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Tag: John Jonah

  • ‘Only PDP candidates can attract development to Bayelsa’

    Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) on Tuesday told the people of Brass Local Government Area to elect candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to attract development to their area.

    Jonah insisted that only the candidates of the PDP had the experience and qualifications to develop the council.

    Jonah, who led members of the PDP to some communities in Brass, part of the East Senatorial District of the state Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said there was a need to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The deputy governor, who spoke on the achievements of the PDP-led government in the state said the party put forward persons known with the track records of performance.

    He described the elections as critical for the sustainance of the legacies of the Restoration Government.

    He enjoined the people not to fall for the antics of those who failed to bring development to them when they had the opportunity to do so.

    He stressed that the PDP was the only credible party with a plan to solve the current economic hardship, insecurity and gross underdevelopment in the country.

    Read Also: Bayelsa receives N10.7bn January allocation

    He noted that no party could rival the good work of the PDP saying that if elected, the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other candidates would truly make Nigeria to work again.

    On his part, the Director-General of the Bayelsa East Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite thanked the people for their support for the Dickson-led administration and the PDP in the state.

    Obuebite, who is also the Commissioner for Education said the people had always stood by the party and expressed optimism that they would do so on February 16 and March 2.

    The communities visited were Akassa, Liama, Egwema and Beletieama.

    Some of those on the campaign train were, Mrs. Remi Kuku,  Victor Sam-Ateki,  Victor Isaiah, Bello Bina, members of the State House of Assembly from the area and their State Executive Council counterpart, among others.

  • Bayelsa warns doctors, nurses against mistreating patients

    The Bayelsa State Government on Tuesday urged nurses and doctors in private and public hospitals to change their attitudes towards their patients to enable them save lives.

    The Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), made the appeal in Yenagoa, the state capital, during a meeting between the government and Christian leaders in the state.

    Jonah lamented that the way some medical experts treat their patients compelled many people to seek other means of attending to their health instead of going to hospitals.

    He said there was an urgent need for them to change their attitude for the good of the health care system in the state.

    Speaking on the meeting with Christian leaders, Jonah said that religious leaders were critical stakeholders adding that churches were found in every nooks and crannies of communities.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said that through the sensitisation effort of the government, the message of safe motherhood and childhood would get to every parrt of the state.

    Iworiso-Markson: “Through this programme, we are sending everyone to our communities. You know, in our communities, we have churches there and because of the church the people there can be reached.

    “Pastors play a very critical role; the church plays a very critical role in reaching these people, in reaching our women, so that they can discard those old practices, those traditional and religious practices that they have held on for so long where people take delight in giving birth at home rather than go to the hospital to give birth.

    “Now, government is saying that the hospital is free, we are providing everything free for you, doctors there will cater for you. That is why I gave a remark that we must commend his Excellency, Governor Seriake Dickson, for the support, particularly by ensuring that the 105 wards scattered all over the states have healthcare facilities provided there.”

    Read Also: Bayelsa inaugurates primary healthcare board

    He said that the government had not discarded the services of the traditional birth attendants but had embarked on training them to meet up with contemporary practices in health care delivery.

    He added. “It’s okay these are the things that our people are used to over the years but government is making it possible for them to be trained so that all those in involved in the TBAs are going to be trained. They too are going to go through the kind of orientation that we are giving right now.

    “Where there are complications, don’t hesitate to refer them to hospitals to refer them to doctors who can now provide extra medical care. So that’s the point we are making, so we are not discarding the TBAs, we are only saying that they do it the right way.

    “They must harmonize with the government and at any point in time where there are complications they should feel free to call the doctors to come in and as a government we are ready to do that.”

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, said the government partnered Christian leaders because of their influence.

    He noted that with their collaboration, some of the Christian leaders, particularly pastors, would know their limitation and the functions of medical practitioners.

    On grants to pregnant women in the state, the health commissioner said that pregnant women captured would benefit from the grant.

    He said: “What I want you to take home is that once a woman is captured, she is assured of the money. Once she has been registered, the biometric is taken, she is assured of the money.

    “It doesn’t matter at what time the money is realeased, the most important thing is let them all register, once they register the money is assured and they will get it.”

    In his remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor of Religious Matters, Samuel Peters, said the church is to carry the message of safe motherhood back to their members.

    He said: “Bayelsa State is over 97 per cent Christians and in one way or the other they attend church and they get the message and our people respond to what they hear from the pulpit.

    “And if the government put it on the table that this is what we want and the church takes it back to the people it will have more effect. In fact, some people believe more in what their pastor say than what the government is saying.

    “And when the pastors key into good policies of the government, we will have a better, healthier and more fruitful society and in this case the government is saying we don’t want to see any mother or woman die in the course of giving birth and we are pastors in the state our duty is to take it back to our people.”

     

  • Bayelsa probes killings, vows to prosecute perpetrators

    The Bayelsa State Government on Friday said it had launched investigations into the violence that left three youths dead and many others injured in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    The government vowed to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all the hoodlums including high-profile politicians fingered in the bloody clash.

    Brass, an oil-rich local government area, has been on the spotlight for bloody clashes involving thugs suspected to be members of the two dominant political parties in the area – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking in Government House, Yenagoa,the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), also confirmed the nine-hour curfew (9pm to 6am) imposed in the area saying it remained in force.

    Jonah said preliminary investigations showed that the mayhem was sponsored by some highly-placed individuals for political purposes.

    He said the state government directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure thorough investigation into the activities of the hoodlums and ensure the prosecution of all persons indicted despite their statuses.

    Jonah urged all good people of the state, especially the people of Brass to remain law-abiding, insisting that the government would take all necessary lawful measures to maintain peace, law and order.

    He said: “It has come to the knowledge of the state government that on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, some hoodlums at Ada-Ama, Twon-Brass in Brass LGA of the state attacked peace loving members of Twon-Brass community with knives, guns and other dangerous weapons and injuring several persons and destroying property valued several millions of naira.

    “The said persons kept the entire Twon-Brass community under seige for several days and perpetrated mindless violence in the community. Security personnel eventually arrested some of the hoodlums with guns and other dangerous weapons along with very substantial sums of money.

    “Men of the Nigeria Police only succeeded in bringing the situation under control on Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

    “The state government is greatly dismayed that Twon-Brass, which is a major oil exporting terminal in the country is recently being used by non-state actors as a hub of criminal activities with its attendant adverse effect on the economy of not only the state, but of the entire country.

    Read Also: Jones Abiri returns to Bayelsa, relieves ordeal

    “The state government has consequently imposed curfew in Twon-Brass from 9pm to 6am. All residents of the area are expected to comply with the curfew, which will be lifted as soon as normacy is restored.”

    Also, the Caretaker Chairman, Brass LGA, Victor Isaiah, and a member representing Brasa Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Israel Sunny-Goli, are at loggerheads over the bloody clash that occurred on Monday.

    It was learnt that the victims of the clash were suspected thugs loyal to Isaiah and Sunny-Goli of the PDP and the APC respectively.

    The APC on Thursday sent a protest letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, over the incident, claiming that two of its members were killed in the violent attack by PDP thugs.

    But Isaiah countered the allegation, saying that the thugs were sponsored by Sunny-Goli.

    Isaiah distanced the PDP from the violence, alleging that the youths made attempt on his life by attacking his personal lodge with guns and other dangerous weapons.

    He said attempts by the alleged APC thugs to gain entrance into his official lodge were resisted by the LGA security volunteers group.

    Isaiah said: “A few days ago, some suspected armed APC youths attacked the local government council aid and PDP youths. Now, they attempted to assassinate me but met my absence and were resisted by our security volunteers.

    “One of the dead thugs, Kelly Ikurusi, the mastermind and leader of the Monday, August 20 failed assassination attempt on my life is a member of the APC in Brass and a known notorious criminal and cultist who escaped from police Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Yenagoa last year.

    “Before his death, he was under police wanted list for breaking out of police (SARS) custody. After the successful cell break, he ran to Brass and was provided refuge by the APC chieftain.”
    “The reports of his misdemeanors are  known in Brass as he is daily fingered for armed robbery, snatching of phones, harassment of indigenes, among others”

    He called on the Federal Government, the Inspector General of Police and other relevant security agencies to probe without bias, the alleged activities of the APC chieftain and ensure security in the community.

    The APC, on its part, accused the PDP of desperation to take over the area in 2019.

    The party alleged that the PDP was working in consonance with some individuals, hired mercenaries and security agencies to kill and unleash mayhem, threats, intimidation, unlawful arrests and detention of opposition members across the state.

    Sunny-Goli had, in a statement, alleged that the violence was allegedly initiated by the PDP through the acting Chairman, Victor Isaiah, to intimidate, kill and chase out opposition members from Brass.

  • Bayelsa creek communities threaten showdown with oil firm

    Demand govt intervention

     

    Creek communities in Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State on Friday voiced their frustration over unresolved crisis between them and an oil firm operating in their area, Aiteo Production and Exploration.

    The communities said they had run out of patience and vowed to disrupt the operations of the oil firm if their demands were not given immediate attention.

    Accusing Aiteo of indifference and nonchalant attitude to their plight, the communities said theI creeks were so polluted by the company that their lives were in danger.

    The communities spoke out in a letter addressed to the company, government authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders and titled, ‘Make your choice: our blood or our oil’.

    The letter was copied to the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, His Eminence, King Dr. E. M. Daukoru, Mingi XII; Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd); Area Commander, Nigeria Police Force, Nembe; Commander, Joint Task Force, Nembe, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, among others.

    Those, who signed the letters, were Amadabo of Nembe Creek Communities, His Highness, Kemmer F. Igbeta; Vice-Chairman, United Nembe Creek Fishermen and Farmers Association (UNCFFA), Chief Nimi Lawson Peters and other executive members of UNCFFA.

    The communities said: “AITEO Production and Exploration took over the Nembe Creek Oilfields from Shell Petroleum Development Company’s divestment.

    “Ever since that divestment, the corporate social relations and responsibilities have deteriorated unprecedentedly. AITEO’s reckless oil operations in terms of environmental pollution and degradation, and spoilage of the ecosystem have become so rampart and free that the entire Nembe Creek territory have been reduced to a no-man’s land.

    “Recall that on 26 July 2016, a major crude oil spillage occurred from Flow Station 2 and crude oil oozed from the pipes for several days and spread to the creeks and the sea by the aid of the ebb and flow of the tide”.

    They said another major spill occurred on September 17, 2016 and March 2018, without efforts by the company to clean and reclaim the environment.

    They said the firm snubbed all their letters requesting for a meeting to discuss an immediate and comprehensive clean-up and remediation of the affected area; provision of relief materials to the affected communities and payment of adequate compensation impacted communities.

    They said: “We have explored several means to have an opportunity for us to sort out these issues with AITEO, yet, the company has appreciated none of these gracious olive branches.

    “We have written letters and made series of verbal reports to AITEO officials on site – through the CLO, Mr. Omungu – to request for an end to the incessant oil spillages, as our main fishing occupation have become endangered due to the despoliation of the marine habitat, and destruction of aquatic life, which is being pushed to near extinction gradually.

    “We have become jobless and idle with no succour or hope. Our young men have also resigned to idleness, drug use and conducts regarded as anti-social tendencies.

    “Yet, AITEO has not responded in any way to any of our peaceful overtures, so far. Rather, crude oil spillages have continued unabated without any preventive initiative from Aiteo to date.

    “As a result, we have come to the sad conclusion that Aiteo has a hidden agenda with an objective of annihilating us and wiping our communities and settlements off the creeks of Nembe Kingdom through a policy of systematic pollution, despoliation and destruction of the entire area.

    “Nevertheless, being law-abiding people of the ancient Nembe Kingdom, we are once again appealing to Aiteo to convene a meeting for us – the people directly affected by the spillages – to sit down and discuss cleanup, provision of relief materials and compensation.

    “Furthermore, in order to avoid unnecessary break down of law and order in the area, we are using this medium to strongly solicit the quick intervention of the authorities and security agencies copied hereunder;

    “It is a known fact that such blatant acts of oppression and injustice form the root causes of some of the intractable crises that are afflicting parts of the country.

    “We must not blame the heinous atrocities of oil scavengers on our hardworking Federal Government and security agencies”.

     

  • Dickson’s successor won’t inherit sick civil service, says Bayelsa govt

    Bayelsa State Government on Thursday told persons opposed to its ongoing public sector reforms that the move was borne out of Governor Seriake Dickson’s desire to hand over a healthy and productive civil service to his successor.

    The government took a swipe on the opposers of the reforms describing them as unpatriotic individuals and groups.

    “The government wants anyone who cares to listen that it has a responsibility to clean up a system that has been bastardized by some greedy individuals who over the years have taken advantage of the loopholes in the public service to perpetrate all forms of fraud”, it said.

    The State’s Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah ‎(rtd) made the position of the government known in Yenagoa.

    Though he admitted some minor imperfections ‎in the reform process, he said avenues had been provided for anyone addresses all genuine concerns. .

    “We have a responsibility to reform the system within the limits of human imperfection. Like every other process we know this is not perfect but we are working to ensure a fair deal for everyone”, he said.

    Jonah insisted that the restoration government was working hard to leave behind a robust public service by setting a standard for the next government to leverage on upon resumption.

    He said: “We want those opposed to the reforms to know that it is not a witch-hunt but an inevitable exercise to save the public service from near collapse. The government is not selective in the renewed fight against payroll thieves and robbers.

    “The right civil service procedures wil‎l be followed to disengage those who have either compromised the system in one way or the other or have allowed themselves to be beneficiaries of illegality.

    “Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, we are not sacking anybody but those who have been confirmed to have falsified their age, certificates or have promoted themselves arbitrarily will have to go. These are cases that cannot be overlooked.

    “However we are mindful of the effect of the action we are taking. So what we are doing is give those affected some form of soft landing by given them 3 months notice or 1 month notice of payment in lieu of their disengagement.

    “To show our sincerity in the reforms, we are following the normal procedure as laid out in the civil service rule. As a responsible government we have made it possible for those who due to administrative and humans are caught in the web to seek redress before the judicial commission of inquiry headed by a competent judge”.

    ‎While insisting that the ongoing reforms were done with human face, the deputy governor decried the inability of the government to employ fresh hands because of the malfeasance in the system.

    Jonah also announced plans to‎ employ more teachers with requisite skills to cover up the shortfall as part of repositioning the education sector and enhance learning in public schools across the state.

    He  listed some of the ‎support given to the Niger Delta University (NDU) to include monthly subvention, ongoing senate building, among other projects and dismissed reports of neglect of the institution by the government.

  • Bayelsa Deputy Gov. expresses confidence in Nigerian engineers

    Bayelsa Deputy Gov. expresses confidence in Nigerian engineers

    The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), has expressed confidence in the capacity of Nigerian engineers to build refineries in the country.

    Jonah said this when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers ( NSChE ), who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa.

    He said that building refineries and producing equipment and components in the country would go a long way to boost the local content and manpower base.

    He emphasised the need to discourage reliance on foreign equipment and materials for the country’s industrial needs and services.

    According to him, allowing Nigerian engineers to handle refineries and other industrial requirements will increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) and stimulate the economy.

    He said he was delighted by the association’s determination to ensure the commencement of manufacturing in-country.

    Jonah also challenged the association to champion the advocacy for safe environment, stressing that Nigerian waters especially, were not safe due to massive pollution.

    “We can get things right when we start thinking inwards, and start producing things for ourselves.

    “I agree with you that Nigeria, today, has the capacity to provide local refineries. If you produce equipment locally, the amount that you spend increases your GDP.

    “If you procure outside the country, you are adding to the GDP of other countries.

    “There are several advantages in producing things locally. That’s the only way we can develop ourselves; that is the only way we can create opportunities for the young ones,’’ Jonah said.

    Earlier in his remarks, Prof. Sunday Adefila, the National President of the society, had said that the courtesy visit was part of the activities of the Annual General Meeting/Conference scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Port Harcourt.

    He said that The meeting would be hosted by the Rivers/Bayelsa branches of the body.

    He explained that chemical engineers were essentially process engineers at the centre of the construction of refineries and related facilities, using indices of environment, economic, energy and improved quality as major planks of consideration for such ventures.

    Adefila, who described Bayelsa as the seat of Nigeria’s local content, given the large oil and gas deposits in the state’s environment, said “NSChE can, and is able to do Nigerian refineries.

    He added that members of the society were ready to be worthy stakeholders and were also available to be used for worthwhile partnerships with the state government.

    NAN

  • Bayelsa withholds salaries of 4,204 workers

    Bayelsa withholds salaries of 4,204 workers

    The Bayelsa Government on Wednesday said it withheld the October salaries of 4,204 workers with questionable records, as part of steps to reform the state civil service.

    The Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), who announced this at a press conference in Yenagoa, said that those affected were from the eight local government areas in the state.

    According to him, 1, 329 are local council workers, 2,184 in the primary school system and 707 on pension payroll.

    Jonah listed those affected to include workers recruited without authorisation from relevant agencies, those with forged certificates, those receiving salaries from multiple agencies of government and some with questionable promotions.

    Also, those involved in pension fraud, age falsification among others would not be left out, he added.

    The deputy governor disclosed that the panel which investigated the payroll fraud, also uncovered 34 people with questionable promotions, adding that some workers on Grade Level 04 in 2011 were promoted to Grade Level 14 in 2012 with forged certificates.

    He however said the state government had established a judicial commission of inquiry headed by retired Justice Doris Adokeme, to hear complaints from the affected workers on Nov. 13.

    The deputy governor warned that the government would ensure strict implementation of the findings of the panel and would not be deterred by any kind of blackmail from any quarters.

    He expressed regrets that it was only in Bayelsa that a person would work for a day and expects to be paid a month salary.

    “We have been carrying out comprehensive reforms not only at the councils but also at the secondary schools, parastatals, pension payroll, civil service, grade levels verification and others.

    “There is massive payroll fraud in the state and the situation is such that there are some earning double salaries.

    “There are retired people in the payroll, those who promote themselves, and several retired personnel. In fact over 700 retired personnel are still in the payroll.

    “With effect from today, salaries of such suspected persons are suspended.

    “For those receiving salaries from multiple agencies, we will not pay you, but if you prove that you are a genuine worker your salary will be paid.” Jonah said.

    NAN

  • ‘Bayelsa IGR hits N1.3bn in September’

    ‘Bayelsa IGR hits N1.3bn in September’

    The Bayelsa Government has recorded N1.3 billion as Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR ) in September, the Deputy Governor, retired Rear Adm. John Jonah, asaid on Friday.

    Breaking the financial statement for September in Yenagoa, Jonah said the state had realised abhout N1.3 as IGR in August.

    It can be recalled that Bayelsa had collected N868.58 million in the previous month.

    The deputy governor attributed the increase to tax reforms which hiked tax drive on oil firms operating in the state.

    He noted that the state Board of Internal Revenue was compelled to approach the courts to seal some companies that defaulted in paying their taxes.

    Jonah said that the development had also increased the cost of collecting the huge revenue to N88 million.

    On the revenue accrued to state from Federation Account for September, the deputy governor said Bayelsa had received N12.1 billion as against N9.94 billion in August.

    Jonah said total deductions in September amounted to N1.8 billion as against the N1.7 billion deducted in August, leaving the state with a net inflow of N8.28 billion.

    He said that the wage bill of the state for August salary captured in September’s statement stood at N3.7 billion for civil servants while N298 million was spent on the emoluments of political appointees.

    NAN

  • Bayelsa created 7, 000 jobs in five years -Dickson

    Bayelsa created 7, 000 jobs in five years -Dickson

    The Bayelsa Government said on Thursday in Yenagoa that it created over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs through the release of N1.88 billion loan to Small and Medium-scale to entrepreneurs and cooperatives.

    Gov Seriake Dickson stated this at the 2017 African SME EXPO with the theme `Promoting SMEs for sustainable development and economic growth’.

    Dickson, represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), said that his administration achieved the feat in partnership with the Bank of Industry and other relevant agencies.

    He said that the initiative enhanced the growth of SMEs with direct impact on the economic growth of the state.

    Dickson said that In furtherance to his commitment on job creation and empowerment of the teeming youths in the state, the government was also negotiating for a N2 billion Micro, Small and Medium Scale ( MSME ) Enterprenuership loan.

    He explained that in 2015, the government launched Izon Microfinance Bank to provide small businesses and serious minded entrepreneurs with access to capital.

    “This is important for us because funding is crucial, if people are to innovate and think outside the box.

    “We have achieved so much since the commencement of the Microfinance Bank, especially because the bank, with support provided by CBN and other funding partners, has supported women groups and cooperatives in the state to venture on their own.”

    Describing SMEs as panacea for the growth of the local economy, Dickson stressed the need for the promotion of locally made goods and as well as simplifying business registration process.

    “We need to deliberate in strengthening the existing institutions as in the Bayelsa example, where there is a law that one per cent of the annual state budget is released to the Bayelsa State Microfinance and Enterprises Development Agency for SME development yearly.

    “We must simplify the registration processes for businesses and encourage their migration from the informal to the formal sector through regulation and proper monitoring.

    “As leaders and opinion shapers, we need to encourage technology diffusion through value chain processes and establish priority sectors for local investment,” the governor said.

    Dickson recommended tax incentives for priority sectors, saying that it is a means of boosting local production.

    In addition, he advocated for training and incentives for the utilization of local production resources for SMEs that establish operations in certain designated areas.

    Dickson said the gains of his administration included the 60 tonnes per day Cassava starch factory at Ebedebiri in Sagbama that is linked with the cultivation of a 100-hectare cassava farm.

    “Our Aquaculture village at Yenegwe in Yenagoa, with fish processing complex capacity of 7.5 tonness per batch, 20 tonnes per day feedmill, 500 non-earthen ponds capable of accommodating 700 fishes, hatchery with six million fingerlings per animals.

    “Our plans, in collaboration with the Federal Government over the the Peremabiri Rice farms/mills in Southern Ijaw, is also one of the largest in Africa with a huge capacity that has started.

    “With that in mind, the construction of a 3.5 Kms run away Cargo Airport is under way in Bayelsa,” Dickson said.

    In his contribution Dr. Ebiekure Eradiri, the Director-General, Bayelsa State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency, applauded Dickson’s vision and support for the MSMEs sub-sector.

    Eradiri said that that since Dickson took over the mantle of leadership in the state in 2012, he has been of tremendous support to the scheme.

    He stated that the Africa SME Expo event had increased the perspective and that the Agency was willing to pursue vigorously its mandate to achieve its cardinal projects on fund recovery, job creation and wealth creation for Bayelsa.

  • I’ll forever remain grateful to Alamieyeseigha – Jonathan

    I’ll forever remain grateful to Alamieyeseigha – Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has paid tribute to his former boss, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, for giving him a breakthrough in politics.

    Chief Alamieyeseigha picked Dr. Jonathan as running mate for the 1999 governorship election in Bayelsa State which they won.

    The former President went on to replace Alamieyeseigha as governor following his impeachment.

    He was preparing to seek re-election as governor in 2007 when he was drafted in as running mate to the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua in that year’s Presidential election.

    Speaking during  an interdenominational thanksgiving service organised by the Bayelsa State government as part of the grand reception in his honour in Yenagoa, yesterday Jonathan said he never dreamed of becoming  a commissioner in the state until Alamieyeseigha convinced him to become his running mate in 1999.

    “Without Alamieyeseigha, l wouldn’t have been here talking about being a former President. Nobody would have heard about Jonathan without him. So, help me thank him,” he said.

    He appealed to religious leaders and the Christian community to keep praying for him and his family saying that he would continue to contribute to development and nation-building by virtue of his current position.

    He commended the CAN President and other Christian leaders for their prayers and support throughout his Presidency.

    Jonathan who read the first Bible lesson from Luke 17:11-12 hailed his former aides for their services to the country saying that they all worked tirelessly to develop the country.

    He praised Dickson for packaging the grand reception.

    The thanksgiving service, which was held at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ovom, Yenagoa, was attended by dignitaries from across the country and abroad.

    Governor Seriake Dickson and his wife, Rachel, Deputy Governor John Jonah, Alamieyeseigha, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson and other notable politicians in the state were in attendance as were over 50 former presidential aides including ministers.

    The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, led a high-powered delegation of Rivers people including the former Governor of the state, Celestine Omehia, to the event.

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor  Ayo Oritsejafor, received Jonathan and his wife, Patience, at the church.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Dickson said the people of the state were elated to welcome the former President and thanked the people for accompanying him to his Otuoke country home.

    “The significance of this thanksgiving is that we as a government felt that all the activities will not be complete unless we assemble here to thank the awesome God for the opportunity granted us to serve this country.

    “Our leader Jonathan did a great job and he has now entered into an exclusive club of national and international statesman. We know the challenges of public office but God helped him and we are very grateful to God”, he said.

    In his sermon, Pastor Uma Ukpai described Jonathan as “one man that remembers those who helped him when he was nobody. He was approachable and he doesn’t behave like a   Nigerian.”

    The highpoint of the event was a presentation made to Mrs. Jonathan by a group of Abuja women led by Onyeka Onwenu.