The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sarike Dickson

  • I can’t break my relationship with Dickson – Jonathan

    I can’t break my relationship with Dickson – Jonathan

    Amidst speculation of a rift between him and the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, said he had never dreamed of breaking his relationship with the governor.

    Jonathan, who spoke when the governor visited his Otuoke courtyard in Ogbia Local Government Area said the rumoured of the rift was the handiwork of troublemakers.

    Dickson led a high-powered state delegation to condole with Jonathan over the death of the Paramount Ruler of Otuoke, HRH King Lord Justin Ogiasa.

    But the duo seized the opportunity to deny the reported existence of a political tussle between them.

    Jonathan, who thanked Dickson for the visit described politics as a useless game saying that some people were using it to create crisis.

    He said: “There is no way I can sit anywhere and plan evil against Bayelsa or the Governor. When I was dreaming of becoming a governor, Dickson was amongst the very few in the meetings we were holding, although he was not in the PDP he opted to help.

    “He said he didn’t want to be in the PDP, but I virtually forced him to join PDP. When I became Governor, I appointed Dickson Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General and that was how he became a PDP and later became a member of House of Representatives and so on. There is no way I will break my relationship with the Governor.”

    On his part Dickson said he is part of the Ogiasa family and by extension, the Otuoke Community of Ogbia Local Government.

    He said: ”We are here in full force as we have always done to commiserate with you, my elder brother, leader and the Ogiasa family in this hour of bereavement. We pray God to grant the Late Ogiasa eternal repose”.

    The Governor, who dispelled rumour of any rift with the former president said, he had come a long way with the Jonathan.

    He said in and out of office, Jonathan would continue to remain his leader and that he would continue to respect him.

    He, therefore, called on those, who wanted to cause imaginary differences between him and Jonathan to sink their plans.

    He said: “Both of us have come a long way. My personal political story cannot be complete without talking about my elder brother, Jonathan. He also knows that I made a little contribution that is recorded in the political chapter of his life.”

    Dickson said he and Jonathan were not running for any office and wondered why political jobbers were bent on destroying their good relationship.

  • Plot to truncate democracy will fail, says Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has said any plan to abort democracy in the country would fail and asked persons behind the move to have a rethink.

    Dickson, who said democracy had come to stay, insisted that it was no longer fashionable to have a non-democratic society because democracy remained the best system of government.

    The governor in his goodwill message to mark the 2017 Democracy Day signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the country’s democracy would continue to grow amidst various anti-democratic forces.

    The governor said democratic institutions were monitoring and checking some of the developmental challenges in the country.

    ‎He paid tributes to all those who had contributed immensely to the sustenance of democracy in the country, saying they had a confirmed place in the good books of history.

    He charged critical stakeholders such as members of the National Assembly, civil society organizations and the media not to abandon their roles to defend and promote the noble ideals of democracy even in the face of constant threats and intimidation.

    Dickson used the opportunity to congratulate Bayelsans and Nigerians generally on this year’s anniversary of Nigeria’s Democracy Day and prayed God to continue to guide and preserve democracy.

  • Group replies Dickson: Jonathan years not wasted for Ijaw nation

    Group replies Dickson: Jonathan years not wasted for Ijaw nation

    A Niger Delta rights association, the Movement for the Sustainability of Ijaw has faulted the claim by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson that the administration of former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as wasted years for the Ijaw nation.

    Reacting to the statement in a press statement issued on Thursday,  Mr. Tonbra Ebitimi, National leader of the  group described Dickson as an overtly too ambitious politician  who disparages the former President, while pretending to love him.

    The statement said: “We believe that only a stone-hearted traitor would move against a man who regularly comes to his rescue in times of danger.”

    The group further compared Dickson to Brutus, a villain who dealt Caesar the heaviest blow from his hidden hand while pretending to be a friend.

    “Initially, we did not believe that such toxic arrow could be shot from the bow of a political godson in the direction of his highly revered mentor and fellow kinsman. But having waited for about two days for Dickson’s clarification or rebuttal to no avail, we have no choice but conclude that the attack was a carefully orchestrated denunciation trained to achieve a desired end.

    “We suspect that the aim was to rubbish the achievements of the Jonathan administration, pull down its vestiges, and damage the former President’s persona as a prominent Ijaw leader.”

    The group noted that the statement was one Dickson shouldn’t have made, no matter the weight of the disdain and grudge he nurses against the former President and his immediate family as no other politician or governor had attacked Jonathan in a similar way.

    “ Those other governors did not descend to the gutter like Dickson did; not because of their love for the former President, but because their conscience would not let them lie against Jonathan, by describing his time in office as wasted, like Dickson did.

    “ It is instructive that Dickson is not only Jonathan’s godson but the Governor of his state! Ordinarily, he should be the one to rise to Jonathan’s defence in all circumstances, even when others are criticizing him. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case. Like Brutus, his knife is the first to go in.

    “ But does Dickson really have any good case against Jonathan? We don’t think so because we are all witnesses to the successes recorded by the Jonathan administration towards not only advancing the cause of the Ijaw, but also working assiduously to make life better across the country.

    “We are also aware of how much the former President boosted Dickson’s political career by supporting his gubernatorial ambition while still President. Even out of power Jonathan gave his all to team up with Dickson against a very formidable opponent; an unconditional support that helped him win a second term.

    “We will not condemn Dickson. But we won’t hesitate to let him realize that the unkindest cut, the ultimate treachery is usually not from the enemy. It is the blow thrown from the hidden hand of the one pretending to be a friend. We can only warn him that Karma rewards every man according to his deeds,” the group stated.

     

  • Encomium galore as Alamieyeseigha is buried

    Encomium galore as Alamieyeseigha is buried

    The remains of late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the first civilian governor of Bayelsa, has been laid to rest in Amassoma, Southern-Ijaw local government area of the state.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased was buried after a commendation service by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) on Saturday.
    Speaking at the burial ceremony, Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa said Alamieyeseigha’s demise was a trying time to the people of Ijaw nation.
    Dickson described him as “a bridge builder” who believed in what is right for his people.
    “A bridge builder has departed in our state; a man who knows what is right and just.
    “We know we have lost a true hero but we have put ourselves together and pray for his gentle soul to rest in peace,” he said.
    Former president Goodluck Jonathan described the deceased as a man of vision who brought development to the state.
    Jonathan said that his legacy on education and infrastructural development would not be forgotten in the history of Bayelsa and Ijaw nation.
    “He brought to us the Niger-Delta University (NDU); he was a man with vision, champion for peace, unity and social integration,” he said.
    Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Alamieyeseigha’s death was regrettable to the nation, prayed for God’s grace and urged the deceased family to bear the loss.
    Sheriff said that the late former governor was a real hero, who championed the emancipation of his people.
    “He was a real gem and true keeper of his people; may his soul rest in peace,” he prayed.

  • Bayelsa: INEC declares Dickson winner

    Bayelsa: INEC declares Dickson winner

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) has declared incumbent Bayelsa State Governor, Sarike Dickson as the winner of gubernatorial election held in the state.
    Dickson, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won with a total vote of 134,998 to defeat a former governor of the state and candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) , Timipre Sylva who had 86,852.

    Total numbers of registered voters for the election was 654, 492, while accredited voters were 242,114.
    More details later.

  • Alamieyeseigha’s death, a personal loss to me- Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has confirmed the sudden death of the former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, describing it as a personal loss to him, the government and people of the State.

    In a statement by Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sarike said Chief Alamieyeseigha was a strong pillar of support to the restoration government.

    He said Alamieyeseigha’s demise is a very painful and monumental loss to the entire Ijaw nation, which he has always stood firm for in all its ramifications.

    The Bayelsa State Government also commiserated with the deceased wife, Margret, his immediate family, the Alamieyeseighas, the entire people of the State, noting that, the Ijaw nation has lost a rare gem.

  • Bayelsa to immortalise Abacha,honour Alamieyeseigha

    Bayelsa to immortalise Abacha,honour Alamieyeseigha

    To mark the 16th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State, the state government has announced its decision to immortalise late General Sani Abacha.
    It has concluded plans to lay the foundation stone for a 150 duplex housing estate which would be named after late General Abacha whose government created Bayelsa State as Head of State on the 1st of October, 1996.
    Governor Seriake Dickson announced the decision on Monday in his broadcast to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the creation of the State and the 52nd independence of the country.
    According to Governor Dickson, government in partnership with the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has christened the main auditorium of the INC secretariat after General Abacha as well as invite the family of the late General to be part of the celebration and also plant a memorial tree in his honour.
    This gesture which comes 16 years after the creation of the state would also be used to honour the first civilian Governor of the State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha for his commitment to the Ijaw struggle by naming a hall after him in the INC building which was started by him.
    The governor also paid tributes to those he described as worthy Nigerian leaders like President Olusegun Obasanjo and late President Umaru Yar’Adua whose actions impacted positively on Bayelsans.
    He re-affirmed his administration’s commitment towards ensuring accelerated infrastructural development and revolutionary investments in human capital development.