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Tag: Sylva

  • Ex-militants fight over Sylva, Dickson

    Ex-militants fight over Sylva, Dickson

    The Bayelsa gubernatorial election holds next weeks, in this piece, Mike Odiegwu in Yenagoa takes a look at the role of former militant leaders in the upcoming election.

    Fear has gripped residents of Bayelsa State ahead of the December 5 governorship election. Already, there have been cases of skirmishes and bloody clashes between supporters of the main contending parties in the election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Such violent clashes have claimed casualties from both parties. But the APC appears to be the worst hit. Its stalwart, Mr. Andrew June, was recently murdered by suspected PDP thugs. Bayelsa residents are, therefore, afraid that the election may be characterised by bloodshed.

    The fear heightened recently following the involvement of ex-militant leaders and their foot soldiers in the process leading to the poll. The poll has no doubt divided former creek warriors. While most of them have pitched their tents with the APC and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, others have decided to follow the PDP and its candidate and Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    Perhaps, for the purpose of the election, Dickson has been courting the friendship of ex-agitators. Recently, scores of the ex-militants under the aegis of Peace and Cultural Development Initiative, (PCDI) met with the governor in Government House.

    The leader of PCDI, Chief Jepthah Kalaiti, pledged to work with the government. He praised the performance and achievements of the incumbent governor, especially in the area of security and his quest to transform the state by attracting investors from all over the globe.

    Kalaiti and his group endorsed the re-election bid of the governor. They described Dickson as a good and supportive father and leader of the Ijaw nation.

    Dickson in his response said, “I thank you for your continued support that has enabled us to embark on developmental projects without harassment of contractors. The struggle of Ijaw nation is not a criminal act and I want to solicit your support and participation in the security of our state to forestall kidnapping.

    “I also want to call on you to work for peace and security as whatever crisis that erupts in Bayelsa will affect not only the entire Niger Delta states but the entire country as a whole.

    “The continued peaceful co-existence of the Nigerian nation is in the interest of the Ijaw people. But in the present political contention, what is needed is your Permanent Voter Card; so all you need is to get your PVC ready.”

    The worrisome trend continued when an unrepentant militant group, the Movement for Emancipation Niger Delta (MEND) jumped into the fray. Curiously, the group reportedly warned President Muhammadu Buhari against any move to rig the Bayelsa election.

    The militants warned that any attempt to rig the election would re-awake “a sleeping dog”. MEND even said it would dispatch 500 members to monitor the exercise, particularly in the creeks.

    Jostling for influence

    The militants even declared their support for PDP and Dickson. The group’s position was reportedly contained in a statement by an ex-militant leader who claimed to be the Acting Chairman of MEND, Prince Amaibi Horby (aka General Busta Rhymes) and 12 others.

    The statement said, “We have endorsed Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for a second term as Bayelsans gear up for December 5, 2015 election. Dickson, over the years, has performed creditably in office as he has driven development to the hinterland.

    “The Ijaw people are solidly behind him in this forthcoming election, and we will ask our members to monitor the election in the state, especially in the vast creeks of Bayelsa, where we are deep-rooted to avoid intimidation and possible rigging by the enemies of Ijaw land and their Abuja collaborators.

    “We wish to admonish President Muhammadu Buhari not to engage election riggers in the governorship election as such vicious and surreptitious antics shall not only be vehemently resisted, but may also lead to waking the sleeping dog from sleep.

    “We are mustering total support for him because he is a product of the Ijaw struggle for resource control and self-determination in the Niger Delta. So far, he has contributed immensely to the vast socio-political and economic development of the Ijaw nation.”

    But there was confusion. MEND, in its conventional way of transmitting its information, denounced the report. The militant group said the governor was desperate and decided to use its name to hoodwink members of the public. It disowned the author of the statement and said it would never support the aspirations of Dickson.

    MEND in a counter statement by Gbomo Jomo said, “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to dissociate itself from an impostor and self-acclaimed “Acting Chairman” of MEND, going by the name of ‘Prince Amaibi Horby (aka General Busta Rhymes)’ who claims to be speaking for MEND by endorsing Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, for the December 05, 2015 governorship election.

    “This so-called support and endorsement was circulated in some sections of the media on Monday, 23 November 2015.

    “MEND wishes to state categorically, that we do not endorse or support Governor Dickson in a way, shape or form and strongly urge the media to disregard any such statements to the contrary, as it did not emanate from MEND.

    “As far as we know, Governor Dickson, in his desperation to be re-elected as Governor of Bayelsa State, has paid a group of thugs to use our group’s name to endorse his ambition.”

    •Sylva
    •Sylva

    The tension escalated when two popular ex-militant leaders threw tantrums at each other over the December poll. An ex-militant commander, Africanus Ukparasia, popularly called ‘General’ Africa, yesterday, attacked Government Ekpemupolo, famously called ‘General’ Tompolo.

    Africa warned Tompolo against meddling in the Bayelsa election. He asked Delta State-born ex-militant leader to steer clear of Bayelsa politics and election. He alleged that there were reports of plans by Tompolo to interfere in the December 5 governorship election in the state. Africa, however, failed to provide further evidence of the alleged plot.

    Threats of attacks

    He only said intelligence report at the disposal of ex-warlords in the state indicated that Tompolo had allegedly set in motion a strike squad to attack parts of Bayelsa.

    He alleged that the strike force had been told to hijack election materials and use them to rig for a particular candidate. Africa also recalled that in the past, Tompolo attacked parts of the state.

    He noted that Tompolo attacked the Government jetty area of Yenagoa in the capital, and attempted to proceed to bomb Government House before they were repelled by the military. He said the attack took place on April 20, 2007.

    He also alleged that Tompolo’s foot soldiers attacked and destroyed the home of former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 17, 2007. According to him Tompolo sent some of his boys in the state to disrupt the recent APC governorship primary election in the state.

    Africa said that three of those boys were arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in a hotel in Yenagoa. The ex-militant leader cautioned his colleagues in Delta State saying that the purpose of their agitation was not to attack sister states and communities.

    He warned that he (Africa) also had the capacity to interfere in the politics of Delta State if Tompolo would not desist from such meddlesomeness.

    He threatened dire consequences if Tompolo attempted to attack Bayelsa State before, during and after the December 5 governorship poll.

    Africa called on the police, the DSS and all other security agencies to place Tompolo under security watch to avert any conflict.

    But in a swift reaction, Tompolo, who spoke through his Media Adviser, Paul Bebenimibo, said Africa was talking rubbish and made no sense.

    Bebenimibo questioned Africa’s relationship with Bayelsa and wondered why he should make wild, unsubstantiated and spurious allegations against his principal, whom he described as a peaceful man.

    He said: “Who is Africa? What are his roles in Bayelsa election? Is he a contestant in the election? Is he a Federal Government, police, DSS, military or what?

    “Who is he to get a report about Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo)? As far as we are concerned, we do not understand what he is saying. He is not making any sense at all.

    “My boss has nothing to do with Bayelsa election. We do not know his (Africa) relationship with Bayelsa election and for such a person to allege that Tompolo is planning to disrupt Bayelsa poll is senseless, unfortunate and unthinkable. The allegation does not make any sense to us.”

    Also, in Sylva’s camp are notable ex-militant leaders and their lieutenants. These include Eris Paul, popularly known as ‘General’ Ogunboss, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, famously called Boyloaf, Africa and many others have queued behind Sylva. Apart from two ex-militant leaders, who are sympathetic to Dickson, others especially from Southern Ijaw Local Government, the home of most ex-creek commanders, are all working for Sylva.

    In fact, security agencies in the state are worried over the overtures of ex-militant leaders in the forthcoming election especially the threats to disrupt the peace emanating from the two dissenting camps. A top official of the Department of State Security (DSS) said they were not treating the threats with kid gloves.

    “We have beamed our searchlight on the ex-militant leaders. We are monitoring their activities because we won’t allow anybody to foment trouble, before, during and after the election”, he said.

    The official who spoke in confidence said the former agitators should not be addressed as ex-militants but should be viewed as ordinary members of the public because of the amnesty granted them. He said they have the right to participate actively in politics and to support any candidate of their choice.

    He said: “Ex-militants have been granted amnesty. So, they are normal citizens. We should not see them as ex-militants but as normal citizens. They have the rights to make statement supporting any candidate of their choice but what we cannot allow is if they want to use violence to support their candidate.

    “We are also investigating the allegations made by Africa. Tompolo was accused of trying to deploy his boys to the waterways to protect a particular candidate. So, far we have not got any concrete evidence. But we are still investigating. We are not leaving everything to chance.”

     

  • Bayelsa poll: Dickson, Sylva in race of their lives

    Bayelsa poll: Dickson, Sylva in race of their lives

    The December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State is mainly between former Governor Timipre Sylva, popularly known as the Opuabadi (the sea or the ocean) and the incumbent governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, known as the Ofurumapepee (the great white shark).

    Most people beleive that Opuabadi is the most befitting symbol and appellation for Sylva who is the standard bearer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election. The sea is the biggest body of water. Its vastness is most times inestimable and immesurable.

    The sea is deep and swallows whatever is thrown into it. Most times the sea remains calm despite being home to different sizes of underwater creatures and vegetation. But when the sea is troubled, it unsettles and sometimes swallows whatever is afloat, including the largest vessel.

    Politically speaking, Sylva truly typifies the sea. He has weathered all storms and swallowed many of his obstacles. Though the former governor has a calm and cheerful demeanour, his anger is like the rage of a tempestuous sea. It can devour obstacles against his progress. Sylva, like the opuabadi, is always unstoppable, especially when he fights on a platform of justice.

    Following his travails, Sylva is alsolikened to the proverbial cat with nine lives. He is, indeed, a study in political long-suffering, tolerance, forgiveness; an epitome of endurance, courage and patience in the face of persecution and betrayal. Everybody thought that Sylva was finished politically. Who would not think so? As a sitting governor, Sylva was practically chased out of the Creek Haven Government House through the instrumentality of the then Federal Government.

    His brother and kinsman, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who was then the President, unleashed federal might on the governor in pursuit of personal vendetta. Jonathan spared no federal institution, including the state security and judiciary, in his personal project of kicking Sylva out of office. He eventually succeeded in hounding him out of power and even caused the PDP to deny him his legitimate right of seeking reelection.

    In the course of his political journey, Sylva no doubt took some faulty decisions which inadvertently saw him walk into the trap of his enemy. First, was his decision as a governor to seek tenure elongation. Jonathan was said to have talked Sylva into seeking elongated reign as compensation for the 2007 judgment that truncated his tenure. Granted, Sylva and four other governors got a favourable judgment in the lower court. The decision and judgment exempted Sylva from standing for reelection in the April 2011 general election the same time Jonathan stood election as the President.

    But immediately Jonathan assumed office, the Supreme Court nullified the tenure elongation judgment and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill the vacuum. The judgment rendered Sylva vulnerable in the power play that saw Jonathan stand in all fours to humiliate him. So, the former governor, regretted his decision to get involved in the tenure elongation suit.

    However, the Opuabadi, salvaged his political life through a different decision. He took the risk and joined the APC at the party’s formative stage. He was, indeed, the only notable South-South voice of the APC apart from former Governor Rotimi Amaechi who was driven to the party by the excesses of Jonathan’s wife, Patience.

    Having tasted the wrath of an incumbent President, Sylva was expected by many of his friends and associates to kow-tow to Jonathan and remain in political asylum until such a time the former President would be disposed to making peace with him.

    Instead of sending emissaries to beg the former President, Sylva took his political destiny in his hands and hopped into the APC vehicle without wasting time. He was antagonised and cast off by Jonathan’s men who painted him in bad light and described him as an enemy of the Ijaw Nation. In fact, his political associates and former aides, in public show of solidarity to Jonathan, disowned Sylva. The former governor bore the hate and trudged on.

    The former governor soon became one of the back-room strategists and thinkers of the APC and part of the brains behind the party’s success at the poll. Without mincing words, Sylva has bounced back. He is not just an indisputable leader of the APC in the state, but he is also the party’s candidate in the election. With the APC at the centre, people now rally round Sylva, who is gradually becoming the leader of the Ijaw Nation in the spirit of the late Ijaw political icon and advocate of pro-Federal Government, Melford Okilo.

    Undoubtedly, Sylva is in the race of his life. His chances of winning the election and symbolically swallowing the Ofurumapepee in December 5 appear bright. The opuabadi is becoming more popular each day despite efforts by his former party to demonise him.

    Many factors account for the rising popularity of Sylva. One is his spirit of forgiveness. Sylva opened his arms and received all his former aides, who once betrayed and abandoned him. Commissioners who served under him and made fortunes in his government returned to their former boss with their loyalists. They were immediately reintegrated into the project of returning Sylva to the Creek Haven on December 5.

    Following the loss of federal power, PDP became unattractive in the state. Most people immediately restrategised and refocused on APC as their new hope and future. So tsunamic defections became the lot of the PDP as many of its henchmen joined the APC.

    Besides, shortly after the rancour that characterised its governorship primary and emergence of Sylva’s running mate, APC quickly mended fences and became united in the task of wresting power from the PDP. They, therefore, proved critics, who expected the crisis to divide them, wrong.

    No sooner had Sylva kicked off his campaign than a crowd of persons began to identify with his aspiration and vision for the state. It has been tales of massive support for the former governor who has so far held grand rallies in Sagbama, Dickson’s local government area, Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw and Nembe. Sylva and his team also took their time to visit almost all the communities in each local council. They also received royal blessings from palaces of traditional rulers they visited.

    Sylva’s acceptance was boosted by the presence of notable political leaders and former political office holders who had since bid goodbye to PDP. The reception of his candidacy was further spiced by the appointment of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as the Minister of State for Agriculture. The minister, who is incidentally the campaign Director-General of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO) has been leading grassroot mobilisation for Sylva.

    Also, Sylva appears to be garnering endorsements from critical stakeholders in the state. Most significant recently was the backing of the Bayelsa Elders Council (BEC), a body of respected elders, some of whom are notable members of the PDP. ln an atmosphere of brotherhood, BEC-led by its Chairman, Chief Francis Doukpola, blessed the candidacy of Sylva.

    Backing the former governor’s ambition, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff said: “We have given you our blessings and support. We urge you to be peaceful and bear no grudge”.

    Sylva said the elders should support him for justice sake. He said to them: “I believe if as a governor I was allowed to run in 2012, I would have run and done my second term in office. I was disqualified from the office l was occupying. It only happened in Bayelsa.  If our elders believe in justice, they must start with me. I hear people say let us stop this no-second term syndrome. They say let Dickson go for second term. But l say to them let the second term begin with me”.

    The former governor in most of his campaigns predicated his vision on prosperity, empowerment and security. He has also vowed to complete most of the abandoned community-oriented projects. His vision for empowerment, especially for the youths, perhaps, account for the large presence of youths population in his campaign.

    In most of his campaigns, he said his administration would bring prosperity to the state and end the era of poverty and hardship. He said: “A new day is dawning over Bayelsa. We are going to bring prosperity and empowerment to you people, especially the youth. It is our responsibility to look after the youth”.

    He said the APC government would be about the people, promising that youths would play active roles in his government. He said the first thing his administration will do is to embark on quick-win jobs to empower the people and reduce the scourge of unemployment in the state. He vowed to stop overtaxation of civil servants.

    The APC standard bearer has responded to questions bordering on the perceived mistakes of his first administration. For instance, the government has always accused him of plunging the state into heavy debts. But Sylva said: “When I left and I hope that the Dickson administration will be sincere, I will never lie to Bayelsans, I have a commercial loan stock of N20billion which I was hoping I will be able to finish paying by May that year and I would have finished paying it if I was there by then.

    “Now, the government of Jonathan was owing contractors N111billion and by the time I was leaving, the contractors’ debt rose to N207billion. You keep saying I owed so much; most of that money they were talking about was contractors’ debts. If they are truthful, they will tell you.

    “I inherited a debt of N111billion and what Dickson inherited from me was N207 contractors’ debt. I am sure that if I take over today, the contractor debts would have gone up to above N400billion. I would not go out and announce that Dickson owes so much; that is to somebody that does not understand economics.

    “The loan stock of 20billion that l owed,  Dickson could have paid it off in the first three months because when he came in was when fuel subsidy was particularly removed. In fact in that year, we budgeted N50 billion extra because we were expecting more money to the state and Dickson got more than N50billion extra.

    “I keep telling you, the facts are there. The first year I got into government, I received N89billion from the federation account the first year Dickson came, he received N191billion. Second year, I received N154billion; Dickson received N216billion. The third year, I received N106billion, Dickson received N156billion. So what is he talking about?”

    On allegations of extra-judicial killing by a security outfit, Famou-Tangbe, that operated during his administration, Sylva said: “Look, Famou-Tangbe was formed as a security outfit. Dickson himself realised that there was the need for a specialised outfit. He himself has formed one and I can tell you and give you names.

    “At least I know one name of somebody that has been killed by his outfit, Doo Akpo. I have pictures that I can show you; people that were killed by Doo-Akpo, they do a lot of extra-judicial killings. But the Doo-Akpo, is it run by Governor Dickson? No.

    “The decision to form the security outfit, Famou-Tangbe, was taken in a security council meeting because we needed to set up a specialised outfit to combat the rising wave of crime, especially coming at the time after militancy and a lot of these young men were out from the creeks and there was a rise in criminality in the city.

    “So we decided to set up a security outfit in collaboration with the police. The name was not from me. The name was suggested by my then security adviser, Richard Kpodo. Famou-Tangbe is not my dialect.

    That outfit was overseen by Pere Rich as my security Adviser but under the police. If any crime was committed by Famutangbe, Pere Rich is working with Governor Dickson and so I challenged him to arrest Pere Rich. As far as Governor Dickson is concerned, it is just the name that is the problem. The name was not my suggestion and I am happy that he is now working with Governor Dickson and I wish them well.”

    But despite how Sylva’s image has been polished and presented to the people of the state, he is up against the Ofurumapepee, the great white shark. The reference to Dickson as a great white shark was borne out of the desire to demonstrate that no matter how tempestuous the Opuabadi is, it cannot swallow certain creatures.

    The communication concept of the Ofurumapepee shows Dickson withstanding the menacing surge of the Opuabadi. He is depicted as the shark that survives the greatest tempest. The governor has no doubt proved that he is prepared, equipped and ready with his party, the PDP, to swim the Opuabadi and come out unscathed. In other words, he is ready for Syva and his APC.

    The PDP candidate is no doubt campaigning on the basis of performance. Dickson,a former member of the House of Representatives, became a governor with the help of Jonathan, who was then the President. Most people believe that the governor has delivered on security and infrastructural developments. They further said that Dickson has demystified governance and changed the face of politics. According to such persons, the governor, who prides himself as a good manager of resources, institutionalised transparency and accountability. He is known for checking the menace of cultism.

    The energetic governor also known as the ‘countryman’, appears to have got his strategies right despite losing most of his party men to APC. He embarked on community-to-community campaigns, which took him to many rural settlements in the state.

    Over 400 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and non-indigenes have vowed to work for Dickson. Foot soldiers of the governor also claim that the notorious militant group, the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), has endorsed Dickson. But MEND denied it. Reports also showed that residents of each community visited by the governor praised him for his giant strides on education, road, health and other sectors.

    Also, Dickson is wooing each community by giving appointments to some of their kinsmen. So, the governor, during his campaigns, distributed many appointment letters. The strategy is to get persons in all the communities committed to his second term bid. Dickson strongly believes that he has performed to secure a second term. The governor said he performed better than Sylva. He said: “Even a blind man will tell you that you cannot compare our performance and that the difference between me and Sylva is like that between day and night.

    “In what area can you compare? In terms of acquiring liabilities and debts for our state? Or are you going to measure the performance by the number of killings in the state? In every area, talking about peace and security and development, we know that there is no comparison”.

    He said his achievements were visible in all sectors of the economy claiming that his administration had given the people a new appreciation of government as enabler of development. “We have changed the face of politics in Bayelsa State”, he declared.

    He said his administration emphasised the importance of the people as the centre of all development and accountability elevated as core of democracy. He said: “For example, every month we announce what comes in, in terms of revenue and how we spend them; it is empowerment of the people. We are empowering them mentally and democratically to take charge of their future.

    “I believe that this will be a standard moving forward as far as governorship and other elections in this state are concerned”. He listed development in education, roads and bridges, health, provision of important public buildings, agriculture, empowerment and the ongoing airporting project at Amassoma as some of his notable achievements. He said he was confident of victory.

    He said: “If we have built the number of schools we have built within this period in spite of the short fall in allocation; If we have done the sort of things my government has done within this period. If I do not feel confident that I have done enough, then I do not know the governor that should run for a second term because frankly if a governor were to do the sort of things I have done he will win. That is my view. I have interacted with our people and communities and they all say I deserve more than a second term. And so I am very confident.”

    Will the Ofurumapepee survive the Opuabadi? Undoubtedly, the Judgment Day is next Saturday when the duo will test their popularity.

  • Sylva unveils blueprint for Bayelsa

    Sylva unveils blueprint for Bayelsa

    The standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has written off his main opponent in the December 5 governorship election in the state, Governor Seriake Dickson of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the incumbent has nothing to showcase, to convince the electorates to re-elect him.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, to unveil his blueprint for the development of the state, Sylva said the opportunity of becoming governor again will afford him the chance of resuscitating the numerous projects he initiated during his first coming, but was not able to complete and commission before he left office. He accused Dickson of abandoning all the projects he initiated when he was the governor of the oil-rich state in 2012.

    Before an enthusiastic audience of party members, supporters and private sector moguls, the former governor rolled out a four-pronged programme which he said will “liberate the people of my state from the poverty and fear.” The four pillars are: to enhance revenue and diversify the economy; to enhance job and wealth creation; to focus on wellbeing and security; and to create an effective public service.

    In the presentation, which lasted about 35 minutes, Sylva said the people of Bayelsa State have keyed into the change mantra of the APC and are looking forward to meaningful leader and that his programmes are integrated and designed to affect the lives of Bayelsans at all levels.

    Upon assumption of office, if re-elected, he said his strategy would be to immediately harvest what he called the low-hanging fruits, embark on the completion of the numerous uncompleted projects that have been abandoned by the current administration and then start new ones.

    On the first pillar, he said it would entail agricultural development, infrastructure renewal and tourism. He noted that a diversified economy that focuses on agriculture and commodity value chains like rice, fisheries and palm oil would put Bayelsa State on the right track.

    Under the second pillar of job and wealth creation, Sylva said he would concentrate on youth empowerment and capacity building, through the improvement in the quality of education, improvement of access to small and micro business financing and through youth training and skill development programmes.

    He regretted that many of the projects he started while in office have either been abandoned or distorted by the Dickson administration. For instance, he said the skill acquisition project at Eletele, which he had already completed but not commissioned before he left office, has been converted to a school of basic studies named after Governor Dickson.

    “There is another one we built in Asuama, in Kolokpo/Kokpomo area, with live-in facilities — we were to build a jetty there — to train divers and other technicians. That project has been abandoned,” he added.

    Sylva said he had hoped that the Brass Liquidified Natural Gas (LNG) project was going to be a reality during the time of the past administration. He added: “Unfortunately, I was wrong. At a time we had the President of the Federal Republic and the Minister of Petroleum Resources — the most powerful ever Minister of Petroleum Resources from Bayelsa State — the administration could not achieve Brass LNG in Bayelsa.

    “This is very sad; this would have actually given us a lot of mileage in employment generation. But, I’m happy to announce that the Brass Fertilizer Project is on. We will encourage the promoters of that project to realize their dream, because it will be for the benefit of Bayelsans.”

    Sylva said the third transformation pillar of well-being and security will rest on improving access to healthcare services, peace and conflict resolution, and maintaining a sustainable environment.

    On the fourth pillar, Sylva said the vision of the APC government under him is to create an effective public service, with a renewed focus on performance and service delivery. He added: “Whatever you do, without an effective public service, we will achieve nothing. Under this pillar, we will among other things, harmonise the civil servants with the policy thrust of the APC government.”

    Earlier, the head of his campaign and Minister of State for Agriculture, Chief Heineken Lokpobri, praised the candidacy of Sylva, saying that about 75 per cent of Bayelsans have indicated their zeal to vote out incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson during the December 5 election.

    The Director of Press and Publicity of the Timipre Sylva Campaign Organisation, Mr. Nathan Egba, said today the APC standard bearer is much more prepared for office morally, psychologically and even academically than he was during his first coming under the banner of the PDP. He said the ordeal he went through after becoming governor, because of the way and manner he clinched the PDP ticket and the general attitude within the party, made it difficult for him to concentrate on his work.

    Egba said Sylva took part in the 2006 governorship primary, against the wishes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had instructed formidable aspirants like Timi Alaibe not to take part in the contest, to pave the way for the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan. He said: “After Jonathan was made the Vice Presidential running mate to Umaru Yar’Adua, the party wanted a more loyal person to take up the governorship ticket, but Sylva rejected the idea, saying the best thing is to go for the person that came second in the primary. They could not suppress it, because it was a compelling argument. From that moment, they did everything possible to undermine him and his administration.”

    He refuted insinuations that the over 1,000 APC members led by Senator John Brambaifa and Alex Ekiotenne who reportedly defected back to the PDP recently have affected the standing of the opposition party in the state.

    He said: “The two men behind the defection back to the PDP came into the APC in August this year and returned back to the fold October of the same year. This obviously tells you that they came into the APC for a mission, which is to destabilize the party. So, to answer your question, the APC family is united. The two men behind this are interlopers who came into the APC for a mission and they have failed in that mission; that is why they quickly scurried back to the PDP.”

     

  • Sylva shows community love at festival

    Sylva shows community love at festival

    The Toruebeni community in Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, will not forget November 13 in a hurry. It was the day of their local festival, Ebenimo-Oge. The festival is held every year by the people to celebrate all the good things that happen in the community.

    The ceremony was to be marked on low key.

    The ancient community located on the Wilberforce Island and separated from Amassoma, the country home of late former Governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, by a wide body of water has a bridge linking them to Amassoma.

    The late Alamieyeseigha when he was a governor started a project to link the community to Yenagoa by road. He embarked on the construction of one of the biggest and longest bridges in the state to actualise his dream of taking road to the community.

    But the locals said Alamieyeseigha could not finish it. They said a former Governor of the state who is now the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the December 5 governorshio election, Chief Timipre Sylva, took up the project but left office before he could finish it.

    According to them, the bridge and the road have been abandoned at the point Sylva left it. So, their only means of going to their capital is by water. The people of the area are the kinsmen of Governor Seriake Dickson. The governor was once a pupil in the community.

    So, the Torubeni community did not have much to celebrate this year. Besides, there was no money to make their annual ceremony colourful.

    Sylva’s appearance at the festival changed the mood. In Sylva’s entourage were the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, a former two-time member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Warman Ogoriba, former acting Governor of the state, Chief Nestor Binabo and prominent sons and daughters of Sagbama and other party chieftains.

    Some of the speakers said they found in Sylva, a good friend but in Dickson, a bad brother. Insisting that a good friend is better than a bad brother, the kinsmen said their brother abandoned them and failed to site developmental projects in their communities for over three years.

    The APC candidate was given a royal blessing by the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, S.T.A. Binagha, who tied a white wrapper round Sylva’s waist and gave him a lantern signifying light.

    Binagha who described himself as an apostle, said Sylva would emerge victorious like previous candidates who stood for elections in the past after receiving his blessings.

    Sylva described the community as great and ancient vowing to develop the area if given the mandate. He expressed dismay that the people could not drive into their community because the road and a bridge he almost completed were abandoned by the current administration.

    He said the College of Education which was relocated from his community Okpoama to Sagbama would remain in its present location if he wins the election.

  • Sylva, Dickson clash over alleged plot to rig election

    Sylva, Dickson clash over alleged plot to rig election

    The main rival parties in the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tuesday, accused each other of planning to rig the poll.

    Bayelsa State Governor and candidate of the PDP, Mr. Seriake Dickson, alleged that there was a plan by the APC to rig the election.

    Speaking through the Publicity Director of his campaign outfit, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, Dickson accused the APC leadership of making efforts to infiltrate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said: “We have unearthed plan to compromise the INEC, Bayelsa office, to give authentic result sheets to APC leadership during the election, which will then be used to rig the election.

    “As we are talking, they are not relenting in the criminal proposition to manipulate some officials of the commission at the national headquarters and in Bayelsa towards actualising their evil plan to rig the election by all means.”

    The governor claimed that the APC had sewn both police and army uniforms for thugs to enable them hijack materials.

    But the APC candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, through the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO) said the allegations raised by Obuebite were not only laughable but false and unfounded.

    Sylva through a statement by SICO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba, said it was shocking that the PDP quickly turned around to raise allegations the APC had earlier put forward to the security agencies to investigate against the Dickson-led government.

    He said: “There is of course no truth in the allegation that our party is planning to rig the election in connivance with the use of the security agencies and other institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This is the thinking of a sinking ship and a loser.

    “Our reaction to what the PDP has said is very simple. Every single thing they are alleging against the APC is precisely what the campaign organisation of the PDP is doing. What they are trying to do is to divert attention from their plans after realizing that their plans have been exposed.

    “For instance, we have called the attention of the security agents to the activities of a senior INEC official in Bayelsa State who is working closely with them to compromise the election. The said official was used to rig the last National and State Assembly election in the state.

    “We also have it on good authorities that tailors were brought into the guest houses in the Government House, where they are sewing military and police uniforms they want to use during the election. This is criminal and we have called on the police to invade the location to verify our allegations.”

    Sylva said the APC had no intention to behave like the PDP, which he said had the track record of electoral violence and manipulation across the country.

    According to him the APC will win the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa State convincingly.

    “The case of Bayelsa State is very pathetic because day-by-day, members of the PDP and appointees of Governor Seriake Dickson, are leaving in droves and joining the APC.

    “It is clear that the APC does not have any plan to rig the election before winning the governorship election in Bayelsa State because Chief Sylva will win the election by popular votes.”

  • Dickson’s kinsmen endorse Sylva 

    Dickson’s kinsmen endorse Sylva 

    •‘Good friend better than bad brother’

    Kinsmen of Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday vowed to support the aspiration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, in the December 5 governorship election.

    The kinsmen from Sagbama, Dickson’s local government area, said they found in Sylva, a good friend but a bad brother in Dickson.

    The governor, they said, abandoned them and failed to site developmental projects in their communities for over three years.

    The kinsmen from Toruebeni community and other wards in Sagbama said they would gladly vote for the APC and Sylva ahead of Dickson, who they accused of insensitivity and woeful performance.

    They were particularly angry that Dickson refused to rehabilitate a school he attended in Toruebeni and failed to complete a road leading to the community, which Sylva almost finished before he was booted out of office.

    They spoke when Sylva led a team of APC leaders to Toruebeni community to identify with them on their yearly festival entitled, Ebenimo-oge.

    In the entourage of the former governor were the Director-General of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO) and Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and former acting Governor of the state, Chief Nestor Binabo.

    The APC candidate received a royal blessing by the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, S.T.A. Binagha, who tied a white wrapper round Sylva’s waist and gave him a lantern signifying light.

    Binagha who described himself as an apostle, said Sylva would emerge victorious like previous candidates who stood for elections in the past after receiving his blessings.

    Sylva described the community as great and ancient vowing to develop the area if given the mandate.

    He expressed dismay that the people could not drive into their community because the road and a bridge he almost completed were abandoned by the current administration.

    He said: “l am readier than ever before to govern and develop you. When l wanted to come, l thought we would drive down but we used boats. The bridge and the road were started by Alamieyeseigha.

    “I took it up and it was remaining only two pillars to complete the bridge. I concluded arrangement to pay N2bn to the contractor to finish everything. But l was removed.

    “Your son is in government. If he really loves you, why can’t he do it? When you vote us in within one year, you will drive to this community.”

    Lokpobiri said there was hunger in the state and wondered what the governor had done with funds.

    He said it would be disastrous for the people to stay in hunger for another four years, adding that APC is the only solution out of poverty.

    Describing Sylva as a lover of the people, the minister said Sylva’s government would partner with the federal government to develop rural areas in the state.

     

  • ‘Sylva thrives on falsehood, propaganda’

    ‘Sylva thrives on falsehood, propaganda’

    The Restoration Campaign Organisation (RCO) of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, cannot differentiate between federal and state governments’ policies, especially on taxes and taxation.

    The RCO, which accused Sylva of spreading falsehood and propaganda to score political points, said the APC candidate wanted to get power by all means, including peddling falsehood.

    Sylva, in a statement, had accused Dickson of formulating a draconian policy with the introduction of multiple taxes.

    But RCO’s Director of Publicity Jonathan Obuebite noted that if Sylva was ignorant about such matters, it was clear he was not fit to lead the state.

    Sylva, according to him, was only being mischievous because he ought to know, as a former governor, that PAYE was a Federal Government tax policy not applicable to Bayelsa State alone.

    The statement reads: “Dickson did not introduce new taxes to Bayelsans. All he did was to get the people to pay PAYE, which is a federal tax law paid by all workers in Nigeria. How does this translate to operating a draconian policy?

    “Bayelsans are wiser now; they cannot be deceived by the antics of somebody, who was in power for five years and has nothing to show for it except violence.

    “Lies and propaganda have become the trademark of Sylva and his small group of supporters. Unfortunately, propaganda and lies don’t win an election.

    “Sylva should embark on issues-based campaign not propaganda. He should emulate Governor Dickson by going round the communities in the state and talking to the people, showcasing his achievements while in office.

    “The former governor needs to be tutored on what constitutes draconian policies. Is free and compulsory education draconian? Or, is he saying the numerous scholarships to deserving young men and women are draconian? What really is draconian? That workers are not owed salaries when workers in other states are being owed up to five months? Is it draconian to pay up Sylva’s N423 billion debts?  APC candidate knows that he has lost the support of the people in the state and it’s therefore not surprising that he is resorting to cheap blackmail.”

  • Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace pact

    Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace pact

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; his predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva and other parties’ governorship candidates in the November 21 election yesterday signed a peace accord.

    The candidates agreed to ensure peaceful and violence-free poll at a brief ceremony in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sylva, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), signed the peace pact with 18 other candidates and their party chairmen.

    The ceremony was witnessed by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, who was represented by INEC National Commissioner for Northwest, Mrs. Amina Zakari.

    Others at the event included Rivers State Police Commissioner Nasiru Oki; State Director of the Department of State Security (DSS), Ade Oluseso; the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagih; traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

     

  • Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace pact in Bayelsa

    Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace pact in Bayelsa

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, former Governor Timipre Sylva and candidates for other political parties in the state, Tuesday , signed a peace accord about 25 days to the December 5 governorship election.

    The candidates documented their commitments to ensuring a peaceful and violence-free governorship poll at a brief ceremony that was held in Yenagoa.

    Dickson, candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sylva, standard bearer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) personally signed the pact alongside 18 other candidates and their party chairmen.

    The signing was witnessed by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, who was represented by INEC National Commissioner, North-West, Mrs. Amina Zakari.

    The event was also witnessed by the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, Mr. Nasiru Oki; State Director, Department of State Security (DSS) Ade Oluseso; state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Baritor Kpagih; traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

    Yakubu, in his address read by Zakari, said INEC was closely monitoring the activities of the parties, candidates and supporters in line with the commission’s mandate.

    He said most of the activities and campaigns were going on peacefully in accordance with extant laws, rules and regulations.

    He, however, pointed out that there were reports and unsubstantiated allegations of breaches of peace.

    Yakubu said: “This peace pact is not the idea of INEC or the United Nations Development Programme, it is the initiative with the support of the good people of Bayelsa state, and INEC is only the facilitator.

    “We are not unmindful of the fact that the success of this Peace Accord however depends on the zeal and commitment of the signatories to see it work. We admonish the candidates to live up to their commitment and obligations to ensure its respect and enforcement.”

    The INEC chairman also stated the determination of the commission to provide a level playing field for all parties.

    Yakubu added that the commission would be fair to all and would apply the laws without fear or favour.

    In their separate remarks, Dickson and Sylva, thanked INEC and the facilitators for the initiative.

    They expressed their disapprovals with the waves of violence orchestrated by supporters of the contending parties.
    They, however, reiterated their commitment to abide by the peace accord, and promised to sensitize their supporters and followers on the need for a peaceful and violence free election.

  • You’re scared of me, Sylva tells Dickson

    You’re scared of me, Sylva tells Dickson

    Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the December 5 election, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said Governor Seriake Dickson is scared of facing him at the poll.

    He said the governor and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having read the handwriting on the wall, suddenly developed cold feet and started seeking a court judgment to disqualify him.

    Speaking through his campaign outfit, Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO), Sylva said the suit filed by Dickson and the PDP to disqualify him was a desperate move that would come to naught.

    SICO’s Director of Publicity Chief Nathan Egba said Dickson’s and PDP’s suit would not help their course.

    He said: “Resorting to the courts for help will not work in this matter because even as a layman one can say this case is clearly an attempt to divert the attention of the Sylva-Igiri campaign from focusing on the job of kicking them out of power.

    “Our lawyers are studying the case, but we do know that a properly constituted court in 2008 declared his earlier election null and void. This, therefore, implies that even the oath of office he took, which they’re referring to, is automatically null and void.

    “It is a big shame that in their desperation, the PDP and Governor Dickson are embarking on such an exercise that is doomed to fail as the issues they are canvassing are settled matters.

    “Their lawyers only need to refer to the several rulings regarding the eligibility or otherwise of former President Goodluck Jonathan to know the likely outcome of this case. We are, therefore, not perturbed at all.”

    Egba also accused Dickson of recklessly spending government’s funds on his re-election project, while the state’s foreign scholarship beneficiaries were stranded in various countries.

    According to him, in the past few weeks, Dickson issued hundreds of appointment letters to politicians across the state, increasing the state’s wage bill to gain political goodwill.

    Egba said the governor doled out millions of naira to individuals, groups and communities, yet ignored Bayelsa State students abroad.

    The SICO chief spoke in Yenagoa when he hosted 11 executive members of former Councillors’ Forum of the 1999-2013 set, led by its Chairman, Leader Stanley, at the organisation’s campaign office.

    He said: “Governor Dickson has refused to pay pensioners in the last three months as well as school fees and monthly stipends of the children he sent to far away countries, thereby turning the pensioners and foreign scholarship students into beggars.

    “The pensioners are languishing and wallowing in poverty because of non-payment of their entitlements. But Dickson has money to throw about for his campaign at their detriment.

    “Regrettably, the governor is mortgaging the future of the scholarship beneficiaries on the altar of his desperate re-election campaign.”

    Also, Bayelsa State governor and Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship candidate in the December 5 election, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend, said he had no personal problems with his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart and former Governor Timipre Sylva.

    The governor pledged to award a contract for the construction of the Brass-Nembe Road, if re-elected this month.

    The road links Okpoama, Sylva’s community in Brass Local Government Area, with other communities in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Dickson spoke at Okpoama when he took his campaign to the community.

    The governor assured residents of his administration’s resolve to award the multi-billion naira Nembe-Brass Road in the first quarter of 2016, if re-elected in next month’s election.

    He said the contract would be an addition to the construction of the Ogbia-Nembe Road and other developmental projects in the area.

    Dickson, who was received by Okpoama Council of Chiefs, hailed the residents for supporting his administration.

    The governor said the reception was a testimony that the people of Brass Local Government Area supported the PDP administration.

    He added that the Brass-Nembe Road would be given attention to enable his administration achieve its policy of exploring the Atlantic Ocean to enhance the socio-economic development of the area.

    According to him, clearing and sand-filling will begin soon because the project had been awarded to a contractor.

    On his administration’s siting of the Maritime Academy at Okpoma, Dickson expressed concern that the institution had not functioned as expected because of financial constraints.

    The governor said his administration partnered the Polish government for the project, adding that the application for its implementation was unsuccessful.

    Dickson, who also visited Odioma, Ewoama and Twon Brass, hailed the people for their warm sense of maturity.

    The governor urged the electorate to vote for the PDP and ensure a peaceful election.

    He stressed that he had no personal problems with Sylva.

    Dignitaries who spoke at the rally inculded Deputy Governor John Jonah, Acting PDP Chairman Serena Dokubo Spiff, Senator Nimi Barigha Amange, Kind Amalate Turner and Brass Local Government Area’s Chairman Andy Obed.