and contest the federal seat.

    He said the PDP government in the state which was looking for ways to prosecute him on thumped-up charges because of his rising political profile

    According to him,  his two supporters were killed in Brass and a petition was forwarded to the police to ensure legitimate means were taken to unravel those behind the alleged murders and bring them to book.

    He said: “Since August 23 when Kelly Ikurusi and Peter George were killed, APC in Bayelsa has been in mourning.  I don’t know why a government that claims it does not condone crime and criminality would encourage Bayelsa youths to prevent police detectives from doing their work.

    ”I have told the police our concern and that we shall follow the path of the law and ensure that those involved in the alleged murder are brought to book. No amount of intimidation would make us back down”

    Also the state chapter of APC described the order by Dickson for the arrest of Sunny -Goli as one of the many example of intimidation by the PDP.

  • Again, Dickson, Sylva clash over Bayelsa violence

    ….Dickson order security agencies to arrest APC lawmaker

    ….Leave us out of your incompetence, Sylva

     

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson and former Governor Seriake Dickson on Friday threw tantrums at each other over bloody violence in the state especially at the oil-rich Twon Brass, Brass Local Government Area.

    Dickson in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, blamed continual bloody clashes, which caused deaths and injuries in Brass on the only All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker in the House of Assembly, Isreal Sunny-Goli.

    The governor directed the security agencies in the state to arrest and prosecute the legislator, who represents Brass Constituency 1.

    Dickson warned that if Sunny-Goli was not arrested and prosecuted by the law enforcement agencies, he would personally mobilise the people of the state to apprehend him.

    The governor alleged that the police authorities and the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to arrest the lawmaker because he belonged to the APC despite the plethora of petitions against him.

    He accused the lawmaker of being responsible for various crimes including murder, thuggery and cultism in his constituency and the whole of Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    He alleged that Sunny-Goli was one of the kingpins of cultism in the state responsible for several unresolved murders.

    He said: “Sunny-Goli is a criminal and a fugitive, who is running away from the law. He is responsible for several deaths in the state and runs to Abuja to seek refuge. The police authorities cannot continue to condone acts of criminality simply because Sunny-Goli (also known as Adi) is a member of the APC. The law must not be applied selectively.

    “The position of the Bayelsa State Government is that Sunny-Goli has to be arrested. We are asking the IG and the DSS to take steps to prevent an abuse of their powers by someone who terrorises innocent people.

    “I will mobilise the people of this state to arrest him since the law enforcement agencies cannot do it. As governor of this state, I do not and will not condone criminal acts by any individual no matter his position in the state. I have a zero tolerance for criminality and lawlessness.”

    He also expressed shock that President Muhammadu Buhari could allow former Governor Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri and other APC leaders to cause mayhem in the state despite several reports and complaints to him and security agencies.

    Read Also: 2019: Bauchi APC adopts Buhari, Abubakar

    He added: “The President has allowed common criminals and terrorists such as Sylva and Lokpobiri to unleash violence on their people while the IG is sitting in Abuja to direct investigation of a petition against the Brass Council chairman.

    “At the moment, they are attacking innocent people in Brass, who are members of the PDP, with people bloodied and houses burnt all in a bid to destabilise the state.”

    The governor alleged that Sunny-Goli had several pending cases before the police and the DSS for which he was invited but that he shunned the invitation.

    He said the lawmaker sought protection in Abuja from where he wrote a frivolous petition that resulted in Thursday’s invasion of the homes of the interim chairman of the Brass council, Victor Isaiah, and that of the former chairman of the APC in the state, Chief Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe, who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He insisted that Isaiah who was invited by the police would honour the invitation when the security agencies act on the earlier petitions against the lawmaker that was being protected by the agencies.

    The governor accused the APC leaders in the state, including Sylva and Lokpobiri, of using the security agencies to shield criminals, intimidate and harass innocent citizens.

    But in a swift reaction, Sylva in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Julius Bokoru, asked Dickson to leave him and other APC members out of his incompetence and shortcomings.

    The statement said Dickson in his warped imagination had continued to accuse Sylva of violence without any concrete evidence.

    “What puzzles Sylva most is not how deeply untrue and infantile Dickson’s statements are, but the fact that Dickson may have finally developed a complex problem over Sylva, a complex borne out of Dickson’s awareness that he is a classless opportunist who will never measure up intellectually, socially and morally to Sylva.

    “If Dickson saw it fit to spend even a third of the energies he spends obsessing over Sylva on the task of governance before him, the state would have been better for it.

    Dickson can simply be described as a grand patron of criminality in Bayelsa state.

    “He has turned the state Government House into a shelter for all people of questionable characters chased out of the APC . These are Mr. Perekeme Kpodo who is currently standing trial for rape, Timipa Orunimighe and Africanus ukparasia.

    “While the APC and its leaders in the state are purging criminals out of its fold , Dickson and his lowly government welcome and celebrate them as he is building an army of criminally-minded elements to unleash terror on members of APC in the state.

    “This can be confirmed in his statement when he threatened to take the law into his hands by mobilizing his people to arrest Hon Israel Sunny-Goli . The question is who are his people that he wants to mobilize? The guess easily becomes his private army of criminals whom he also sent to resist the arrest of Mr. Victor Isiah who is wanted for multiple murders and brigandage”, he said.

    The statement further alleged that Dickson had penchant for violence adding that the governor was hypocritical with primordial capacity for brute mischief.

    The statement added: “Lest we forget, on March 30th 2015, Dickson personally led a gang of thugs to attack a Federal High court in Yenagoa, an act which was caught on camera and extensively circulated on the media.

    “That unabashed show of violence scored a new low for the office of the Governor Of Bayelsa State. Even as governor, his instinctive appetite for violence could not keep him from personally partaking in that assault against lawyers and judges of a Federal High Court.

    “It is also on record how security operatives loyal to Dickson killed over eleven natives of Amassoma who were only protesting the arbitrary sack of thousands of Bayelsa state workers whose only crime was to be thought apologetic to the APC.

    “On February 29th 2016, on the instruction of Governor Dickson, thugs were unleashed on elderly pensioners protesting their five months pay in front of Government House.

    “Reducing octogenarians, who should be revered, to pulp is another unbelievable low. Ours was supposed to be a society where elders are venerated, but Dickson’s orgy of violence is not a respecter of revered conventions”.

    The statement further said that under Dickson, politicians including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been assassinated.

    It said: “The case of those killed in Brass is a murder case and not a political case.The fact Dickson is desperately trying to cast a political theme on what is a clear cut murder case is another affirmation that we have a man morbidly interested in death and disaster, a man clearly oblivious of the value of human lives.

    “It beats one’s imagination that a man who claims to have a legal background would feel panicked by the police going about its simple procedures of investigating a string of murders. Or have we now completely lost our morality that series of murders in the state should go unresolved? However ghastly politics might be, loss of human lives can never be explained away on its alters.

    “Dickson who has set Bayelsa state on reverse for the last six years with gross incompetence, mediocrity and innate naivety should own up to his glaring inadequacies instead of depleting state resources in fighting imaginary enemies”.

  • Ijaw can’t be intimidated, says Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has said nobody can intimidate the Ijaw, saying they will continue to cry out against injustice and inequality.

    A statement signed yesterday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, said Dickson spoke when he visited Ijaw National Leader, Pa Clark, in Abuja, after the police raid of his home.

    The governor insisted the raid for purported gunrunning is a failed bid to intimidate the Ijaw.

    With Dickson are Senator Ben Murray Bruce; former Minister of Water Resources Alhaji  Muktar Shagari; former Senate Chief Whip Stella Omu; former Permanent Secretary Boladei Igali; and former Minister Alabo Graham Douglas.

    Dickson hailed  Pa Clark’s leadership style, courage, firmness and commitment to the cause of the Ijaw.

    He said the Ijaw spirit remained indomitable and would not succumb to intimidation.

    Dickson said: “As you already know, you and I have been talking about this unfortunate incident. I have made it known; our utter disappointment with the action of the police, which is clearly an unnecessary and condemnable act of intimidation of the family of our leader at the age of 92.

    “We have issued statements condemning the invasion, harassment, intimidation, and called for an apology. But I thought my friends and I  should be here to pay solidarity to you, and publicly restate our condemnation of the  intimidation of a 92-year old leader of our people, and indeed one of the foremost leaders of Nigeria.

    “We know that no weapon fashioned against our leader, our people, will stand. If this was targeted to intimidate our people, it has failed. The spirit of the Ijaw nation cannot be intimidated; the Ijaw spirit is indomitable.

    “That is what you have shown and  have taught us all these years. We admire your courage, your strength of character, which personifies the indomitable spirit of our people. We know that this will not sway you. In this nation, the Ijaw spirit cannot be intimidated. The Ijaw voice will continue to be heard.”

    Dickson noted that Clark has demonstrated quality leadership, adding that he personified the indomitable spirit of the Ijaw people.

    The governor challenged the Federal Government to go after those responsible for the reprehensible slaughter of innocent Nigerians rather than the harassing innocent people.

     

     

  • Dickson shops for replacements as aides seek PDP tickets

    …CPS leaves for Benue

     

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, is seeking competent persons to fill vacancies created in his cabinet following resignations of his aides.

    It was gathered on Friday that many of his aides left their appointments to obtain expression of interest and nomination forms for the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary elections.

    Dickson earlier directed that aides interested in PDP tickets should resign their appointments and leave his government to pursue their ambitions.

    Latest to submit their expression of interest and nomination forms were the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Francis Ottah-Agbo and the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ewrujakpor.

    Though it was not clear whether Ottah-Agbo formally resigned his appointment as directed by the governor, he was said to have traveled to Benue, his state to submit his forms.

    Ottah-Agbo, who styled his campaign as the moving train, is seeking the PDP ticket to represent Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

    Sources said there was no way the CPS would have traveled to Benue to struggle for a PDP ticket without first resigning his appointment to avoid creating a vacuum.

    Already, competent aides in the governor’s media team such as the SpecialAdviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei and the Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Daniel Alabrah were said to be jostling for the position of the CPS.

    But Ewrudjakpor’s ambition to clinch the PDP’s ticket for the Bayelsa West Senatorial District was said to be generating mixed feelings in Dickson’s cabinet.

    The cabinet members were said to have applauded the move but at the same time unhappy that a person of his quality and competence would be missing in the government.

    Described as a super commissioner, Ewrujakpor, a confidant of Dickson, has been instrumental to the strides of the governor on infrastructures.

    Most of the cabinet members said it would be extremely difficult for the governor to find a replacement for Ewruhjakpor.

    Other key members of Dickson’s political family such as the Speaker, House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, lawmakers representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal constituencies, Douye Diri and Fred Agbedi as well as former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Prof Steve Azaiki also submitted their forms.

    The aspirants alongside their teeming supporters defied heavy downpour to submit forms ahead party primaries scheduled for September ending.

    Ewrudjakpo, in an interview with the newsmen shortly after the submission of his nomination form said his decision to join the race is hinged on bringing government to the grassroots, and, as well fast tracking infrastructural development in the state.

    He bemoaned inadequate federal presence in the state, in spite of Bayelsa’s contributions to the socioeconomic growth of the country.

    “These are the issues that needed to be addressed through restructuring and proper legislations”, he said.

    He said as a lawyer, he would bring his wealth of experience on the bench to bear in the act of law making and true representation.

    The aspirant thanked the teeming youths from the senatorial district for the confidence reposed in him and promised not to let them down.

    Also, Benson, Diri and Agbedi, said law-making was not a tea party but a serious business adding that their experiences as lawmakers would assist in sponsoring bills that would be beneficial to the people of the state.

  • Cancer Foundation: Why Atiku is partnering Gov. Dickson

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has bemoaned the prevalent cases of cancer in the country and pledged to partner Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on the establishment of a cancer centre in the state.

    Abubakar made the pledge in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Yenagoa, shortly after his condolence visit to Dickson’s family in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area.

    Abubakar, who is one of the presidential aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described Dickson’s initiative as commendable.

    He stressed that the foundation, when fully launched, would help cancer patients since early detection is critical to its treatment.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the cancer foundation was established in honour of Dickson’s mother, Mrs Goldcoast who died on Aug. 8 at aged 72.

    “The cancer centre is an extremely commendable initiative. I assure the governor that I will also join him in this cancer centre development because at the same time that he lost his mother, I also lost my sister-in-law to cancer.

    “So, you can see that cancer has become very common in Nigeria.

    “You know the best way to treat cancer is to see how we can prevent it by detecting it in time. And I want to be part of that initiative,” Abubakar said.

    Responding, Dickson said that the cancer advocacy was initiated by to honour his mother.

    “Since the passing of my mother, Mrs Goldcoast Dickson, my family has become campaigners against cancer.

    “One of the decisions that we have taken as a family is to talk to well-meaning people like you and others to see how we can mobilise support for the establishment of a cancer centre in her name.

    “We don’t want it to be government-driven but any government can make donations to it.

    “It will be affiliated to tertiary institutions and will be maintained by the Henry Seriake Foundation,” the governor said.

  • Dickson is committed to Ijaw cause, says Alaibe

    Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC’s) ex-Managing Director Chief Timi Alaibe has said Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson is committed to the Ijaw cause.

    Alaibe spoke when he led leaders of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government on a visit to the Toru Orua home of the governor, to condole him on the death of his mother, Mrs. GoldCoast Dickson, yesterday.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media Relations, Mr. FIdelis Soriwei, said Alaibe stressed that critics of the governor  will agree the governor is committed to the interest of the Ijaw.

    The former NDDC MD onoted that Dickson’s decision to retrieve the remains of Ijaw leader and hero, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka  Boro, to Kaiama, further confirmed the governor’s commitment and passion to issues affecting the Ijaw.

    Alaibe listed the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, among major projects of the Dickson’s administration designed to touch the Ijaw.

    He said Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson groomed the governor to live a life of excellence and service to humanity.

    “Even critics will agree that Governor Seriake Dickson is a man who stands for the Ijaw cause. His commitment to the Ijaw cause is impeccable.

    “We have all seen it in some of the actions that he has taken in the retrieval of the remains of Major Jasper Adaka Boro, as it concerns us the people of Kolokuma/Opokuma. That was touching to us and was a sore point for our people. That is where his Izonness shows.

    “We are also beneficiaries of the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama. That again shows the kind of person you are. This is all the grooming your mother gave you.”

  • Dickson receives support to immortalise late mother

    The leadership of the Bayelsa State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the executives at the local government and ward levels have lent their support to the proposed foundation in memory of the governor’s late mother, Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson for cancer

    screening and advocacy in the state.

    Speaking when the PDP family paid a condolence visit to Governor Seriake Dickson in Toru Orua, the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Moses Cleopas presented the sum of N500, 000 to kick start the foundation.

    The PDP Chairman, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Francis Ottah Agbo, urged the Dickson family and the communities of Toru Orua and Angiama  to take solace in the fact that, the deceased lived a fulfilled life.

    In his response, Governor Dickson said the project is a private initiative of his family and urged other public spirited individuals and organizations to key into the scheme.

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has  described the Dickson  as the best governor in Nigeria. The PDP chair also hailed the efforts of the governor in ensuring that the party  remains cohesive and stable not only in his state but also at the national level.

    A  statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo,  noted that  Secondus gave the commendation when he led members of the PDP National Working Committee and the Board of Trustees to Toru-Orua in Bayelsa State to commiserate with Governor Dickson and his family over the demise of his 72 year old mother, Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson popularly called Mama Gogo.

    Secondus said Governor Dickson has over the years helped to build the PDP into a global brand and has continued to  support the party.

     

  • Dickson: Buhari phoned me from UK on my mum’s death

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for calling him on telephone from the United Kingdom during his vacation to commiserate with him and his family on the death of his mother, Gold Coast Dickson.

    Madam Dickson died on August 8 at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, United States.

    The governor also appreciated the Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo for also calling him on telephone to condole with him.

    Dickson, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, hailed Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former leaders for commiserating with him and his family.

    He said the President, although he was in the United Kingdom at the time of her death, called and commiserated with him and his family.

    “Let me, on behalf of my family and government of Bayelsa State, express our deep appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, who took time off his vacation in the United Kingdom to call to condole with me and offer prayers for my mother and family.

    “Similarly, I thank the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who also called me to commiserate with us in our moment of grief”.

    Dickson paid glowing tributes to his late mother, describing her as an integral part of his journey in life.

    The governor, in his brief remarks  during a solemn service organised by the government at the Governor’s Lodge in Yenagoa to commiserate with him, said his mum, popularly known as Mama Gogo, was more than just a mother.

    “My mother has been an integral part of my journey. She was not just my mother. She was my elder sister, she was my rock, my counselor, my guardian angel and because of her subtle style, people might not know the level of her influence.”

    He explained his mother complained of leg pain in January, which was discovered at Bayelsa Diagnostic Centre to be cancer.

    The governor also applauded former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for not just calling him but also writing formal letters to condole with him and his family.

    He said: “I was humbled by the outpour of concern and love shown to me by my colleagues and brother governors, who spared precious time out of their busy schedules to commiserate with my family and I. I am also grateful to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for identifying with us in our most trying period.

    “I specially thank the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Senate President Professor Ike Ekweremadu, the leadership of the National Assembly and all federal lawmakers and former leadership of the National Assembly for commiserating with us.

    “The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Working Committee (NWC), ably led by Prince Uche Secondus, mourned with us, for which we are highly appreciative.

    “I equally appreciate the concern, prayers and support of many former governors, deputy governors, friends and political associates who continue to stand by us.

    He thanked the state for the outpouring of genuine grief and called for prayers for the family, especially during this period.

    The governor added: “I want to sincerely thank the leadership of other political parties for setting aside partisan affiliation and interest to identify with us in our grief.

    “I cannot forget the outpour of condolences and support of all presidential aspirants of our party who stood by the Dickson family”.

    He listed the presidential aspirants: Atiku; Governor of Gombe State Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo; Sokoto State Governor Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and former Governor of Kaduna State and Caretaker Committee Chairman of PDP Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    Others are former Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Sule Lamido; ex-Governor of Sokoto State Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; former Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, and ex-Minister of Special Duties  Saminu Turaki.

    He said: “I am not oblivious of the support, care and prayers of the government and people of Bayelsa State, monarchs and senior citizens of the Ijaw nation for the Dickson family.

    “I cannot end the appreciation without thanking captains of industry, corporate Nigeria, civil society, the media, Nigeria Bar Association, churches and faith-based organisations for their support and prayers.

    “Our appreciation also goes to the doctors who did their best to give support, care and treatment to our mother before her passing. We thank the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas, United States, for treating and taking good care of Mama.

    “We also appreciate the management and staff of the Bayelsa State Diagnostic Centre, Yenagoa, where Mama Gogo was first diagnosed of cancer and for giving care to her before she was referred abroad for further treatment and management”.