The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dickson’s aide

  • Bayelsa polls: Dickson’s aide calls for unity

    The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has called for unity in Ogbia Local Government Area ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    Iworiso-Markson, who hails from Opume in the area, advised that his kinsmen should move in one direction to maximise their electoral value.

    Iworiso-Markson, who spoke when he received leaders of the Ogbia Restoration Crusaders (ORC), said the division among the people, especially the political class had dwindled the electoral fortunes of the area.

    He explained that in the past Ogbia was known for unity, love and peace which engendered development, even as he lamented that everything took a negative twist because of the different political interests in the kingdom.

    While commending the ORC for using their oneness campaign to promote unity among the people, Iworiso-Markson noted that a lot still needed to be done. He pledged to partner with them to achieve their campaign objectives.

    The commissioner, who thanked the group for the visit and for always galvanising support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) advised them to ensure that the party emerged victorious in the coming local government and governorship elections.

    He also commended them for their overwhelming support for the Restoration Government of Governor Seriake Dickson, urging them to continue to stand with the government as it approaches the twilight of its administration.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the ORC Elders’ Caucus, Elabha Azibola told Iworiso-Markson that the ongoing oneness campaign was aimed at bringing about peace, development, progress and growth.

    He said: “The visit, which is a continuation of an ongoing process, is expected to continue in order to reach all political stakeholders in Ogbia.

    Let us seize the opportunity to extend our appreciation to the leadership and stakeholders of the Ogbia chapter of the PDP for organising party processes to the satisfaction of all.

    “We also commend Governor Dickson for being the Ogbia man that he is. We also commend him for appointing our sons and daughters to serve in his administration and for the massive development he has brought to our area.”

     

  • Gunmen kill Dickson’s aide in Bayelsa

    An aide to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has been killed by gunmen believed to be assassins.

    Ebikimi Okoringa, who was recently inaugurated a Special Adviser to Dickson was shot dead at his hometown in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

    The victim, a two-time councillor and former local government Acting Chairman was attacked and killed at about 10pm on Monday.

    A community source, who spoke in confidence, said the suspected assassins laid an ambush close to his house and shot him immediately he alighted from his car.

    “They waited for him in the cover of darkness. Immediately he alighted from his car and walked towards his door, they released the first bullet.

    “The bullet tore his hand but he started running to escape from the scene. The assailants chased him to a point where he fell down. At a close range to pump many bullets into his body”, he said.

    The source said the killers ensured their victim was dead before they left him and fled the area.

    Though the motive behind the dastardly act could not be ascertained, it was gathered that the incident jolted other cabinet members of the governor.

    Police spokesman Asinim Butswat could not be reached for his comments.

     

  • Why police ransacked my residence, Dickson’s aide

    Why police ransacked my residence, Dickson’s aide

    Ritchie Etonye, an aide to Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, yesterday said the police ransacked his house located at Brass Road Yenagoa, following  a tip-off that he stockpiled arms and cash.

    He in a statement by his lawyer, Doueyi Dominic Fiderikumo, that a team of 50 policemen conducted the search but found nothing.

    Fiderikumo in the statement said Etonye had briefed him and asked him to sue the Nigeria Police and an online medium, Sahara Reporters, for damages.

    Narrating the incident, the statement said: “Our client’s home was invaded and ransacked on Wednesday, August 24, 2017 by a team policemen numbering 50 without probable cause, and in the process, several valuable property worth were damaged.

    “Mr. Ritchie Etonye was not in Bayelsa when the incident occurred. Indeed, he travelled out of the state with the governor on official assignment.

    “Upon inquiry, he found out that the police were acting on a false tip-off that he had stockpiled arms and cash in his residence. After several hours of the operation, the police did not find anything incriminating and they left thoroughly disappointed.

    “Expectedly, as part of the plot to incite the unsuspecting public against the government and his principal, some disgruntled politicians have twisted and concocted their usual falsehood from the police invasion of his house as has been widely reported by Sahara Reporters.

    “The invasion and the online report have caused untoward embarrassment to our client and were intended to tarnish his hard-earned image as a reputable chartered accountant. Our client is not a politician and should not be dragged to the arena of politics.

    “Consequently, our client has instructed us to sue the Nigerian police and Sahara Reporters for damages

     

  • Dickson’s aide resigns over non-payment of salaries

    The Senior Special Assistant to Bayelsa State on Non-Indigenes, Chief Chinedu Mba, has resigned from Seriake Dickson’s State Executive Council (Exco) over alleged non-payment of his salaries and allowances for over a year.

    His resignation was said to have caused panic at the Government House, following fears that the action could negatively affect non-indigenes’ support for the governor’s re-election bid.

    Mba, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Association of Non-Indigenes in Bayelsa State (ANBS), played a key role in the governor’s electoral victory in 2012.

    The former aide led hundreds of non-indigenes on a road march for Dickson and convinced them to vote for the governor.

    In his letter of resignation, obtained our reporter in Yrnagoa, the state capital, Mba said he was intimidated, oppressed and unfairly treated in the over three years he served the governor.

    The former aide said his travails were masterminded by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, who he said always levelled unfounded allegations against him.

     

  • Youths protest alleged assault on Dickson’s aide, others

    Youths protest alleged assault on Dickson’s aide, others

    Bayelsa Youth Integrity and Conscience Group (BYICG) and International Moral Justification Forum (IMJF) yesterday protested the alleged assault on the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths, Mr. Torukori Egei.

    The youths allege that Egei was allegedly assaulted with Mr. Aveke Dominion and a musician, Mr. Asu Douye, also known as Jeffiraimo.

    In a statement signed by Victor Woyinkuro and Samson Kikile, chairman and secretary, BYICG accused Gesie Asamaowei of allegedly leading the assault.

    They said security operatives attached to Asamowei beat up the victims at Kiama Bridge in Kolokuma-Opokuma on March 14 about 3:20 pm.

    According to them, the matter had been reported at the Kaiama Police Station.

    “Egei and his friends were returning to Yenagoa after attending a wedding in Oleh, Delta State, when their vehicles were overtaken on the bridge by the governor’s aide’s vehicles.

    “Their vehicles were smashed and damaged with guns. A tear gas canister was thrown at them and their heads were stepped on ,” they said.

    The youths said the matter would be taken to court.

    “The judiciary is known as the last hope of the masses. But if nothing is done, we will take the matter further.

    Police spokesman Buswatt Asini said investigation is on.

    He said initial findings showed that the governor’s aide was alleged to have broken a convoy of Asamowei and policemen attached to the convoy suspected they were kidnappers.

  • Eight Dickson’s aides resign for 2015

    About eight political appointees in Bayelsa State have resigned their appointments to contest for various offices on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 elections.

    The Nation gathered that persons who abandoned their offices had indicated interests to contest for the various seats in the state and national assemblies.

    Among persons said to have announced their resignations were the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Salo Adikumo and the Chief of Staff, Bayelsa House, Abuja, Chief Dikivie Ikhiogha.

    They reportedly opted out on Monday.

    Others were Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr. Fred Agbedi who was said to have submitted his resignation to the office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. Maitama Obodo.

    It was also gathered that the Director-General of the Due Process Bureau, Mr. Joshua Ogore, as well as three senior special assistants and a special adviser had resigned from their posts.

    Announcing the resignation of Agbedi, a statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said Mr. Fyneman Wilson has been appointed as the new political adviser.