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  • Dickson: mum was my rock and biggest supporter

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday described his late mother, Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson as his rock, elder sister, friend, biggest supporter, and an integral part of his life.

    He said the life of her mother, who he fondly called Mama Gogo, impacted positively in him and on those who met her.

    Dickson spoke when the state’s federal lawmakers, condoled with him in Government House, Yenagoa.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Francis Ottah Agbo quoted Dickson, as saying his mother’s love, devotion and warmth towards him and his siblings could never be quantified.

    Dickson lamented the passage of his mother, saying the vacuum created by her departure would be difficult to fill, as she always prayed for him and for his administration to succeed.

    He said: “My mum was my rock. She was not just my mother; she was my elder sister; she had me very early; she was my friend and my biggest supporter in any thing I wanted to do.

    “And she was always praying and encouraging me. Today, for the first time since her death, as we finished the morning devotion, I didn’t have my mother to hug me because every morning after devotion, she would hug me!

    “After every morning devotion, she would bless me and pronounce strength and God’s guidance and she did that till the very end. Even on her hospital bed, she was praying and blessing all her children so this is one vacuum that will be very difficult to fill.”

    The governor, who said the Dickson family was going through a trying period, noted that Mrs. Dickson would be greatly missed.

    He appreciatied all who identified with the family in its moment of grief.

     

     

     

  • Dickson mourns Kofi Annan

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has commiserated with the family of Kofi Annan, United Nations, government and people of Ghana on the death of the former UN secretary-general, who died on Friday at 80.

    Annan was the winner of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for Humanitarian work. Annan made history when he became the first black secretary general, serving from 1997 to 2006.

    Dickson, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, called on the UN to immortalise the “fallen hero”.

    The statement described the death of the 2001 Nobel laureate as a great loss to humanity. While stressing that Annan was a global citizen, the governor prayed God to grant his soul eternal repose.

    “ On behalf of the government and the good people of Bayelsa State,  I express my condolences to the UN,  the government and people of Ghana as well as the family of Mr. Kofi Annan on the passing of the former secretary general of UN.

    “Annan was forthright, courageous, visionary and intrepid. I remember with nostalgia, how as secretary-general of the United Nations, he championed the clamour for global peace and worthy causes, one of which was  his declaration of American invasion of Iraq in 2003 as “illegal” under international law.

    “Similarly, as UN special envoy to Syria, he proved that he was a principled diplomat. He resigned from his exalted seat when the Syrian government refused to implement his six-point plan towards resolution of the crisis in Syria!

    “Aside diplomacy, Annan was a humanitarian who used the Kofi Annan Foundation to champion Human Rights as well as uplift people across the world.

    “He led a strong crusade against the HIV/AIDS scourge and was instrumental to the establishment of the social investment fund otherwise known as the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and the launch of the Millennium Development Goals.”

  • Dickson loses mother to cancer

    BAYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has confirmed the death of his beloved mother, Mrs. Gold Coast Dickson.  She was 72 years old.

    The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, said the late Mrs. Dickson died of cancer in early hours of yesterday at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, united States (U.S.), where she was receiving treatment.

    Dickson expressed appreciation to the centre, especially the team of medical professionals, who did their best to save his mother’s life.

    The governor also thanked family members, friends, political associates and Nigerians for their prayers and support in the most trying times for the Dickson family.

    Until her last breathe, she was described as a quintessential mother, devout Christian and community leader, who devoted her lifetime to the service of God and humanity.

    The statement said: “Condolence registers had been opened in Government House, Yenagoa, the governor’s residences in Opolo, Yenagoa and Toru-Orua Community in Sagbama Cola Council, Bayelsa State Liaison Office (IZON Warri) in Abuja and Governor’s Lodge,  Asokoro, Abuja.

    “Funeral details will be announced by the family at a later date.”

    The Bayelsa State Executive Council has expressed shock over the death of Mrs. Dickson.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Daniel Iworiso-Markson described her demise as a sad moment for the first family and the state.

    The council prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and called on all Bayelsans to put the first family in their prayers.

     

    Tinubu, Atiku console with governor

    FORMER Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commiserated with Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson over the passing of his mother, Madam Gold Coast Dickson.

    In a statement yesterday by his Media Office in Lagos, Tinubu, who said he understood how it felt like to lose a mother, having also experienced same, urged Dickson to take solace in the life of service to humanity his mother lived.

    The statement reads: “I commiserate with Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson over the passing of his mother, Madam Gold Coast Dickson.

    “Losing somebody dear to us like a mother can be difficult. I know how it feels because I have been through that way, having lost my mum.

    “We must, however, be consoled by the memories of the time they spent with us. Mama is said to be a woman of substance who lived a life of service to humanity.

    “She has done well for us by gifting the nation a wonderful son like Governor Dickson.  I pray that God grant Madam Dickson eternal rest and give the family the strength to endure this period.”

    Also yesterday, former Vice President and frontline presidential aspirant for the ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar condoled with the governor over the death of his mother.

    Atiku said in a statement that the news of the loss of the Bayelsa State governor’s mother came to him with shock.

    “The loss of a dear one, not least a mother, can be very emotional. We must accept that mama died as a fulfilled heart having gifted our great country with a great son like you,” he said.

    The former Vice President prays for the repose of soul of the deceased and for God to grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss of its matriarch.

     

     

  • Obasanjo, Dickson launch safe motherhood campaign in Bayelsa

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bayelsa State Governor  Seriake Dickson yesterday launched a safe motherhood campaign in the state to curb maternal and infant mortality.

    The campaign to end death of pregnant women and children under the age of five was launched at the first Infant/Maternal Mortality Summit at  the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa

    Present at the campaign was the Speaker of the Gambian National Assembly/Deputy Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay.

    Others are President of the National Council of Women Society Mrs. Gloria Labaran Shoda; Matron of African Women Leadership Organisation Chief Opral Benson; Special Adviser to former Speaker of Liberia Dr. Jophia Nanker Gupar; Deputy Governor John Jonah, and Rachael, Dickson’s wife.

    Women groups, state lawmakers, commissioners and exco members as well as civil society groups also witnessed the launch.

    Obasanjo, who chaired the summit, said if motherhood were not given attention, women would not get the recognition and would be barred from making contributions to the society.

    The former President said he was fortunate to chair the programme to end mortality among pregnant women and children under the age of five.

    He commended the commitment of Dickson towards the campaign.

    Obasanjo said the governor had put in place adequate health care facilities, adding that with the such infrastructure, no mother should die during pregnancy and after delivery.

    He said: “What gladdened my heart most is what Bayelsa State is doing, because the state according to the governor will meet the standard of Ondo State and surpass it in the shortest time possible. Bayelsa has taken the solution to where the problem is.”

    The former President said it would be a shame if the standard Dickson set in office dropped after he left.

    Dickson said the government had initiated a policy to give every expectant mother in Bayelsa a monthly stipend of N3,000 as incentive to enable them attend ante-natal care.

    He said: “At this summit, I want to announce a government policy that in order to make it possible for every pregnant woman to deliver safely, in order for us to know that every pregnant is accounted for, supervised and supported all through her pregnancy up to delivery.

    “The government, at this summit, is announcing a safe maternity allowance of N3,000 per month to every pregnant woman in Bayelsa.

    “This N3,000 is not for every woman in the state. This one we are announcing is a special safe motherhood allowance. From the moment a Bayelsa woman and every woman living here in Bayelsa becomes pregnant is entitled as of right to N3,000 until her delivery.

    “I want to check the integrity also of this programme, I want to get a report of the conduct of medical practitioners attending to her and those of the traditional birth attendants”.

     

  • Dickson hails Muslims for sustaining peace in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has commended the Muslim community for keeping the peace in the state.

    Dickson encouraged the Muslims living in different parts of the state especially in Yenagoa, the state capital, to remain law abiding and ensure harmonious and peaceful co-existence in their conducts.

    A statement signed by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Francis Agbo, said the governor spoke in Yenagoa when members of the Islamic Affairs, led by its President, Alhaji Yakubu Otobo paid him a courtesy visit in Government House.

    The governor maintained Bayelsa remained home to all Nigerians regardless of their ethno-religious and political differences.

    He urged the people of the state to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing useful information on the activities of criminals insisting that it was the collective responsibility of everyone to promote peace and stability.

    Dickson observed that, there had not been any major incident of conflict involving the Muslims in the state and appealed to them to sustain the prevailing peace.

    Responding to their request for sponsorship to holy pilgrimage, the  explained that his government currently lacked the financial capacity to sponsor, both intending Christian and Muslim pilgrims to the holy lands.

    He, however, promised that in no distant time, the government would institute a policy to support churches, mosques, organizations and the private sector for their pilgrimages.

    Addressing the Muslims, he said: “I want to commend all of you; I want to say that, we are happy with the moslem community in this state. Let me commend all of you for the peaceful way you have been going about your activities so far. 

    “In this state, we have not had challenges; we have not had negative reports about the conduct of our moslem brothers and sisters and so you all deserve a round of applause. I want to request that you keep it that way.

    “The government of Bayelsa state is a government for all people. All Nigerians and all human beings, who live in Bayelsa state. In this state, I have said it over and over again that everybody who is here is a Bayelsan irrespective of where you come from and feel free to practice your religion and carry on with your business but you to respect and abide by the laws of this country and the laws of this state.

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    “I urge you to continue to work closely with our security leaders and they are on to listen to you to get information from you about activities of people who want to create problems in this peaceful state. 

    “Those from other places who may want to come here and hide under any guise to create any problem, we call on you, just as we call on all residents of Bayelsa to identify them; people whose mission and livelihoods are suspicious, let us know. The security agencies are there to work with you quietly to fish out any bad egg.

    “We want to work with all of you, with all leaders of state, both Christians as well as Muslims to ensure that the peace and stability that we have worked hard to establish continues to remain.” I want to use this opportunity to congratulate all of you for going through your religious obligation in the holy month of Ramadan.”

    Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA), Bayelsa State chapter, Alhaji Yakubu Otobo, commended Dickson for his visionary leadership and dogged commitment to the development of the state, especially in the areas of education, security, infrastructure and other key sectors of the economy.

    Otobo also expressed appreciation to the government on its policies and programmes, particularly as they affected non indigenes in Bayelsa, which he noted, gave them a sense of belonging, since the inception of his administration.

    He prayed God to grant Dickson and his team the wisdom, strength and goodwill to steer the ship of state to greater heights.

    He also solicited the state government’s assistance in the provision of a bus for the chapter, which the Governor granted.

  • Dickson hails Aregbesola’s political tolerance

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday hailed the Osun State government for creating an atmosphere of peace, stability and political tolerance.

    He said the Aregbesola administration had justified the essence of leadership and reflected same in all economic strata, particularly in the Security sector.

    Dickson spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, when he visited Aregbesola at the Government House.

    The governor, who was visiting Osun State as the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 22 governorship election in the state, said the visit enabled him to see the legacies the Aregbesola administration had been building across the state.

    He said: “I am very happy to be in Osun. This is a state of my good brother, a hardworking and performing governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    “I have been in Osun since yesterday to oversee the conduct of my party’s governorship primary election. Since we arrived, we have been experiencing the peaceful atmosphere here and there.

    “We have seen the high level of security put in place by the Aregbesola administration. We have enjoyed peace, even within the little time we have spent as our visit to Osun has in no doubt exposed us to the high sense of commitment to security of life and property of the citizenry by the present administration.

    “Governor Aregbesola and I are friends; we are brothers. So, I can’t come to Osun and enjoy all these peace, joy and comfort without visiting the governor.

    “We thank Mr. Governor for the enabling environment created. We hail the state for the reigning peace, stability and atmosphere of tolerance.

    “We are proud of him; we are proud of his government. We are equally enthused by his noble countdown device constantly reminding him of the days he is left with in office.

    “This shows his rare commitment to democratic tenets, good governance and to the fact that one cannot be in government for life.”

    ?Aregbesola lauded Dickson’s leadership quality.

    The Osun State governor described him as a noble Nigerian, an astute and advocate of good governance who means well for the country.

    According to him, it is expected that politicians should bicker and compete on ideologies before elections, but at the level of governance, there should not be room for party affiliations.

    “It is in light of this that I appreciate this visit. It shows that we are building internal democracy; we are looking beyond party-politics,” Aregbesola added.

  • Killings greatest threat to our existence, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has described the spate of violence and senseless killings, particularly in the North as the biggest threat to the nation’s corporate existence since the civil war.

    He faulted the nation’s lopsided federal structure, over centralisation and politicisation of law and order as threats to contemporary governance.

    Dickson spoke at the weekend in Abuja while delivering a lecture titled: ‘Cultural Values, National security and challenges of contemporary governance: Perspective from Bayelsa State Experience, organised by Institute of Security Studies (ISS).

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Deacon Francis Ottah Attah, the governor condemned the recent killings and warned there would be no Nigeria if President Buhari fails to build a non-partisan consensus to avert the nationwide senseless killings.

    He lamented politicians were using the security structures of the country to torment innocent citizens for their selfish ends, causing national insecurity and instability.

    The governor maintained that the wind of insecurity blowing across the nation and particularly the killings of innocent in the North were fuelled by the imbalance in the security structure and the politicisation of security by the ruling party.

    According to him: “It is very clear that Nigeria’s lopsided federal system and over centralisation of security powers and the politicisation of  security by several agencies  are a major clause of instability and poses a threat to national stability.

    “I was talking about the politics of insecurity and the insecurity of politics occasioned by the abuse of Nigeria’s federal system and the ease at which those who control powers at the federal level undermine law and order in parts of our country and make it difficult for our citizens to feel safe and to feel protected under the law.

    “When you correct this abuse of federal system, the governor of Benue and Taraba will be in the position to mobilise the security resources of their States.”

    He called on stakeholders irrespective of their political parties to unite to proffer a solution to the lingering insecurity in the country.

    Dickson said: “Who are the farmers having clashes with herdsmen in Sokoto, Zamfara and other places?

    “We must call a spade a spade for the good of our country. We are dealing with a calculated attack on our country. We are dealing with machinery of violence against innocent Nigerians.

    “Yes we have historical incidence of herdsmen and farmers clash but what is going on is far more than that.

    “All Nigerians and people of good will should show patriotism and let us interrogate this issue properly.”

     

  • Presidential system a waste of resources, says Dickson

    bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday picked holes on the position of President Muhammadu Buhari on the agitation for restructuring of the country.

    He described the statement by the President that those pushing for restructuring were motivated by selfish interests as “unpresidential.’

    Dicskon, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, made the comment while delivering a lecture with the theme: “Restructuring and the Search for a Productive Nigeria,”, organised by the Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in Osun State.

    The Bayelsa governor said Nigerians in the vanguard of the campaign for the restructuring of the country were the patriotic ones motivated by a desire for the nation’s peace, prosperity and stability.

    He wondered why the President would dismiss the general quest of the Nigerian citizenry to restructure the federation which would not withstand the test of time in its current lopsided nature.

    He said: “When everybody in this country is talking about the need to restructure this country, our President, Muhammadu Buhari, made a statement that is not only wrong, but it is also faulty that cannot stand the test of time and a threat to the continued stability and prosperity and development of our country, when he dismissed outright, the notion of restructuring.

    “And he didn’t stop there, he went ahead to say that those who are in support of restructuring are doing so for parochial agenda. Mr. President, you are wrong. In fact the reverse is the case. The majority of Nigerians from the North, South, East, West and Middle Belt, who are making a case for restructuring are indeed the patriots of Nigeria.

    “We want a Nigeria that works with equal citizenship. A Nigeria for the many as well as for the few; a Nigeria that we will be proud to call home any day, that we can proudly pledge allegiance to.

    “The outcome of my interaction has shown that Nigerians are in support of restructuring. I am not imposing my views,  I don’t believe that the Presidential system is what Nigeria needs. The system is expensive, we can’t have a productive Nigeria with the way it is structured. The government has abandoned its core responsibilities of defence and security. The constitutional issue can’t deliver a safe Nigeria.

    “There’s need to devolve policing powers to the people; but I’m not saying states should have police. Our system of settling disputes is faulty. Why should a land dispute in communities be dragged to the Supreme Court? I know many things about access to justice. Instead of justice getting stronger, you see Babalawos getting stronger. The distortion of our federal structure has destroyed Nigeria.”

    Dickson said the current arrangement where the central government would take over all responsibilities such as the judiciary, the police and others to the exclusion of the state was an arrangement in need of change.

    According to him, the Federal Government had not fared well even in its core responsibilities such as Defence and security as shown by the killings in the land.

    ” A Nigeria where the exclusive list is longer than the concurrent one. A Nigeria where the Federal Government is a Jack of all trade, but a master of none.

    “A Nigeria where the Federal Government dissipates itself in areas that it has no competence, no local knowledge to deliver productivity to the extent that it has abandoned its core areas of responsibility.

    The governor also took a swipe at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation which he described as opaque.

    He said the rule of 13 per cent derivation funds to the producing states was not being implemented in the country.

    Dickson said the oil producing states were being subjected to whatever handouts the NNPC could offer them.

    The governor said that the way forward was restructuring if the citizens desire for security and stability was to be a reality.

  • Dickson: We  need  more Ciromas  to rescue Nigeria

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said Nigeria needs quintessential and selfless leaders like Mallam Adamu Ciroma  to rescue the country from the shackles of injustice,  misrule and underdevelopment.

    A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, noted that Dickson spoke yesterday in Abuja when he paid a condolence visit on the family of the late elder statesman, Ciroma who died last week.

    Dickson eulogized Ciroma for his leadership qualities and service to fatherland.  While stressing that Ciroma lived for humanity,  the governor stressed that his demise is not just a great loss to Nigeria but clearly irredeemable! He also assured the Ciromas that he will continue to maintain his relationship with the family.

    He said: “Mallam Adamu Ciroma lived for humanity and worked for the unity and progress of Nigeria. He was exceptional in and out of office.  In all the places he worked,  from New Nigeria Newspaper where he was editor and later MD, CBN Governor,  Finance Minister and others,  he served without blemish and etched his name in the sands of time… As a top political leader, he played politics of Service to fatherland and politics of conviction.

    “He was a Statesman and a quintessential leader. He left us when we needed him most but who are we to question God. We can only thank God for doing what only He can do. He gives and takes at will, ours is to accept this at all times. I join his family, asdociates and friends to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

    “We condole the family, the wife and children he has left behind.  We pray to God for Nigeria to have many Adamu ciromas, who will dedicate their lives to the well being of their people and rescue  this country from injustice and underdevelopment…”

    Former Minister of Police Affairs Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri  welcomed Dickson and his entourage to the home of the Ciromas. He thanked the governor for his support to the late Ciroma and family,  noting that the family holds him in high esteem.

    He said:  “I was surprised that we did not see you earlier.  But when I asked my leader’s wife,  Hajia Ciroma, she told me you traveled outside Nigeria. And we are happy you made it here the moment you returned to Nigeria. The loss of Mallam is beyond the family. As you said, we need many more Mallam, all of us must concur that a void has been created by the death of  our leader, Mallam Adamu Ciroma. Mallam lived 84 years in public service. Public service is synonymous with Mallam and his family and that was why he had to accept public service against his will when Gen Sani Abacha appointed him in 1993.”

     

    The  governor was accompanied by former Deputy Senate President  Ibrahim Mantu,  former Minister of Power  Mohammed Wakil, Kano-born politician and son of late Head of State,  Mohammed Abacha, National President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum,  Alhaji Yerima Shettima,  Bayelsa State Commissioner for Trade and Investment  Mrs Funkazi Crooks and others.

     

     

  • Bayelsa leaders pressurise Dickson for Senate slot

    Many prominent leaders and groups in Bayelsa State are mounting pressure on Governor Seriake Dickson to contest for the Bayelsa West Senatorial District seat.

    The leaders are made up of elders, political leaders, royal fathers, community leaders,  faith-based, woman and youth organisations.

    If the governor bows to the pressure, he will have a hurdle to cross because his tenure will end on February 14, 2020, almost a year after the 2019 general election.

    It was not immediately clear, the formula being worked out by the leaders on how to make Dickson to return to the National Assembly next year without losing his governorship seat. But the governor, a former member of the House of Representatives is believed t have rejected the offer. He is set to be eying further stodies in Law.

    Bayelsa West Senatorial District comprises Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas. It is currently being represented by Senator Foster Ogola.

    It was leaent that the leaders and the groups involved in what has been christened as  “Dickson Project” , had been holding clandestine meetings to perfect the strategies on the best way to persuade the governor to contest for the Senatorial seat.

    The leaders were said to have embarked on the project, having rated Dickson as “above board in and out of office, and having performed creditably to the admiration of all and sundry.”

    A top  source said: ” Dickson is a performer, one of the finest and one of the most celebrated governors in Nigeria today.

    “We want him in the National Assembly to push the agitation for restructuring and good governance in the Niger Delta.  We cannot allow him to retire so early.

    ”  Seriake Dickson keeps telling us both in private and public that he wants to go to the classroom to  study for  higher degree and teach law but we believe he is too useful to us politically at this critical stage of our political journey to leave the political scene for class room.

    “Another problem that must be resolved is that even if Seriake accepts to run,  the Constitution does not contemplate an individual holding two elective offices at the same time and it will not make sense for him to resign from office to run for Senate before the end of his governorship tenure on February 14, 2020.

    “Some of our leaders are contemplating fielding a candidate who will stand election in trust for the governor. But this political calculation does not tickle the governor because he has never been desperate for any office.”

    A document indicated that the  Ijaws are pushing for Dickson because of his “legislative “experience, oratory skills and network in order to give voice to the Niger Delta agitation  for restructuring,  fiscal federalism and devolution of powers from the Centre to the federating units.

    A PDP chieftain from Bayelsa West who craved anonymity said: “Whether Dickson will win the Senatorial seat  if he throws his hat into the ring is not the issue but that the only knotty issue that gives the leaders headache  is that Dickson’s tenure will not end until 2020 and the Constitution  of the Federal Republic doesn’t permit any body to hold two  elective offices at the same time.”