The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor Seriake Dickson

  • Crisis rocks Bayelsa PDP over choice of running mate

    The choice of running mate to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has thrown the party into crisis ahead of the November 16 election.

    The crisis assumed another dimension, following the insistence of Governor Seriake Dickson, to zone the slot to the West Senatorial District to pave the way for the incumbent senator representing the zone, Senator Lawrence Erwujakpor to emerge as the running mate.

    Despite earlier denials, Dickson was said to have perfected the process of making Erwujakpor, who hails from his Sagbama Local Government Area, a running mate to enable him realise his senatorial ambition, if PDP wins the poll.

    While many party leaders have warned the governor against the plot describing it as political suicide, stakeholders from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Eastern Senatorial District said they deserved the position for a sense of belonging in the party.

    The Bayelsa East Forum for Justice (BEFJ) said having picked the candidate from the Bayelsa Central, it was natural to select a competent party man with requisite political clout and popularity from the East.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, its Chairman, Monday Eribo, described the zoning of the slot to the West as an attempt to deprive the people of the East.

    Eribo said the plot was motivated by greed and warned that, was capable of handing over the state on a platter of gold to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “So, we are therefore, condemning and rejecting it and calling on our beloved Governor Seriake Dickson not to fall for such grievous political mistake. We are also calling on party leaders at the national and state levels to wade into the matter and on time.

    “We urge our flag bearer, Senator Douye Diri, to name his successor from the East. We understand he is under pressure at the moment but he should do the right thing if we must win the election and the right thing is what he knows.

    “Let us state categorically that the man they are planning to use as running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor is a bad market at this point in time because he hails from Sagbama Local Government Area. If Ewrujakpor is a true party man we urge him to come out now and disassociate himself from the plan to foist him on us.

    “Let us remind our countryman governor that he must win the governorship election for our party first before talking about his senatorial ambition. Also, those clamouring for speakership from our zone should not forget that if we lose the election, their ambition of becoming speaker will hit the rock”.

    Also, Concerned Bayelsa PDP Stakeholders (CBPS) condemned the decision to zone the running mate to the west.

    They described the decision as an outrageous mistake that would  work against the PDP in the November 16 election.

    In a statement by Chief Ere Opukiri and Omonibo, the stakeholders rejected the governor’s action, saying it betrayed his earlier stance that he would not take the running mate to the West in the interest of justice and fairness.

    They urged the governor not to zone the position to the West, especially Sagbama where he hails from.

    They warned that there would be mass exodus of members, especially from the East, which would reduce the chances of the PDP to retain the governorship.

    They said: “We are shocked that Governor Dickson who was opposed to the ambition of Fred Agbedi to take over from him because of zoning will now make a u-turn to favour his kinsman from Sagbama.

    “The position of running mate we feel should go to Bayelsa East. This will balance the political equation and give the people of that zone a sense of belonging. It will be inappropriate to do otherwise.

    “Governor Dickson had earlier denied that he will support someone from the West to emerge as running mate. We wonder what has changed. Those who are behind it should know that it is a suicidal political move”.

    Another group, Youths for Douye Diri urged Dickson not to facilitate the emergence Ehrudjakpor as running mate to their principal.

    The Secretary-General of the group, Comrade Beinbebo Akpiri, said the choice of Ehrudjakpor was a sad political development for the PDP.

    Akpiri, in a statement in Yenagoa, warned against the imposition of Ehrudjakpor on the party, stressing that it would not fly because of the current political realities.

    He said Dickson should bury his ambition to go to the Senate and concentrate on winning the governorship election with a more acceptable running mate.

    Akpiri said the slot should be given to a loyal, popular and acceptable party man from Bayelsa East to strengthen the PDP’s chances at the poll.

    The youth leader expressed displeasure that leaders of the PDP were keeping mute over the issue, although they were  not comfortable with the governor’s decision.

    The group called on the Prince Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee to prevail on Dickson to have a rethink.

    But, the leadership òf the state chapter of the PDP said that it would stand by any faithful and loyal member of the party that might be nominated by its candidate, Senator Douye Diri as running mate.

    The Chairman and Secretary of the party, Moses Cleopas and Chief Godspower Keku, said in a statement that since the party’s candidate came from the Central Senatorial District, Diri was at liberty to select any suitable person from either the East or the West.

    They said that the party would be left with no option than to zone the speakership of the House òf Assembly and other offices in the party and government to the remaining zones for equity and fairness in accordance with the established tradition in the state since 1999.

    The PDP State leadership stated that the party was not too concerned about a running mate which according to them was like a senior adviser to the governor, not different from marrying a wife which must be done by the candidate himself.

    They stressed that the party had no reason to lose sleep over the issue of running mate.

    END

  • Guber polls: ‘No anointed candidate in Bayelsa yet’

    It is about a month to the September 3 primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State. The general concern, however, is: who is the preferred or anointed aspirant of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson?

    While insisting that his support would only be for a member of his team, the governor said only three people from his caucus have indicated interests to participate in the election.

    The caucus went further to release the names of the people as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo; the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Kemela Okara and a Senator representing Bayelsa Central, Douyi Diri.

    Subsequent to the barrage of criticisms against the three people, more members of the restoration caucus jumped into the foray and indicated interests to run for the polls.

    Over eight members of the restoration caucus joined the race for the PDP ticket. Apart from the three earlier mentioned, others are the Chairman of the Revenue Board, Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei; the immediate past Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson; a member of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi; Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) and Robinson Etolor.

    Among members of the caucus that joined the race, the trio suffered unprecedented criticisms from members of the public. Others such as Benson, Jonah and Agbedi, have enjoyed some degrees of acceptance by the PDP members.

    However, Ayawei appears to stand out among all of them. He is gaining momentum, especially on the social media. Ayawei was one of the last people to pick the PDP forms. Hitherto, he was speculated to be the choice of Dickson.

    Ayawei’s late entry to the race seems to have confirmed the speculation. His character may have endeared him to thousands of youths, women, elders and other stakeholders, who urged him to join the governorship race. Ayawei, who served as the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Revenue Board, is known for his loyalty and dedication.

    Though he lost everything at last as he was forced into political oblivion, his loyalty was remembered by Dickson, who brought him to serve in his government.

    The 48-year-old politician has become one of the most popular people among the 21 aspirants that picked the forms of the PDP.

    Undoubtedly, Ayawei, who is a native of Koluama II in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, has also presented himself as popular among the masses. His speech after collecting his forms gave an insight into his personality.

    He said: “I was born about 48 years ago and grew up here in our dear state and witnessed all the difficulties we face growing up as children. We live and come from an environment where our natural endowment cements and keeps our country prosperous. Unfortunately, in the midst of these abundant natural resources, we suffer great penury and diverse environmental challenges.

    “This cause presents the greatest challenge we all face in the 21st Century. My task in this venture is to deal with this very essential element and provide the necessary platform to increase our development on all sectors”.

    On his experience in governance, he said: “At the advent of democracy in 1999, and the eventual creation of the small development areas by His Excellency, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, I had the rare privilege to serve as Chairman of Bassan-Koluama Rural Development Area, a position from which I was promoted to serve and represent the people of Southern Ijaw Constituency IV in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

    “At the inception of the restoration government in 2012, it found me worthy and tasked me with managing essential agencies of government, an opportunity I embraced very seriously.

    “At the moment, it seems good, but we are still in the process of creating a better model to further expand our revenue base until this patriotic call to service.

    “I am aware that the task of governance for a state such as ours is indeed a herculean one. However, given my passion, commitment and your expected support and solidarity, it is my firm belief that together we can steer the ship of this state to a good end and deepen the already established protocols of aggressive developments as currently being done by our leader and Governor, His Excellency H.S. Dickson.

    “In the next couple of days we will begin series of interrogations, debates and critical engagements.

    “This blueprint, above all, will bear the ideals and mandate of all in achieving a people-driven policy document that will be our creed as we begin the task of purposeful home leadership when given the mandate.

    “Today, by this singular act of collecting the intent and nomination form for the Peoples Democratic Party governorship election primaries, we have obeyed the massive clarion call with our spirit, soul and body. I thank you all who have contributed in this decision and those of you who are ready to face the crucibles of this decision and work with our team to achieve glory for the land and its people.”

    But Dickson has insisted that he had no preferred candidate for the primaries of the PDP. Dickson, in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, called on Bayelsans to discountenance aspirants claiming to have his endorsement.

    The governor said he would commence intensified consultations with aspirants and critical stakeholders at the national and state levels of the PDP following the conclusion of the sale of the gubernatorial nomination forms for the next election.

    Dickson also promised to work closely with the party leadership to ensure the conduct of credible, free and fair primaries in Bayelsa. He said while the aspirants, who picked the party’s nomination forms reserved the right to pursue their ambition, the leadership of the party would watch and monitor the buildup to the primaries. He said he remained committed to his earlier stance that there was no anointed aspirant in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

    He said: “Now that the collection of gubernatorial forms have ended, the leadership of the party in the state wishes to say that there is no anointed aspirant against the practice in those states where outgoing governors endorse one single aspirant.

    “I decided to open the state for people in my government, my team and other members of the party who are willing to indicate their interest.

    “The aspirants who have bought firms have the right to express their ambition but the state leadership of the party should watch keenly.

    “Now that the end of purchase of forms has come, I will intensify consultations both with aspirants, party leaders and other stakeholders.

    “And at the end of the day, I intend to work with the party at the national and state levels to ensure that there is a free and fair election. Those using my name should be disregarded; it is not true, I have not endorsed anybody yet”.

  • Shell donates health care project to Oloibiri community

    Oloibiri community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was shot into limelight in 1958 when the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) when crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity in the community.

    The first oil wells in the country were drilled within the community by Shell.

    About 63 years later, Shell remembered the community. Recently, the oil giant had a thought for the community as it completed and handed over the first phase of multiple health care facilities and programmes to Oloibiri and and its environs. The project was inaugurated by Governor Seriake Dickson in a ceremony attended by stakeholders.

    The integrated project is called the Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP).

    Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company  (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, explained the objectives of the project.

    He said: “OHP aims at achieving three broad objectives of promoting universal health coverage and strengthening health systems within local government area; enhancing social determinant of health which should result in improved health indicators of communities within Ogbia LGA to meet Sustainable Development Goals standards (SDGs) and institutionalising and sharing lessons learnt for replication and county wide scale up through the establishment of a knowledge management centre.”

    Okunbor said the intervention was designed to change the narrative that most of the primary health care facilities in Nigeria lacked the capacity to provide essential service.

    In the first phase, Shell remodeled and equipped the  General Hospital, Kolo; provided a water treatment plant; sent medical laboratory equipment to the College of Health Technology in Otuogidi and the Dental Chair at the Demonstration Clinic Otuogidi.

    Okunbor said the execution of the second phase was ongoing, adding that it would include the Oloibiri Health Campus at Oloibiri town comprising health-for-life Centre and a Knowledge Management and Research centre. He also revealed that there are other components of the second phase.

    The Shell MD said in the third phase, the Ogbia Health Insurance Scheme would be established. “This will be modeled after the very successful pilot insurance scheme catalysed by Cottage Hospital in Port Harcourt” he said.

    He said for the success of the OHP, Shell ,between 2016 and 2018, delivered household health services to nearly 13,000 people in over 3,100 homes across 16 communities in Ogbia.

    “In addition, we have remodelled and equipped the only general hospital in Ogbia LGA, the General Hospital Kolo. It will serve as a referral hub providing 24-hour service with linkages to five health-for-life centers and 13 world health centres.

    “We constructed a 10, 000-liter capacity water treatment plant with water purification system using aeration and filtration and in compliance with World Health Organisation’s recommended threshold for potable water.

    “We have provided a hybrid solar- powered system producing 96 kilowatts per hour (kWh) of electricity daily with an installed battery capacity of 176kWh for power supply. This is in addition to a standby 33KVA power generating set, among others.”

    On why the special health care package was designed for the community and Ogbia, he said: “Oloibiri has a pride of place in the story and history of Nigeria’s oil and gas journey. It was in Oloibiri that Shell made the country’s first commercial quantity discovery of crude oil in 1958.

    “Olobiri remains the reference point for Nigeria’s oil and gas journey.”

    In his remarks, Dickson, who was represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), described Shell’s intervention as timely and complementary to the government’s policy on the health of citizens of the state.

    He said:  ”Let me appreciate SPDC and its partners for prioritising health care in the state by initiating the Oloibiri Health Programme. This is a laudable development as it will go a long way in complementing the various steps and policies we have already introduced in order to meet the health care demands of our citizens in Ogbia Local Government Area.

    “Sustainability is key and we hope that the OHP having kick-started today shall not only meet its desired purpose but also be sustained over the years in order to continually meet the health challenges of our people.”

  • Dickson employs 335 professionals

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has offered automatic employment to 336 professionals.

    Of the 336 beneficiaries, 102 PhD holders drawn from the state and other Ijaw-speaking communities were employed as lecturers in the state-owned tertiary institutions.

    A statement by Dickson’s media aide, Fidelis Soriwei, said Dickson presented employment letters to the beneficiaries at the weekend.

    Other beneficiaries included 60 medical doctors, 54 masters’ degree holders and 119 first class graduates.

    Dickson said his administration was working hard to lay a solid foundation for a flourishing knowledge-based economy for the state.

    He said: “It takes a number of years for this kind of investment to mature. We are building schools and capacities, and in about 20 years or so, we want to see top qualified Bayelsa professors in every field.

    “We will create a fund to take care of publications for all those who have PhD to enable them produce more PhD holders. In the last seven years, we have been building educational infrastructure, awarding scholarships and employing. There is no doubt that we have done our duty, but the job of consolidating the gains lies with you. We expect the 102 PhD holders to become professors in the next couple of years.”

    Read Also: Nobody can take Bayelsa governorship by violence, says Dickson

    Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Special Employment Committee Kemela Okara was convinced that the beneficiaries would add value and increase productivity in the state workforce.

    Commissioner for Education Jonathan Obuebite hailed Dickson for keeping to his promise to turn around education. According to him, the feat achieved in the education sector under Dickson was exemplary and inspiring.

    Dickson has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for reappointing Boss Mustapha as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    A statement by Soriwei, described the reappointment as “well deserved”.

    The statement reads: “I congratulate Mr. Boss Mustapha on his reappointment as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. This appointment is not surprising as the SGF carried out the vast responsibilities of his office efficiently with respect and dignity deserving of such a high office.

    “I also praise the President for this appointment, which is a recognition of the exemplary efforts of the SGF. I wish Boss Mustapha success in this particular position and in his future dealings.”

  • A day in Dickson’s village farm

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has a unique personality. He does not smoke and he does not consume alcohol. The governor, beyond politics, is, however, a great farmer. He has passion and unusual energy for agriculture. A visit to Dickson’s farm at Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area, reveals the governor’s love for growing food.

    His farm has become a tourist haven. High-profile individuals, government appointees, persons occupying elective positions, musical icons, comedians and social media experts have been trooping into Seriake Dickson’s farm in Toru-Orua.

    For those who don’t know Toru Orua before Dickson’s emergence as a governor, it used to be a rural settlement. It had no road, no electricity and in fact no modernity. It was a village of thatched and mud houses. It was only accessible by boats through the River Forcados, which surrounds the community. It was so isolated that nobody reckoned with it.

    But things have changed rapidly. Charity begins at home. So Dickson single-handedly transformed a raw village into a notable city. Toru-Orua is rocking shoulders with Yenagoa in terms of development. Thatched and mud houses have given way to high-rise buildings, beautiful duplexes and shinning bungalows. Toru-Orua has electricity, banks, a university, police station and bases of military formations. A road now leads to the city. Many tarred roads also divide the town into streets.

    Dickson’s farm has added to the beauty of Toru-Orua. The governor is a great host. He devotes time to conduct his visitors round the farm. It is a ritual with social protocol; what the governor chooses to call induction. A visitor goes round the farm with the governor, beholds sections of the farm such as the plantain plantation, crop section, pineapple plantation and areas mapped out for aquaculture and poultry.

    The real induction begins at the massive sugarcane plantation. Here, a visitor is given a cutlass to harvest sugarcane stem of his choice. “The longer the stem, the higher your blessings”, Dickson says jokingly. So, a visitor tries to harvest the highest sugarcane stem he can lay his hands on. The tourist prepares the stem, cuts off a plantable part and plants the leafy part of the stem in a designated area. He poses for a picture with the governor. Then the real enjoyment begins when he chews the sugary juice as he discusses with the governor. The reception makes a visit to Dickson’s farm a huge fun. How did the governor develop love for farming?

    “It It started right in this community”, the governor says. “I farmed with my parents. As a matter of fact, part of this area is owned by my father. My father brought me here and set up my first farm around where my house now stands. This was my first farm in 1984, 1985.

    “My father had a large banana plantation around this same area and when I decided to build a house, a proper compound, I rejected my father’s offer to take his land which we have given to the university. I told him I wanted to build near the river, I started acquiring this place when  I was in the House of Representatives and it kept expanding until the way it is.”

    Dickson has been investing in farm years before he became a governor. Speaking about some of his farmland, he says: “The farm here is about 25 to 30 hectares. It is not too big but I intend to make full use of it. You can see the large fish pond under construction. There  will be a poultry here. There will be a piggery here and a ranch for cattle. The one in Yenagoa, Yenegwe,  I have about 30 hectares too. I have always had that from the early twenties, 2001, 2002. My farm in Abuja is about a 100 hectares.”

    Speaking specifically on fish farming, Dickson said: “My fish farms are very large. I have the largest fish farm in the state, hundreds of thousands of fingerlings and matured fish. We are constructing the preservation systems. We want to be able to preserve them for long to sell and package because there are thousands of big fish of all kinds in my pond. The ponds are like lakes”.

    Like most Ijaw farmers, Dickson likes growing plantain. When asked his favorite crops and plants, he says: “As an ijaw man, our first is plantain. We have planted a lot of plantain and we have produced many dozens of plantain needed for sale, even in my farm in Yenagoa, we sell every market day.

    “So, we have been producing and selling, we have banana, mango, pineapples, oranges and so on. But my main focus is going to be aquaculture, poultry, piggery, cattle; I am a herdsman; an  ijaw herdsman who does cattle rearing in a confined environment, ranching and that’s what we recommend to everybody.”

    In fact, the governor desires to return to farming after the expiration of his tenure on February 14, 2020. Speaking further about his Toru-Orua farm and his future plans, he says: “I started this farm a long time ago. I haven’t really had time to prepare it and am getting ready to do so. When I finish I will be into full time farming.

    “Let me underscore the importance of investing in agriculture. First to be able to provide what we eat and secondly to be able to create jobs and create wealth and each of us no matter how highly placed should be in a position to add to the investment in agriculture and sometimes it doesn’t take too much. You can all go to your communities acquire one hectare, two hectares and plant something.

    “Luckily our country is so well endowed that in every part, we can at least plant one crop or the other. So, for me agriculture is very paramount if we are serious about creating sustainable economy and if we are serious about creating jobs. By so doing we provide food sufficiency for ourselves.

    “In this farm I plant almost everything, for the past two ,three years we have actually been harvesting a lot of banana, a lot of plantain, a lot of cucumber, a lot of pineapples everything here and you have all joined me to harvest sugarcane and I have just formally inducted you all into my farm for which am grateful.So this is to encourage you all to tell the story of agriculture.”

    The governor advises the youths to change their mindsets of viewing agriculture as old people’s occupation. “That’s the mindset we have to change. Part of what I intend to do is to apply for , have already started talking with some  banks to help me raise a facility base on the security of my titles to enable me make all these investments as I get ready to leave office.

    ”I intend to stay here in my community and my farm  in Yenagoa so that I can make most of these investments to create jobs and also make profit. Farming is very profitable. We cannot meet our needs for pigs and eggs in this state and even other poultry products. We import everything. Everything is brought into Bayelsa. So, farming is a good thing to go into and those, who have gone into it have no regrets.”

    But the governor does not intend to concentrate only on farming after leaving office. “Age is still on my side and I have a lot of passion. Writing is one and teaching is another. I will likely go back back to school. I will like to involved in teaching; carrying out research on studies about my deep experiences in governors,” he says.

    The countryman governor appeals to youths to embrace agriculture and stop the habit of relying solely on government for survival. He implores youngsters to take responsibility for their lives and future.

    Dickson added: “That is the tragedy of an under-developed deprived environment like Bayelsa where everybody thinks that survival must come from government. They don’t know that first of all, they have to take responsibility for their lives and their future. We have made a lot of investment in agriculture  to make the involvement easier.

    “Look at the aquaculture  village in Yenagoa and the several others that we are doing outside Yenagoa. Right now we have capacity of 1500 to 2000 young fishermen that should be under training and they are  also making some money in the process.

    “If you go to Ebedebiri where the government poultry with about 35,000 bird capacity is located. There is currently a programme to see how young people can go there and learn. Although I have said that the University of Africa should take it over, there is another fish farm, two big fish farms, one coming up in Angalabiri constructed by the izonist another close to Yenagoa I think famgbe area.

    “Our biggest  investment is the cassava starch processing factory, which is the largest not just in Nigeria but the largest cassava processing factory in Africa. It is built by the Dutch and they are rounding off and they will be here to run it up for two years. There is a lot of money in it.

    “We need all the starch that is produced in Bayelsa and in the entire South-South to service that factory. It will be commissioned in the next two, three months. They have already finished installation and they are just putting finishing touches to it.

    “In the end, agriculture is in the hands of everybody, like am demonstrating, we have  directed all appointees, commissioners and others to set up farm and they are doing very well.”

    On his disciplined lifestyle, Dickson said: “l have never smoked. I don’t like taking alcohol and I don’t recommend that. At the end, our strength comes from God. I live a simple life dedicated to the service of our people. I am a man of faith, who also believes that God has a hand in what we do and what we accomplish and how we live our life. So, I relax a lot.”

  • Dickson: I have no rift with Jonathan

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said there is no dispute between him and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Dickson, who spoke yesterday in a live media chat at the Government House in Yenagoa, criticised those aspiring for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the November governorship election. He said they lacked courage.

    On the relationship between him and ex-President Jonathan, the governor said they were in good terms.

    He insisted that their cordial relationship was displayed during the last state function on the Bayelsa Education Development Fund (BEDF).

    Explaining the appointment he gave the former President during the launch of the BEDF, Dickson said he only pleaded with him to use his massive goodwill to attract support to the state.

    He said: “I know his passion when it comes to education. In my speech, I talked about his plans for our state, and I was part of that government. He started the scholarship programme and I came and redoubled it. It was in compliment to him and in recognition of the roles he played in supporting what is good in our state. I told him that the state would like him to use his massive goodwill to attract support to us.

    “That event should have shown to most people that there is no problem between us. He is my elder brother and leader, and he will continue to receive his respect, even in this transition. That event showed that we are united when it comes to what we do for our people…”

    Read also: How my successor will emerge, by Dickson

    “There is no relationship that lasted longer than our relationship. There is no issue. But aides and people around make careless statements and they manipulate stories and take advantage of the proximity they have with the former President.”

    Dickson said Jonathan was the first leader he consulted during the process to decide his successor and standard bearer of the PDP in the coming election.

    “I will sit down with former President Jonathan. When I am ready, I will visit him and we will compare notes. I have his support. The bottom-line remains that I am in charge of governance. There are many people I will sit down and rob minds with,” he said.

     

  • Dickson takes campaign against degradation to IOCs, regulatory bodies

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has urged international oil companies and regulatory bodies in the oil industry to embrace the campaigns against environmental degradation in the Niger Delta

    The governor said the oil firms should prioritise the imperative of meeting international best practice in carrying out their operations in the Niger Delta. Dickosn, who spoke at the ongoing two-day Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair in Yenagoa, lamented the level of environmental degradation and the attendant challenges facing oil producing areas in the country.

    His media aide, Fidelis Soriwei, said Dickson stressed the need for stakeholders to take the environment and economic inclusion seriously to ensure sustainable peace and stability.

    According to him, demand for environmental justice and preservation should be the concern of not only the Bayelsa and South South people, but the entire country because the environment was the common heritage of everybody.

    Read also: Dickson to Army: fish out killers of Govt House photographer

    He said: “I will continue to raise those issues and concerns that are germane to our people, especially as it concerns the environment. Just last week, I inaugurated a fact-finding Commission of Enquiry on our environment.

    “The concern of Bayelsa on the environment should be the concern for all of us because the environment is the collective heritage of all mankind. There is no Bayelsa environment and there is no Sokoto environment. Yes, we may feel it more today, but with time, it gets to everybody.

    “We need to collaborate more on issues of the environment. On our part as a state government, we assure you that we will continue to discharge our duties and obligations, working together with security agencies and community leaders to promote and maintain a conducive operating environment.”

    Dickson, however, thanked the Federal Government, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and other partners for building a state-of-the-art headquarters for the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in Yenagoa.

    He also praised the Executive Secretary of the Board, Simbi Wabote, and Management and Staff of MegaStar Construction company, for expediting work on the project.

    The governor reiterated his call on oil companies to relocate their operation headquarters to Bayelsa, which he described as the cradle of oil and gas business in Nigeria, even as he restated his administration’s commitment to continue to provide the enabling environment for investments.

    According to him, the Bayelsa International Cargo/Passenger Airport and other investments in education, health and tourism were purposefully made to attract investors.

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu identified the celebration of mediocrity as reason why the country has not made appreciable progress in the oil and gas industry.

    According to him, the country should be producing four million barrels of crude oil and not the current two million barrels. He called on the participants to see the conference as a time for a sober reflection on why the industry was still underdeveloped and dominated by expatriates, and take bold steps in exploring opportunities in the sector.

     

     

  • Between Judicial Commission of enquiry and Bayelsa’s electoral crises

    Usually men and women perform various electoral functions to vote or be voted for into elective positions when the electoral umpires roll out dates and put in place laws that guide the conduct of such acts.

    While the umpires and government functionaries work hard to educate the citizens on the need for a violence free process, some individuals bent on seizing power use any means possible to make trouble and ensure they win.

    Interestingly, several places in the country were hotbeds and flash points of the total disruption of the systems put in place for free and fair elections during the period starting from the Presidential and National Assembly Elections and the State Governorship and Assembly elections between February and March this year.

    Unfortunately, despite measures taken to guide the actors on the need to eschew violence and tow the part of peace, youths and adults expected to guide them accordingly have been extra busy bent on scuttling the process to enthrone their wards and loyalists or impress their principals who in some cases may not be bothered at how they go about it.

    The youths who are being used to perpetrate electoral violence by the so-called leaders have never bothered to sit back and ponder what becomes of them after the elections, what roles are being played by the children of the leaders who use them to disrupt the process for their selfish gains. The major actors have never bothered to register their children, wards and relatives to even vote or join in the acts where human lives are wasted.

    During such periods as the primaries, electioneering campaigns, voting and collation processes, their families are moved out of circulation, clothed in expensive robes and flown out of the creeks, jungles, villages to the cities and foreign lands where they have their mansions.

    Worried by the mess created and the lives wasted in Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson set up a commission of inquiry in to the violence, mayhem and breach of peace during and after the General elections which ended after the forced rerun.

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    Knowingly, it has not been the best of news coming from the Bayelsa state Judicial Commission under the chairmanship of Justice Inikade Eradiri as several alleged actors invited by the commission shunned constituted authorities empowered to find a lasting solution to the cycle of violence.

    The invitation of such prominent figures in the state like former Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress APC, Honourable Israel Sunny Igoli a serving member of the state House of Assembly, the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Prof Nelson Brambaifa, the Minister of state for Agriculture Senator Heineken Lokpobiriand Mr. Famous Danumiegha, the candidate of the APC for the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, had legal backings beyond the state.

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja had recently granted the Nigerian Police the Orders to arrest and prosecutes Hon Sunny Goli, the lawmaker representing Brass1 Constituency in the state House of Assembly.

    More so, the oil industry players are also accused of being major players in the electoral violence even as Justice Abang also granted the prayers of the Nigerian police to arrest and prosecute one Mr. Sam Kodjo, an Oil Surveillance Contractor and others over alleged complicity in the February   23, 2019 attack and abduction of Deputy Commission of Police, Kola Okunola in the Brass area of the state.

    The oil contractors’ name kept coming up during the first week of the sitting  as prominent  people who have appeared before the commission including Chief Blessing Ipigasi Izagara who is also the candidate for the Bayelsa East Senatorial District, former Chairman of Nembe Local Government  Area Chief Kurogbofa Walter – Benewari and the Vice Chairman of Nembe Local Government Area MrAiyebainaemi,  Walter -Benewari however told the panel that APC thugs attacked people in Bassambiri and Okipri areas.

    Even as over 35 witnesses have testified so far, the security agencies are not being portrayed in positive terms as their conduct is being flayed for turning deaf ears and watching lives being wasted by thugs.

    Unfortunately though, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Agriculture, has said the Commission of Enquiry set up by the Bayelsa State Government to investigate violence during the 2019 general elections in the state is a ploy to divert attention.

    Lokpobiri also described his invitation to appear before the panel as attempt to distract people of the state from the real issue of Governor Seriake Dickson’s alleged mal-administration in the past seven years adding that the said panel was illegal and strange to the extant laws governing elections, including the Electoral Act and the Constitution.

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the APC had distanced itself from the panel and urged its members not to appear before it.

    APC Spokesman, Doifie Buokoribo, said that the PDP government in Bayelsa had no moral rights to be a judge in an election it partook in.

    Even as several lives were lost and a serving Deputy Commissioner of Police was abducted, he maintained that the panel was unnecessary and that there was no single political violence involving the APC in Bayelsa during the last elections.

    Dickson had on February 24 alleged that the APC led by Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva and Lokpobiri had colluded with the military to unleash violence and manipulate the polls and hence the justification for setting up the panel.

    Spokesman of the 16 Brigade, Major Jonah Danjuma, promptly denied the allegations and said that troops averted violence by arresting some political thugs during the polls. But how come lives were lost and the INEC ordered a rerun.

    • Nnodim, a legal practitioner lives in Abuja.

  • NYSC DG threatens to withdraw Bayelsa corps members

    Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Maj.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure has threatened to withdraw corps members from Bayelsa State if their security is not guaranteed.

    Gen. Kazaure spoke when he visited the Orientation camp in Kaiama, Kolokumo/Opokuma Local Government Area, as part of his tour of the 2019 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Camps. He also visited Governor Seriake Dickson at the Government House in Yenagoa.

    The DG, who lamented the death of two corps members – Popoola Oluwatobi Olamide and Gorge Onokpoma, with a third, Anthony Gbenga Dada, seriously injured – urged the Dickson and the security agencies to provide adequate security for youths corps members.

    He said: “I have come to see the 2019 Batch ‘A’ corps members in the camp, and to assess some facilities in the camp, but our major concern here is the safety of this young people.

    “I am very concerned about the incident that happened last two weeks – where two corps members were killed. We are working with other security agencies to ensure their safety during their primary assignments.

    “Governor Seriake Dickson should do the needful about security of corps members. These young ones are national assets on national assignment, and if nothing is done by the state, we will withdraw corps members from serving in Bayelsa State.”

    Gen. Kazaure thanked Dickson for supporting NYSC in building a befitting permanent orientation camp, and the upward review of corps members’ allowances.

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    Dickson commiserated with the NYSC family over the death the corps members. He described the incident as a cult-related activity.

    He, however, urged the DG not to consider withdrawing corps members from the state as investigations has begun towards arresting and prosecuting the culprits.

    The governor also urged Gen. Kazaure to complement the state’s efforts in arresting persons who manhandled corps members during the elections.

    He said: “I want you to take a tough position whenever and anywhere your corps members who are posted on electoral assignment are manhandled and held hostage. We feel very bad about this so I need you to take a tough line on all politicians who behave like criminals. You can help to make a case because security knows no partisan divide and boundary.

    “I have instructed a team to avail all necessary support to the families of the corps members, and to underscore our seriousness, a dedicated line has been created for corps members to connect directly to the security centre in times of crisis where a quick response team will get to them in about three minutes.”

    Governor Dickson also added that the government has approved a 100 per cent upward review of corps members’ allowance, starting in March.

     

  • ‘Why Bayelsa is no longer safe’

    The deepening insecurity in Bayelsa State especially Yenagoa, the state capital, has generated concerns among residents and other stakeholders including Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The capital city has been under siege by armed cultists, who attack innocent residents, dispossess them of their valuables especially smartphones, kill and maim them at slightest provocation.

    The gunmen were also fond of killing policemen and stealing their rifles in a crime wave that had sent jitters in the spines of residents.

    The unchecked terrorism culminated in barbaric attack on residence of members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) by cultists, who killed two of them and injured others.

    It was gathered the overwhelming insecurity in the state was majorly caused by acute shortage of personnel in the state’s police command.

    A police source, who spoke in confidence, said the number of personnel in the command was embarrassingly small adding that there was nothing the available number of policemen could do to contain the crime wave.

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    Besides, the source said the police lacked operational vehicles and other required equipment to combat crimes in the state saying, “you can’t fight armed criminals with bare hands”.

    He said the insecurity might escalate ahead of the December governorship election unless the Force Headquarters undertook urgent steps to address the shortcomings.

    “We are in trouble in Bayelsa right now. We can’t perform magic. There are no logistics and we have acute shortage of personnel. With the number we have, we can’t police capital city let alone the entire state.

    “Something needs to be done urgently to address the shortcomings and secure the lives and properties of Bayelsa.

    “The force headquarters should come to our aide to save people from rampaging cultists”, he said.

    It was gathered on Sunday that Dickson was disturbed by the security situation in the state especially the reported killing of the corps members.

    A source from the Government House told the Nation that worried by the development, the governor summoned the Commissioner of Police, Olusholla David and other security commanders for an emergency meeting on Friday.

    “The governor is not sleeping. He is looking for how to solve this current problem. Apart from the emergency meeting, Dickson has dispatched a delegation led by one of his special advisers on security to the force headquarters.

    “Among other things, the delegation will appeal to the police high command to address accuse shortage of policemen in the state. The Bayelsa State security outfit, Doo Akpo, has over 30 patrol van, but the police can only manage 10 of the vehicles because of their number,” he said.

    But female stakeholders under the auspices of Women Arise for Safer Bayelsa (WASB) blamed the insecurity on desperation of opposition political parties to win elections in the state.

    WASB, in a statement by its President, Sotonye Nelson, recalled how Dickson effectively tackled insecurity in his first term in office using Doo Akpo.

    Nelson said: “With the coming of the Dickson Administration, Bayelsans heaved a sigh of relief as Doo Akpo effectively tackled the twin menace of crime and insecurity that was bequeathed unto the administration by former Governor Timipre Sylva and his men.

    “The State Security outfit, which was painstakingly designed to complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies in the fight against crime, did a great job in curtailing the crime challenge at the time.

    “Criminal elements who had held the state by the jugular were left with no other option than to either leave the state of face arrest and consequent prosecution.

    “The politicization of security by top chieftains of the APC in collusion with a Federal Government that cares less about the well-being and security of Bayelsans has frustrated in no small way, the efforts of the state government in maintaining peace and security in the state.”