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Tag: Seriake Dickson

  • Dickson probes activities of PDP leaders, aides in last elections

    Ahead of the November 2nd governorship election, the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend, inaugurated committees to investigate the activities of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and his appointed aides at the just-concluded general elections in the state.

    It was gathered that the party leaders, commissioners and other aides were apprehensive following the insistence of Dickson that they must render accounts of their actions in the last elections.

    But the governor while inaugurating the panels christened Stock Taking Committees at the Government House, Yenagoa, said they were not designed to enforce discipline in the party adding that issues of sanctions remained the exclusive preserve of the PDP leadership.

    Dickson, who was represented by his Deputy and Central Chairman of the committees, Rear Admiral John Jonah, said: “These committees are to evaluate the performances and roles played by party leaders and government appointees in the last election in the state and ensure the enforcement of operation deliver your units.

    “The assignment given to the committees is not aimed at enforcing discipline in the party. Issues of discipline are exclusive preserve of the party leadership.

    “All party members, appointees of restoration government are directed to cooperate fully with the committees, the results of various units will be submitted to the party chairman by the Secretary to PDP”.

    Read Also: How my successor will emerge, by Dickson

    The governor charged the committees to be fair to all members and to avoid looking at their assignments as opportunities to settle old scores.

    He gave them seven days to submit their reports and urged them to get all required materials from the party leadership.

    Addressing the committees, he said: “You are working for the interest of the party. So, if you make mistakes in some places we will correct you.

    “Go with open mind and your report will be submitted in the central working committee within seven days or one working week and we expect you to get everything needed for your work through the party”.

    The committees were inaugurated in each local government area with Brass, Kolokuma-Opokuma, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Sagbama having six members each.

    While committee in Nembe Local Government Area comprised eight members, those of Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa have seven members each.

    In his response, the Chairman of Brass Committee, Sam Ateke, described the assignment as very important saying it was aimed at repositioning the party ahead of the election.

    He said: “The committee at the central level chaired by the deputy governor himself indeed shows the importance that is attached to the job expected to be done.

    “In that case we that are appointed as chairmen and members thank the governor for finding us worthy to be appointed to serve at these levels.

    “I want to on behalf of my colleagues say that we understand the intentions of the party and we know the importance attached to it.

    “PDP at state level wants to do everything possible to see that we have gone through one election by the grace of God and we have done well. We are going to face another election and we need to reposition the party”.

     

  • Stakeholders commend Dickson for lifting embargo on promotions

    Stakeholders under the auspices of the Bayelsa Restoration Crusaders (BRC) have commended Governor Seriake Dickson on his recent decision to lift the embargo on promotions in the state civil service.

    They also described as commendable the directive by the governor for the payment of accumulated arrears of promotions in the state.

    Director-General of BRC, Mr. Okaniba Damson, in a statement in Yenagoa said the development was a product of the current sanity and stability in the civil service.

    Damson, while thanking the leadership of the various labour unions in the state for supporting Dickson’s government, said the lifting of embargo on employment was one of the gains of the civil service reforms in the state.

    He said the civil servants in the state should expect more welfare packages from the government as a reward for their perseverance, dedication and commitment to the reforms.

    While drumming more support for the Restoration Government, Damson said that in the last seven years, Dickson demonstrated true leadership and passion for the wellbeing of his people.

    He said: “The complete sanitisation of the public service that was previously bedeviled by rot in the form of misconduct and unprofessionalism, indiscriminate promotions and employments without due process all led to the enactment of an embargo on promotion years ago as the only legitimate option to finally cure the ugly menace.

    Read Also: Easter: Dickson preaches love, peace

    “We sincerely commend the governor for that. He has proven capacity against weakness to better the overall welfare of civil servants in many aspects ranging from the introduction of the reforms, initiation of the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme, Employment of young graduates, among others.

    “We laud the leadership of labour unions and all workers for their support to the Restoration Government and urge them to continue.

    “We know for sure that before the expiration of his tenure, more things will be unveiled to celebrate workers in the state for their loyalty to service over the years and for their dedication and commitment in facilitating the development of the state through the civil service”.

  • How my successor will emerge, by Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend said his successor would not come from his pocket insisting that such decision was too important to be made by one person.

    Dickson explained that the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that would take his place would emerge through intense prayers and consultations.

    The governor, according to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Fidelis Spriwei, spoke at the Monthly Praise Night and the 8th edition of the Easter Cantata programme organised by his administration in Yenagoa on Saturday night.

    Ahead of the November 2nd governorship election, the governor emphasised on the need for all well-meaning Bayelsans and friends of the state to pray for its continued stability and peace.

    He also urged the people to seek the face of God for his divine direction as the PDP embarked on the search for the next governor of the state.

    Dickson said he had prayed the state should not be handed over to a person who had no regard for the authority’ of God.

    “My position on who succeeds me is firmly anchored on the belief that God does not only give power but truly rules in the affairs of men,” he said.

    He expressed gratitude to the clergy and people of the state for their prayers and support in the past seven years, attributing his achievements in office to the mercies of God.

    He said: “I will not cease thanking God and you the clergymen and indeed the good people of our state for the prayers and encouragement and support you are giving to me and my team.

    “We have achieved a lot in the past seven years because of your support and the mercies of God in spite of the meaningless distractions to destabilize our state which has been adjudged as the most stable in the Niger Delta.

    Read Also: Dickson accuses military of terrorism

    “But as usual, let me call on all of us to use this period of Easter, which is a period for sober reflection, to continue to invite the presence of God in our state.

    “We must not relent in our prayers because the enemies of our land are planning hard to destroy the peace and stability we have laboured to build.

    “But we have nothing to fear. They put their trust in chariots, weapons and connections in Abuja but we trust in the Almighty God who has always saved us.

    “Since we handed over our government to God, we have been reinforcing it through prayers and positive declarations that this state which I call the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation shall not be handed over again to anybody who does not fear the authority of the Almighty God above.

    “I will formally invite everybody in this state to pray because I feel that the next leader of our state is not going to be selected from my pocket. No I won’t do that; it’s too important a decision to come from one person.

    “That is why we have to first commit it as a burden to God so that we can be guided not by the whims, thoughts, desires and calculations of men but by His divine will and direction. After the prayers, then I will engage on intensive consultations.

    “For all those who are thinking of being part of this equation, I prescribe same for you. Don’t overheat the system because we still have a lot to do for our state even in the remaining months.”

     

  • Easter: Dickson preaches love, peace

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Sunday, called on Nigerians to continue to live together in love, peace and unity as they joined Christians, worldwide, in celebrating Easter..

    The governor, in his Easter message signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said those were the attributes Christ lived and died for.

    He said the attributes were also necessary ingredients for the development of any society and should never be traded for anything.

    According to him, the import of the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ should not be lost on anyone as it is not all about merrymaking but calls for sober reflection on why he choose to die.

    Read Also: Bayelsa 2019: Who will succeed Dickson?

    Dickson noted that the principal objective of the teaching of Jesus Christ is love and forgiveness, hence, His true followers must imbibe and propagate those qualities at all times, especially during Easter.

    “If we truly love ourselves, there will be no political killings, brigandage, banditry being experienced in some parts of the country.

    ” If there is genuine love among us, this country will be better for it” he said.

    Dickson restated his commitment to the security of lives and property as well as socio-economic development of the state, not minding the few months left in his tenure.

    On the coming governorship election, the governor  urged politicians to be mindful of their actions, insisting that Bayelsa should not be turned into another theatre of war because of the desperate ambition of a few.

    He called for continuous prayers for the government and the state, assuring that his administration was focused on finishing strong and conducting a peaceful and seamless transition period.

    NAN

     

  • Bayelsa recovers N2.2bn from public sector reforms

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, Wednesday said that the ongoing reforms in the state’s public sector had so far led to the recovery of N2.2bn annually in the state.

    Dickson spoke during a meeting of labour leaders, members of the Post Primary Schools Board and Association of All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), in Yenagoa.

    The governor in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that the amount was saved from the ongoing verification exercise in the mainstream civil service and that of the post primary schools in the state.

    He said that the government had so far recovered N53million per month from the mainstream civil service and N134million from discrepancies in salaries of secondary school teachers and principals.

    The governor commended the labour unions for supporting the reforms designed to stop the endemic payroll fraud in the public service.

    He said the money saved from the exercise could be committed to the development of the education sector to enhance service delivery.

    He lauded the efforts of workers verification committee led Dr. Josephine Igodo for its commitment and diligence and expressed optimism that more funds would be recovered by the end of the exercise.

    Dickson vowed to ensure a holistic implementation of the civil service rules and directed immediate identification and retirement of those above the statutory retirement age.

    Read Also: Police promote PPRO, 71 others in Bayelsa

    The governor further approved the payment of the arrears of N18,000 minimum wage owed secondary school teachers and directed the release of N50million monthly with effect from April for that purpose.

    He said: “I will implement the civil service rules to the letter. All those who are beyond the statutory age of retirement in the service should be identified and retired.

    “The labour leaders generally have been supportive in these reforms and we have saved this state a lot of money. And I know that by the time we conclude this exercise we will save more than this amount.

    “This money will enable me employ more teachers if we want to employ more. All the leakages that were there before have been blocked so that we can serve the people better.

    “My predecessor approved the N18, 000 minimum wage and we inherited the arrears. And if we have paid the mainstream civil servants, we must pay the teachers with effect from this month because government is a continuum. Let us make a deposit of N50 million.”

    The governor called on teachers to also reciprocate government’s gesture and the investments made in the education sector by demonstrating dedication and commitment to their teaching profession.

    He said that he was optimistic that the government’s efforts would yield more results  by the end of the exercise.

    He noted that withheld teachers’ salaries would be paid into a special account, Unpaid Salaries Account, pending when they had been duly verified.

    In her remarks, the Executive Secretary to the Post Primary Schools Board, Dr. Blessing Ikuru, commended Dickson for his efforts at sanitizing the secondary schools.

    She said the board was working hard to regularise all discrepancies discovered in the grade levels and steps of teachers’ salaries.

    The State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Kalama Tonpre and President of ANCOPSS, Mrs. Christiana Ezetu applauded Dickson for promoting professionalism and welfare of workers in the state.

     

     

  • You must resist intimidation, bribes, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has urged members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) to resist intimidation and inducements by desperate politicians during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    Dickson spoke yesterday at the closing ceremony of this year’s Batch “A” NYSC orientation course at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

    The governor alleged that some opposition parties took corps members on electoral duties hostage and forced them to write and sign fake result sheets during the last general elections.

    He said: “Because I have the responsibility for your safety and wellbeing, later this year, the governorship election will be holding in this state. Though I will not be directly participating, but I want to advise that with what we know, there are politicians and parties that will intimidate you as you go out to perform electoral duties.

    Read also: Wike cautions against ‘avoidable journeys’

    “Some will go as far as kidnapping, holding you hostage and forcing you to do things against the procedures and against the laws. I want to urge you to prepare to do what is right: give a face to the wishes of our people as they may feel free to exercise. Never be cowed or intimidated by anyone, no matter how highly placed. You have our support.”

    The State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Loto Bolade-Omolayo, expressed appreciation to Dickson and key members of his administration for ensuring the success of the orientation programme.

    The state coordinator advised corps members to shun cultism, drug abuse, prostitution and armed robbery.

    She encouraged them to initiate, execute and inaugurate viable projects that would positively impact on their host communities.

     

  • Dickson lifts embargo on promotion of civil servants

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has given civil servants in the state a special gift ahead of workers’ day celebration following his decision to lift embargo on implementation of promotions in the service.

    Dickson directed immediate implementation and payment of pending promotion benefits and accumulated arrears to all workers.

    Speaking at a meeting with labour leaders in the state, Dickson also approved the spread of the payment to the end of the tenure of his administration.

    The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson who disclosed this said the governor further informed the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) of the decision of his government to conduct a special interview for the employment of teachers in the state.

    Read Also: Bayelsa 2019: Who will succeed Dickson?

    Iworiso-Markson explained that as a laudable initiative, local government councils would be encouraged to implement the decisions as regards their workers.

    Confirming the development to journalists after the meeting, the labour leaders thanked the governor for lifting the embargo and directing the implementation and payment of promotion arrears before the end of his tenure.

    They thanked the governor for the ongoing Labour House project and commended him for always consulting and engaging them before taking any decision affecting them in the state.

    The labour leaders described Dickson as the most labour-friendly governor who had engaged labour more than any other leader and always placed the welfare and wellbeing of workers as a top priority.

  • APC has no structure to win in Bayelsa, says Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has taunted the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying the party lacked required structures to win the November 2nd governorship election in the state.

    Dickson, who spoke during the expanded State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s Secretariat in Yenagoa said the state APC could only rely on federal might and security agencies in the election.

    The meeting had in attendance Chief Thompson Okorotie, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Chief (Mrs) Remi Kuku, Douye Diri, Senator- elect Bayelsa  Central Senatorial District; Fred Agbedi, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal constituency, members of the State House of Assembly, wards and local government chairmen  and host of others

    At the meeting, the PDP called on its members to shun any act capable of robbing the party of victory in the coming election describing the pending poll as isolated. 

    The party frowned on the activities of some of its members during the previous elections and cautioned against the repeat of such ignoble act.

    The SEC during the meeting also ratified the reports of the disciplinary committee set up to review the activities of some of its members during the last general elections.

    But a statement on Tuesday by the Director of Strategic Communication, Governor’s office, Chief Nathan Egba Ologo quoted the governor as deriding the state chapter of the APC.

    Dickson said the APC’s reliance on federal might and security agencies would fail them and warned PDP members against anti-party activities.

    He said that for Bayelsa to maintain its position as a stronghold of PDP there was a need for members to put aside their differences and work for the success of the party in the coming election.

    Dickson insisted that in the coming election, the PDP would be contending against federal might. 

    He said: “There are two systems that will clash again in this governorship election. They are the state system which I lead with our teaming supporters and the Federal system that will be deployed in this election. As a result, the old way of playing politics must change.

    “Bayelsa is a stronghold of PDP. We are going to prove that again with our voters cards in the forthcoming Governorship election. We cannot be intimidated by heavy presence of security operatives and political thugs. They had failed in the past. They will fail again this time around”.

    Dickson, who commended the activities of some of the party faithful during the last general elections, said their efforts would be adequately rewarded.

    He said appointments would be made at the grassroots level as a way of rewarding persons, who worked for the party’s success.

    He promised to constitute chairmen and members of the 32 Rural Development Authorities in the state.

    “We have been running our state as one and I hope people coming after us will work together in peace. I appreciate everybody’s contribution. We together created a new Bayelsa and a new leadership style so that we can bring stability and development”, he said.

    The governor expressed appreciation to party leaders and members for their unwavering dedication and support to his leadership and the party.

    In his remarks, the State PDP Chairman, Mr. Moses Cleopas stressed that discipline was key in restoring order in any organization desirous of advancing its cause.

    Cleopas applauded Governor Dickson for displaying uncommon courage in uniting the party at the state and national levels and called on members to sink their differences and work harder for the success of the party.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (Retd), lauded the efforts of the Dickson at uniting the party at the state and national levels and underscored the need for the members to remain resolute in their quest to deliver the state in the coming election.

    “Dickson has performed brilliantly in repositioning the economy of the state, as the state now ranks among the growing economies in the country”, he said.

    He added that for the present administration to finish strong, Dickson needed the support of all and sundry, irrespective of the political divides.

    In his contribution, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson said he would seek legal redress in retrieving his stolen mandate at the last general election and solicited support from the party.

  • Bayelsa buries victims of electoral violence

    The Bayelsa State Government on Friday buried the late Government House photographer, Reginald Dei and Ward Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seidougha Taribi, who were reportedly killed by soldiers during the last elections in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    A statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Governor Seriake Dickson as saying that the victims were interred in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Speaking during a meeting with political appointees in Yenagoa, Dickson accused the leadership of the nation’s security agencies of deliberately shielding the perpetrators of the heinous acts.

    He said that the masterminds of the violence and killings during the election were being protected from arrest and prosecution.

    He said: “These two young men were cut down in their prime for no reason. The criminals responsible for this heinous crime are being guarded by security agencies. It is indeed another sad reminder of the things the Federal Government do to us as a state.”

    Dickson described the gruesome killings as acts of terrorism against the state adding that Dei and Taribi were not near any polling unit when soldiers were led to kill them in their residence in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf the state.

    The governor condemned the use of the country’s Armed Forces and security agencies for brazen acts of murder and terrorism against innocent citizens.

    Dickson also berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state for colluding with the opposition to subvert the will of the people.

    He pointed out that despite the sacking of Bassambiri in Nembe LGA, and failure to use card readers during the election, INEC went ahead to accept fake results to foist a Senator and House òf Representatives on the people.

    He said: “You can see that in most of the states where the RECs were firm, INEC said no, let the result come from the field; even with the big names and money, they were firm.

    “But here in Bayelsa, a community like Bassambiri in Nembe LGA was sacked and the next day, after 24 hours of shooting, they just drove election materials straight to their location and INEC went on to announce what it got. Card readers were not used and yet some persons are parading themselves as winners.”

    Read Also: Host communities kick against Dickson’s commission of inquiry

    The governor charged party faithful to expect more intimidation and harassment from the APC ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state”

    “The APC’s plan for the governorship election is more than what we saw in the last election because the next one is an isolated election. They are planning to do ten times even more and that is why you must be steadfast and calm”, he said.

    He said that the state PDP Chairman, Mr. Moses Cleopas, would soon set up a committee to examine the party’s results in the last election in the various units, wards and communities.

    He said stakeholders and party leaders of the would appear before the committee to give account of their stewardship.

  • Dickson to Army: fish out killers of Govt House photographer

    The  Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Reginald Dei, who was allegedly killed by soldiers  during the last election at Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf Bayelsa State.

    Dickson who visited the family alongside other top officials of the government  called on the Nigerian Army to fish out the soldiers, who killed Dei and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seidougha Taribi.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor as having said that Dei and the PDP ward Chairman, Taribi, were brutally gunned down in their hometown, Oweikorogha, without any provocation by  killer soldiers during the February 23rd Presidential election.

    Dickson, who expressed sadness and pain over what he described as wrongful and willful death, assured the family that the state government would do everything within its reach to ensure that those who murdered the duo were brought to justice.

    The governor again called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state from using federal security agencies to harass, maim and kill innocent people under the guise of politics.

    He said: “The Federal Government under the APC leadership of President Buhari has turned this state to a theatre of war in every election season. We have managed to live with it since 2015.

    “Today, I am here to commiserate with the family of our late Government House Photographer, a young promising man, who is one of the victims of the Federal Government-backed aggression and terrorism in the guise of politics.

    “The Federal Government security forces are bent on allowing APC members to carry out all manner of criminal activities and go scot free. Even when they kill people, they set them free. There are a number of them but the security forces don’t even arrest them. Rather they protect them.

    “But on our part, we will do our best to ensure that those who did this, don’t go free. At least, we know the APC members who came with the soldiers and pointed Reginald and his brother out to the soldiers as the targets that should be eliminated in that community (Oweikorogha).

    READ ALSO: Iocs responsible for high infant mortality rate in Bayelsa says Dickson

    “I’ve called on and even formally written to the Nigerian Army Authorities to produce the soldiers who went on that assignment. We will also be interested in knowing on whose orders they were deployed, under whose command they operated and why they took the steps they did.

    “He pointed out that the evil trend which started since 2015 when he was seeking re-election had continued to play out in every electioneering season because of the Federal Government’s indifference towards addressing it.

    Responding to the bereaved family requests, Dickson said government would do its best in supporting them in addition to giving the deceased a befitting burial.

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, spokesman of the Dei family, Mr Temple Igonikeme expressed gratitude to the Governor for the visit and his efforts at trying to rescue their son.

    He, however, appealed to the state government to assist in taking care of Late Reginald Dei’s wife, Tina, five children and aged father, Chief Epiteiperekumo Dei who were all depending on him for survival.

    The Governor was accompanied in the visit by Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Konbowei Benson, a member of the House, Hon Monday Obolo-Bubou, the state PDP Chairman, Mr Moses Cleopas, and its Secretary, Mr Godspower Keku.

    Others are the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, his education counterpart, Hon Jonathan Obuebite, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Douyi Naingba.