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Tag: Rear Admiral John Jonah

  • ‘Late Bayelsa photographer left four children behind’

    The Bayelsa State Government on Tuesday held the first monthly Transparency Briefing without the presence of the late popular photographer attached to the Government House,Reginald Dei.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, however, dedicated his opening remarks to mourn the gruesome murder of Dei by unknown soldiers during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    It was a moment of sober reflection as journalists observed the conspicuous absence of Dei, who until his untimely death was a regular smiling face at the Deputy Governor’s Conference Hall, the venue of most briefings.

    Iworiso-Markson, who was close to tears, said it was painful that the late photographer died of electoral violence and not of a natural cause.

    “I am completely devastated as I walked in here without noticing the presence of our photographer, Reginald Dei. It dawned on me that Dei would have been here if not for his untimely death in the hands of state actors and non-state actors during the last elections.

    “If Dei had died of a natural cause, we would have understood it but he was killed in electoral violence that occurred in Southern Ijaw orchestrated by state actors and the main opposition party”.

    READ ALSO: ‘Buratai should produce killers of photographer, PDP chief’

    The commissioner lamented that Dei left four children behind and wondered why people would just move on after such shocking tragedy that befell the state.

    “Now we have gathered again but we lost someone, who is supposed to be here with us,” he said and urged journalists to actively cover the proceedings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry established by Governor Seriak to probe electoral violence in the state.

    Iwe Dicksonoriso-Markson also urged media practitioners to show more sense of responsibility and responsiveness in fighting against the ills of society through their reports.

    In an emotion-laden voice, the Commissioner also mourned other victims of the onslaught allegedly perpetrated by military personnel in the last general elections.

    He stressed the need for journalists to demonstrate solidarity with their slain colleague by covering and effectively reporting proceedings of the commission.

    At the briefing, Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) explained the N107million increase in the state’s February wage bill, saying it was because of payment of salaries to the 1000 newly employed civil servants.

    Jonah (Retd) gave the explanation while reeling out financial figures for January and February 2019.

    He said the state government spent N2.82bn in the payment of civil servants salaries for last month as against N2.72bn in January.

    Jonah also explained the difference of N3.7bn in capital payments within the period was as a result of more work done on various ongoing capital projects in the state.

    He announced N2.7bn as capital payment for January and N6.4bn for February, noting payment for such projects were usually determined by the extent of work carried out on them.

    He said: “Yes, there is an increase or a difference between the capital expenditure of January and February 2019. If you put your mind to the number of projects we are doing, the difference is actually small money.

    “And for any person that has a fair knowledge of project management, you know that payments are done based on certificates presented to you on the extent of work carried out.

    “As you all know, we are working on the Ekeremor Road. And for the fact that we drove to Ekeremor, doesn’t mean we’ve paid to that extent.

    “We are also on the Central Senatorial Road going to Oporoma. We are also trying to complete the Onopa Bridge.

    “All these are outstanding jobs that we regularly pay. But you don’t expect the work rate to be the same every month. So is the amount paid. It doesn’t follow any linear arrangement.”

    Jonah, who acknowledged the receipt of N16.11bn from the Paris Club Refund between January and March, said out of the amount N1.25bn was released to local government councils.

    He disclosed the state had a gross inflow of N12.3bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for January while that of last month stood at N13.2bn.

    The deputy governor however explained that Net FAAC inflow dipped to N10.7billion for January as against N11.6billion in February after first line FAAC deductions of N1.54bn were made for each month.

    He also announced N968million as internally generated revenue (IGR) for December 2018 while that of January this year was put at N1.09billion.

  • Dickson advises CP 

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has urged the new Commissioner Police in the state, Mr. Ebere Onyeagoro, to be professional in managing  political pressures, especially with regard to unlawful orders.

    Dickson, who was represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), spoke in a retirement dinner in honour of retired CP Austin Iwar at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.

    Iwar, who was replaced by Onyeagoro retired from the Nigeria Police Force after 33 years of service.

    Dickson harped on the need for security agencies to partner and work in synergy and share information with one another for the common interest of peace and security of the state.

    He described Iwar as a thoroughbred, committed and dedicated police officer.  Speaking in his personal capacity, Jonah further stated that policing in Nigeria was a very risky job.

    He added that Iwar should therefore thank God for a successful career in the Nigeria Police Force.

    He wished the retired CP success in his future endeavours and  requested him to be an ambassador of the state government, having served in Bayelsa as CP.

    In his remarks, Iwar expressed mixed feelings about his retirement, thanking God for a successful career after 33 years of service in good health.

    He also said  that his experiences in the Police made him realize that Nigerians are peace-loving people, stressing that Nigeria has some of the best police officers in the world.

    Iwar thanked the state government and the people of Bayelsa State for their cooperation and support during his short duty tour in the state.

    Speaking, the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ebere Onyeagoro, assured the people that he would be very professional in carrying out his duties.   He noted that standards already achieved by his predecessor would not be lowered.

    Chairman, Eminent Persons Forum Chief Robert Enogha,   Police Community Relations Committee Chairman Chief Ernest Samuel,  Special Adviser on Security to Governor Dickson Chief Boma Spero Jack and the Controller of Prisons, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. C. Chiabua,  congratulated Iwar for his distinguished service to his father land.

    Iwar started his career in the Nigeria Police as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1984 and bowed out in October 2018 as CP on the attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60.

  • Bayelsa reduces monthly wage bill to N2.9bn

    Bayelsa reduces monthly wage bill to N2.9bn

    The Bayelsa State Government has brought down its monthly salary obligations for civil servants to N2.9 billion.

    The Seriake Dickson’s administration has been battling to reduce outrageous wage bills it inherited from previous administrations.

    Through staff verifications and other public sector reforms, the government had reduced over N5 billion monthly wage bill to N2.9 billion.

    Speaking at the monthly transparency briefing on Wednesday, the state’s Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), said as part of public sector reform, the government took a decision to compel tertiary institutions to be self- sustaining.

    He said the removal of the tertiary institutions from the state payroll further brought the wage bill to N2.9 billion in January.

    He said the government gave grants of N630 million to the tertiary institutions in January to assist them in meeting up their financial obligations.

     

  • Advocates of restructuring are true patriots, says Dickson

    Advocates of restructuring are true patriots, says Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has described persons and groups calling for restructuring as the true patriots of Nigeria.

    The governor warned that without changing the current structure, agitations against injustices and imbalances were capable of driving the country to the point of implosion.

    The governor insisted that without sitting down to re-examine the existing structure, the country would continue to deal with eruptions of agitations from different ethnic nationalities.

    Dickson spoke at the weekend shortly after a special prayer and thanksgiving to mark the 57 independence anniversary of Nigeria and 21st birthday of Bayelsa at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa.

    He said restructuring was part of the issues that informed his brand of politics and drove him to join pressure groups and associations such as the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    He insisted that the aim of persons calling for restructuring was to promote a more stable and more prosperous country.

    Maintaining that the existing structure was not sustainable, the governor, who was accompanied to the special prayer session by members of his cabinet including his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), said restructuring was different from secession.

    He said: “There is an urgent national imperative for us to review; maybe people have problems with the word restructuring. But we have to re-examine our nation’s foundation and see how we can make necessary adjustments that will promote a more stable and a more prosperous Nigeria.

    “The structure of the country as it is not sustainable. Very often, a number of our leaders misconstrue the call for restructuring to mean secession. No. Those calling for restructuring are the patriots of Nigeria because we want to lay the foundation for a Nigeria that will last for the next 50, 100, 200 years to come.

    “Most people forget that in the next 10 or 20 years this country will be one the most populous nations on the face of the earth. You can’t have that kind of high density of human population arguing every day and every time about injustices and imbalances. There will be an implosion.

    “So, it is best for us now to have a consensus. If there is any argument at all, it is how do we go about it, not whether we should attempt a restructuring or not. That to me is taken for granted”.

    Dickson praised President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on restructuring saying the President had said he was not opposed to changing the structure to maintain the unity of the country.

    He said Bayelsa as a state, the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta were in support of restructuring adding that issues affecting different parts of the country should be tabled for discussion.

    He said:  “I am happy that the President said he is not opposed to restructuring. Our view in this state, our view that I have canvassed all my politics, our view as a state, as Ijaw nation and in the Niger Delta is that we support the call for restructuring so that we can all sit down and agree on how we can readjust our country.

    “We are Nigerians. Nobody is more Nigerian than us. Nobody is more Nigerian than a Bayelsan or a Niger Delta man. We are the people that have been sustaining this country for over 60 years.

    “Nobody has the right to question our Nigerianess. All we are saying is that we need to all sit down together, work out the issues we can agree on and address them amicably instead of having to deal with agitations every year.

    “It is giving this country a bad name and it is stopping Nigeria from realising our God-given potential as the greatest black nation on the face of the earth”.

  • Bayelsa exco hails Dickson’s victory at Supreme Court

    Bayelsa exco hails Dickson’s victory at Supreme Court

    The Bayelsa State Executive Council, on Tuesday, hailed the victory of the state Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson and his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) ‎at the Supreme Court.

    Other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gathered in different groups at strategic areas in Yenagoa, the state capital to celebrate the victory.

    Spokesman of the Council and Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jonathan Obuebite in a statement entitled, ‎”Affirmation of Divine Mandate” attributed the victory to God.

    He said the unanimous judgment of the apex court was a confirmation of a divine pronouncement that “for once, the seat of power in Bayelsa will be occupied for eight years”.

    Obuebite boasted that even if elections were conducted a thousand times Dickson and Jonah would still emerge winners.

    He said: “As a council we congratulate our amiable governor and his deputy‎ for the sweet victory which although did not come to us as a surprise because we knew that with the facts before their lordships the APC had no case”.

    “What the APC and its candidate did was to waste their time and that of the judiciary. Chief Timipre Sylva knew he cannot ‎have won that case. All attempt to subvert the will of justice was to no avail”.

    ‎He also hailed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and  Bayelsans who stood by the restoration government, saying “their prayers for this victory was not in vain” .

    He urged them to always support the Dickson’s administration.

    The Commissioner remarked that with all the legal hurdles crossed, the government will now be more focused to continue its mandate of quality service delivery to the people and enjoined Sylva and the APC to forget any new form of distraction.

    According to him God has chosen the duo of Dickson and Jonah to lead the state and no one can challenge such authority as the power he stressed comes from God‎ and he gives it to those he deems fit.

    ‎” We know them, those on the other side that pained and frustrated by this defeat they will regroup in one way or the other to start fresh problems but they will not succeed. Never again shall our people be subjected to pain and lack” it concluded.

  • Oil theft: FG to deploy surveillance technology, combat vehicles

    To check oil thefts and illegal bunkering in the country, the Federal Government is to procure and deploy appropriate surveillance technology and combat vehicles and boats to difficult terrains.

    Apart from ensuring full benefits of uninterrupted power supply in the country, the federal government has also been urged to set up special courts for speedy prosecution of oil bunkerers and oil theft suspects.

    The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    He was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Cecilia Ezeilo, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma.

    Giving update on NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, Jonah told the Council that the committee set-up sometimes in 2013 consulted widely with relevant stakeholders including the Armed Forces Joint Task Force (JTF), Oil Companies, Oil Producing States and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to arrived at the recommendations.

    He said: “Among the key recommendations of the committee are:

    “Procurement and deployment of appropriate technology in surveillance and combat vehicles/boats in difficult terrain would drastically reduce incidents of oil thefts and illegal bunkering and this would ensure full benefits of uninterrupted supply.

    “Federal Government should set up special courts for speedy prosecution of oil bunkerers and oil theft suspects.

    “Engagement of traditional rulers to sensitize their communities on the criminal and environmental dangers of oil theft.”

     

     

     

  • Bayelsa to probe former transport commissioner

    Bayelsa State Government is considering the idea of probing the activities of a former Commissioner for Transport in the state, Mrs. Marie Ebikake.

    Ebikake is a leading voice in the Peoples Democratic Party, campaigning against the re-election bid of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The former commissioner, who is coordinating an anti-Dickson group, the PDP Unity Group (PUG), was quoted to have said that “Dickson cannot be governor again.”

    Ebikake, who was removed from office following his alleged closeness to former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, insisted that the PDP will lose the December 5 governorship election if Dickson is fielded.

    But the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), hinted at a rally in Peace Park, Yenagoa, on Tuesday that Ebikake might be investigated.

    Responding to comments by Ebikake on the alleged non-performance of Dickson, the deputy governor said the former commissioner almost crippled the transportation scheme introduced by the government.

    Jonah said:  “This government tried to build a good transport system. We bought buses, taxis and gave to our people.

    “The person, who almost messed up the state transportation scheme is the one talking on television, criticizing the governor. The time is not ripe yet, we shall open the books and reveal her activities.”

    He commended non-indigenes living and doing business in the state for their peaceful conduct and disposition.

    He said that Dickson appointed more non-indigenes into his government than previous governments and would expect them to reciprocate the gesture by supporting his second term bid.

     

     

  • Nigeria won’t break in 2015 – Dickson

    Nigeria won’t break in 2015 – Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on Wednesday derided some politicians over their predictions that Nigeria would be a history in 2015.

    Dickson advised “the prophets of doom,” to desist from fanning the ambers of discord and acrimony through their unpatriotic utterances.

    The governor spoke through his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) at the grand finale of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration which was held in Yenagoa.

    Describing the position of such politicians as satanic, Dickson called on Nigerians to disregard the utterances of the agents of division.

    He said despite the current challenges confronting the country, the people would continue to remain resilient and united.

    The governor inspected a guard of honour mounted by men and officers of the Nigerian Airforce, army, navy and the legionnaires and laid wreathes in honour of fallen soldiers.

    He insisted that the nation would continue to remain indivisible.

    He said: “It is imperative for me to use this unique opportunity to remind the retired officers and men of the armed forces, that in spite of the fact that you have been retired from active service, some of you are still active enough to render useful services particularly in the area of maintaining peace and security in our various communities.”

    He said there would be no meaningful development in the country in an atmosphere devoid of peace, security and stability.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Lt.Col. Effiom Igirigi (rtd) appealed to the federal government to fully pay the 53 per cent military pensions owned legionnaires in the state to alleviate their plights.

     

     

  • Boat in Bayelsa deputy governor’s convoy crashes

    A boat conveying soldiers in the convoy of Bayelsa State deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), on Sunday crashed into the mangroves.

    A soldier was feared dead and two others sustained injuries after the accident occurred along Ogbia-Nembe waterways.

    The boat driver was said to have lost control of the vessel, veered off the water and crashed into the mangroves at about 8am.

    But a source said though nobody died from the incident, one of the soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, sustained serious injuries.

    “The boat ran into the mangrove forest. About three of the soldiers were injured but the injuries sustained by one of them were serious,” the source who pleaded anonymity said.

    It was learnt that the deputy governor was on his way to Nembe for a private visit when the accident occurred.

    When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the deputy governor on Media, Mr. Ebi Evinson, neither answered his telephone calls nor replied to a text message sent to him.

    But the Media Coordinator, JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the accident, but said the soldiers were not attached to the deputy governor.

    He insisted that nobody died from the accident.

    He, however, said the injured casualties had been treated in a clinic and discharged.

    “No soldier is attached to the convoy of the deputy governor. The soldiers were only behind the convoy when the boat veered off the water and ran into the mangroves. Only two soldiers sustained minor injuries. Nobody died,” he said.

     

     

  • Bayelsa deputy governor denies abandoning office

    The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), on Tuesday denied reports that he abandoned his office and fled to Abuja to avoid pressure by political appointees to approve files.

    Jonah was alleged to have run away from the state after his principal, Governor Seriake Dickson, began his three-week vacation.

    Dickson had postponed his vacation initially scheduled for August 5 to enable him finish his duties as the Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    But he later commenced the vacation on August 15.

    There were allegations that shortly after his departure, his deputy also disappeared from the state.

    His alleged disappearance was said to have compelled the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, to represent the governor at events.

    But Jonah denied reports that he abandoned his office and travelled out of the state.

    Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media, Ebi Evinson, he debunked reports that pressures from appointees of the government forced him out of the state.

    Jonah said he only travelled to attend the PDP South-South meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, and returned to Yenagoa on Saturday.