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  • Bayelsa guber: Diri, Dickson in songs of worship after Supreme Court’s victory

    Bayelsa guber: Diri, Dickson in songs of worship after Supreme Court’s victory

    Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri and his predecessor, Seriake Dickson and some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were engrossed in singing worship songs to God on Wednesday after the Supreme Court upheld its judgment sacking David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Lyon and the APC lost their bids to overturn the Supreme Court ruling of 13 February, which sacked Lyon as the duly elected governor of Bayelsa state.

    In a ruling today, the court dismissed the applications for review of the judgment, which rendered Lyon’s election invalid because of what the five-man panel of justices attributed to the alleged certificate forgery committed by Lyon’s running mate,Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo.

    Immediately after the judgment, Dickson, Diri, the state Chairman, PDP, Cleopas Moses and other PDP stalwarts were seen singing worship songs in Dickson’s Abuja residence.

    Dickson led his loyalists and political godson, Diri, in most of the songs while Major Lance and Cleaopas concluded the emergency worship session in prayers.

    They all knelt down for over 20 minutes singing and praying to thank God for the final pronouncement of the court and the PDP victory, which they described as a miracle.

    The camp of the APC and its leaders were, however, left in shock at the decision of the Supreme Court to throw out its application for a review.

    The APC leaders wore long faces and their camp was quiet after the decision of the Supreme Court.

    The sacked Deputy Governor-elect, Degi Erimienyo, on whose account APC lost Bayelsa, was in court sitting close to the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

    However, PDP leaders were seen in wild jubilation, shouting and dancing to mark the end to the litigations.

  • Supreme Court judgement has vindicated me – Dickson

    Outgoing Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson has said the Supreme Court judgment which knocked out APC and returned gubernatorial victory to his party, the People’s Democratic Party was a clear evidence of the restoration government finishing well and strong.

    He made the remark Thursday at a live media chat held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, saying he had confidence on Governor elect Senator Douye Diri to do his best and out-perform him in virtually all sectors adding that he had done a lot of work.

    On state funds said to have been withheld by federal government, he disclosed that about 45 to 48 billion naira due to the state was still being withheld by the federal government.

    He, however, assured that the consultants, in collaboration with federal authorities, were working round the clock to ensure its release soon.

    On why he delayed the commissioning of so many projects to the last days of his administration, he said he had made it clear that he would be working till the very last day.

    He said he was not afraid of intimidation from anyone and hoped to finish well and strong, adding that the judgment of the Supreme Court was a clear vindication of finishing well and strong.

    Governor Dickson, however, expressed mild displeasure at the conduct of some of his appointees who he said joined some mischievous elements in a failed attempt to protest saying they are the ones that would eventually benefit and come back to have appointments in the next government.

    He wondered why appointees would regard themselves as civil servants, adding that every political appointee must understand that he or she holds such appointment at the pleasure of the government.

    He disclosed that at some point his administration was spending almost eight hundred million naira on political appointees’ salaries monthly.

  • Bayelsa: Transition committee presents report on Dickson’s performance

    A Performance Analysis Committee (PAC) has presented a report containing the performance of Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, to the state government ahead of the February 14 handover.

    The committee submitted the report that captured an account of the sectoral performance of the government to the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

    Chairman of the committee, Dr. Matthew Ayibakuro commended the commissioner for the opportunity and explained that the report would give Bayelsa people an insight on the projects and policies of the outgoing government.

    He said the committee, which was inaugurated in July 2019, was saddled with the responsibility of garnering indices and statistics on the achievements of Dickson.

    He added that the essence of its task was to give the government a proper perspective on all its achievements.

    Responding, the commissioner applauded the commitment of the committee in submitting the interim report despite time constraints.

    He said their work would be of immense benefit to the incoming administration.

    Iworiso-Markson noted that the incoming administration would use the report to consolidate on the achievements of the Restoration government and make effective policies as well as initiate crack programmes for the benefit of the state.

    He also lauded the efforts of Dickson in transforming the state and said that the work of the committee would help Bayelsans better appreciate the developmental strides of the restoration administration.

    He said: “Government is a continuum. It doesn’t mean that because one government is leaving and another is taking over that the structures and systems put in place should come to an abrupt stop.

    “Some Bayelsans do not see the benefits of the monumental achievements of Governor Dickson, for instance, the airport. The findings of this report will help people better appreciate the economic boost and job creation that the airport has caused in the state.

    “I truly appreciate the zealousness and sacrifice of the committee in getting this work done. It is young people like you that are the real hope and future of Bayelsa State because what you have done is not for any particular individual or government. It is for the good of Bayelsa state.”

  • Dickson looting government property, planning to flee Nigeria before hand-over – APC chieftain

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yekini Nabena has alleged that Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson was planning to flee the country before his February 14 hand over date to avoid investigation

    Nabena also alleged that the outgoing government was already planning to loot government property, vehicles and other items in the Government House.

    In a statement in Abuja, Nabena ask Bayelsans to ensure vigilance on all the public property, especially government vehicles, generators, electronic equipment, furniture, Air Conditioners and other items and ensure they are not looted by the outgoing government.

    Nabena who is also the Deputy spokesman of that APC referred to a recent statement by the media aide to the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, disclosing that some government property had already been stolen.

    “As contained in a statement issued by the media aide to the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, it has already been disclosed how some yet-to-be identified individuals have looted property, including, a generator, electronic equipment, furniture, Air Conditioners and other sundry items in the Deputy Governor’s Guest House in Government House, Yenagoa.

    “We have since learnt that the last minute looting of the state government property is being orchestrated by Governor Dickson and his Chief of Staff, Talford Ongolo in the guise of hand over activities. This is a glimpse into the greedy and shameless level of stealing Bayelsans had has to endure under the outgoing administration of Governor Dickson.

    “Even though the incoming government of APC will not persecute anybody, the outgoing PDP government must account for every kobo misused while in office.”

    Nabena said further that based on intelligence reports the incoming government has alerted the international community of Governor Dickson’s plan to flee the country in an attempt to evade investigation and possibly prosecution over his alleged well-reported corrupt activities as Governor.

    “The international community, particularly the US and UK authorities is by this statement alerted of Governor Dickson plan to escape the country. Governor Dickson has many questions to answer particularly the fraudulent and inflated construction of the unused Bayelsa International Airport and other elephant projects that litter the state,” Nabena stated.

    He warned the outgoing government officials and civil servants accomplice not to fraudulently acquire government property, saying the law will take it cause on whoever indulge in such act no matter how highly placed the person is.

    Efforts to get the governor’s spokesman for comments on the allegations did not succeed as at press time.

  • Dickson replies Wike over alleged plans to dump PDP, other accusations

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson did not contemplate defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has said.

    He described as false the claims by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike that Dickson wanted to jump ship ahead the last governorship election.

    Iworiso-Markson insisted that the statement credited to Wike was false, adding that Dickson neither conceived nor planned such defection.

    The commissioner, who spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, said Dickson could not have made such a move at a crucial moment he was planning to deliver his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the election.

    He said: “You see, ordinarily I would not want to comment on whatever Governor Wike said. Mind you, Wike is a governor and a leader who should ordinarily command respect, and to that extent, I hold him in high esteem.

    “But a governor should respect boundaries, especially as they concern making certain utterances against a fellow governor. Governors are supposed to be role models in words and deeds. Making reckless, unguarded statements in public is a big minus for anybody who occupies very sensitive public office, such as the office of the governor of a state.

    “Governor Wike, with all due respect, disappointed many Nigerians by such outlandish comments that lacked basis, without any iota of truth, just for the purpose of scoring cheap political points. It was so bad in taste. Whichever way you look at it, it’s condemnable.

    “Of course, I don’t want to comment on some of the issues raised, but suffice it to say that it was inconceivable and outright unthinkable that Governor Dickson would be contemplating joining APC in a major election he wanted his party to win and having gone the extra length to field candidates that would, for the sake of continuity, carry on with some of the very laudable programmes and policies of his government for the greater benefit of Bayelsa people.

    “Of course, the Restoration Government was founded on transparency and accountability; as such, I do not think there is anything to fear to warrant Governor Wike’s conspiracy theory on Dickson’s stewardship. It’s all hogwash to many right-thinking persons.

    “It’s so bad in taste, so sad from an otherwise respected leader in our party. For the avoidance of doubt, let the whole world know that Governor Dickson remains a staunch member of the PDP and will continue to contribute his quota to the development of the party as a reliable and dependable believer in its values. It’s definitely not in his character to do

  • Soku Oil Well: Wike rubbishes PDP’s reconciliation moves, insists Dickson must resign from party

    Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has waved off the offer of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to intervene in the conflict with outgoing Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, over the Soku Oil Wells/fields returned to Rivers State by the Federal High Court.

    Wike insisted that his Bayelsa state counterpart must be forced out from the PDP to show others that betrayal of the party’s interest would not be tolerated.

    In an interview on Tuesday, Wike said that there is no premise for the intervention by the PDP leadership since the Federal High Court had already determined the issue in question.

    He said: “I don’t know why they are interceding. They have no power to resolve the issue of Oil Wells. Secondly, the matter has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    “Anybody who is not satisfied should go on Appeal. Are they interceding on behalf of someone who betrayed the party?”

    “They know that Governor Dickson betrayed and sold out the party.

    “They know that during the 2019 election in Rivers State, what happened in the state that Dickson worked with my opponent.

    “Throughout that period, the National Chairman himself knows that people were calling from all over the country to know the situation. Dickson never called one day.

    “This was because of his alignment with the opposition. I can show proof that Dickson had already made up his mind to go over to APC.

    “I am not going to sit down with anybody to discuss anything as it relates to Governor Dickson. I have no business with Governor Dickson.”

    Wike said that the right thing for Dickson to do is to resign from the PDP, so that PDP leaders in Bayelsa State can rebuild the party.

    “In fact, Governor Dickson ought to have resigned from the party by now. So that the leaders of PDP in Bayelsa would rebuild the party.

    “The National Leadership of the party should know that the only option left for PDP to be strong in Bayelsa is for Dickson to leave the party,” he said.

    The Governor said that the party’s intervention is no longer profitable in view of the incalculable damage done by the Outgoing Bayelsa State Governor.

    He said: “Where was the party when Dickson sold out? Why couldn’t they come out to speak out?

    “Governor Dickson, you have killed our party in that State. What is anyone wading in for? I am not going to be party to that and nobody will stop me.

    “Nobody fights Rivers State and gets any benefits out of it. I have said it severally. I am not here because of my interest. I am here because of the interest of Rivers State.

    “The party would have waded in when they saw fraud. That Dickson was killing the party in Bayelsa State. He has achieved his aim by making sure nobody comes after him as he leaves office in February 2020.

    “Do you know the effect of APC winning Bayelsa State? And they are talking of wading in.”

  • Wike threatens to remove monarch for ‘receiving’ Bayelsa gov without permission

    …blasts Dickson for causing ‘division’ among Rivers people

    Angry Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has attacked the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson for allegedly trying to cause division in Rivers.

    The governor also called on Kalabari leaders to prevail on the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, King Theophilus J.T. Princewill, not to allow himself to be used by external forces to create disunity in the State.

    Speaking during a Solidarity visit by Kalabari people at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike regretted that Princewill deliberately allowed Dickson to use him to promote divisiveness.

    He said: “I want to publicly lay a complaint on the action of Amayanabo of Kalabari. The next time it happens, I will act as a governor. The Amanyanabo of Abonnema didn’t do it, he called me on phone when the Governor of Bayelsa, Dickson tried to create problems in Rivers State.”

    Wike said that Dickson visited the state, without getting in touch with the relevant authorities, under the guise of coming to see Ijaw people.

    “He said he was coming to see Ijaw people in Rivers State and he would be hosted by the Amayanabo of Kalabari and Amayanabo of Abonnema.

    “The Amanyanabo of Abonnema called me and said how can that be? The Rivers State Governor did not call me. The Amanyanabo of Kalabari did not call me. What he did was to roll out drums to receive the Bayelsa State Governor,” Wike said.

    He informed the Kalabari delegation, that should the Amanyanabo of Kalabari take such illegal action in future, he will face sanctions.

    He said: “That day I would have removed him, but I held myself. What they would do is to go to radio and abuse me. But I am use to insults. I am trying to complain to you people.

    “You can see how people are trying to divide a State. A fellow governor would come from somewhere to create division.”

    He said Dickson professed love for Ijaw people in Rivers State, but was busy working to take the State’s oil resources in Soku and Kula.

    “Already, we have gone back to Court in relation to Soku oil wells. This is the man who is claiming Kula oil wells and Soku.

    “I have gone back to court and we will reclaim the Soku Oil Wells for Rivers State. This is the same man you claim loves you and you roll out drums against Protocol,” he said.

    He reiterated that the Amanyanabo of Kalabari would face sanctions if he continued acts of division.

    “If any of such things happen again, I will take the necessary action. I will not listen to any further excuse, that is why I am saying this publicly. Tell him to respect constituted authority.

    “It is not good for anyone to come and divide Rivers State, because the state is one. It is unfortunate what my colleague did. I handed him over to God and prayed for God to do his will”, he said.

    The Governor commended the peace initiative of the Amanyanabo of Abonnema and urged other traditional rulers to emulate him.

     

  • Bayelsa: INEC, Police, APC counter Dickson, insist ‘nobody died during guber poll’

    Bayelsa: INEC, Police, APC counter Dickson, insist ‘nobody died during guber poll’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other stakeholders have insisted that nobody died during the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    In separate interviews, they debunked insinuations by the state Governor, Seriake Dickson that 22 people were killed with 10 of them beheaded during the governorship poll, which the APC Candidate, Chief David Lyon, won by landslide.

    Speaking on the allegations of the governor, the INEC Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogha, said for the first time in the history of Bayelsa elections, no soul was lost during the just-concluded governorship poll in the state.

    He said foreign and domestic observers were on ground to monitor the election adding that none of their reports indicated that people died during the election.

    Ifogha said all the INEC ad-hoc employees deployed to conduct the election returned safely without injuries insisting that the poll was a watershed in the history of Bayelsa.

    He said: “Observers were there both foreign and local. Other groups were there and there was nothing like even loss of a soul. I don’t know where all these are coming from.

    “As far as INEC is concerned, there was no report of such whatsoever. Our ad-hoc employees came back safely. People came out and voted peacefully, there was no report of death for the first time in Bayelsa. No soul was lost. No casualty in Bayelsa”.

    Speaking on Dickson’s outburst, the Bayelsa State police command, said nobody died during the poll.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Butswat Asinim, said the Bayelsa poll was adjudged the most peaceful election in the history of the state.

    He said: “Nobody died during the governorship election in Bayelsa. In fact, it was adjudged the most peaceful poll in the history of the state. There was no casualty at all”.

    Also, the APC cautioned the governor about his public statement concerning the election and asked him to accept defeat and stop lying to justify his failures at the poll.

    The Vice-Chairman, Media and Publicity, APC Campaign Council, Mr. Julius Bokoru, said the governor was hallucinating about a violent plot he hatched during the poll that failed to materialise following the vigilance of security operatives.

    Bokoru said the governor had wanted people to die so he could discredit the poll but unknown to him that God had prepared security agencies to avert his planned violence.

    He said: “Dickson’s statements about over 20 people killed during the last governorship election are as laughable and abstract as his governorship is. Or, perhaps, 20 people dying in an election was his idea.

    “It was his plan for the election and that macabre orgy of violence that, until this year’s elections, became the hallmark of politics in the Dickson years is what was planned this year that didn’t work. Thanks to God and the security agencies and, of course, restraint and maturity from the APC family.

    “Unfortunately for Dickson, nobody died during the last elections. In fact it was adjudged to be the most peaceful guber elections ever conducted in the state, the whole nation knows that

    “Dickson should tell us the names of the over 20 people he imagines were killed, who are their family members? What communities are they from? What were the security reports? 20 people are not 20 chickens. Dickson should learn to value human lives”.

    Also a prominent indigene of Nembe, the local government area, where the governor alleged most people died urged Dickson to accept defeat and move on and avoid the temptation of misleading members of the public.

    The indigene, Wilfred Ogbotobo, who is also a chief in Nembe Kingdom, urged the governor to forget the concluded poll and concentrate on perfecting his handover note.

    H said: “I advise Governor Henry Seriake Dickson to rather be worried about tidying up his stewardship and handover notes than spewing wild allegations he could not substantiate with solid facts.

    “As far as we know, the entire Nembe local government area was peaceful during and after the election. The entire world witnessed their evil plans and actions that led to their disastrous campaign in Nembe City.

    “If APC members in Nembe City had retaliated during that provocative misadventure, it would have been a bloodbath. So, in all his careless talk about killings, if he has evidence he should equally accompany it with the totality of circumstances surrounding the killings.

    “If twenty-two Nembe sons and daughters were killed during the election, I believe the families concerned wouldn’t wait for a discredited politician like Dickson, from a small place like Toru-Orrua, to be their mouthpiece. They would prefer someone the world could believe.

    “So, he should be cautioned that, repeating this lie with the hope that the public would believe it as truth, would not work for him this time around. Bayelsans rejected his candidates. They have proved that he is a big failure. He destroyed the Yenagoa Water Reticulation Project. He destroyed the brotherhood and unity of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality.

    “Hence, he should accept the outcome of the election as a pointer to his unprecedented incompetence, and popular disenchantment. You can’t be a winner all the time, especially when you failed to do the right thing in your party, and not only disregarded but insulted the very political forces that elevated him to such undreamt of heights.

    “Nobody should listen to him. He is a failure and disappointment all in one. His obsession is to paint the APC black and disparage Chief Timipre Sylva in the conscience of the public”.

  • 10 beheaded in ‘violent’ Bayelsa poll – Dickson

    Twenty two people were killed during the November 16 violent Bayelsa State election, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson alleged on Monday.

    Ten of them, according to the governor, were beheaded, their bodies mutilated and thrown into the sea.

    Dickson, at an interractive session with reporters in Abuja, said: “I just set up a panel of inquiry on the killings during the poll. What took place in Nembe in particular was a massacre. What we saw was a tragedy of monumental proportion

    “So far, 12 deaths were recorded. Their offence was being PDP members and for attending PDP rally. We have not heard the last of the brutality they visited on law-abiding citizens in Nembe.

    “They also beheaded, mutilated and actually butchered some citizens of the state. From eye-witness accounts, the people they slaughtered and butchered were close to 10.”

    The governor also said going by two judgments of the Federal High Court, the APC had no candidate in the state for the poll.

    He said the PDP would pursue its pre-election cases to logical conclusion.

    Dickson pointed out that the state had remained peaceful after the poll because he led the campaign against violence

    He said there was no election in Nembe, Southern Ijaw, Ogbia and Yenagoa.

    He added: “What happened in Bayelsa State was not an election but a democratic coup. The results were pre-meditated as collation officers were carefully selected. It was the first time the collation officers, who were trained in Benin, were coming to Bayelsa State.

    “These collation officers were guided by the military and protected by the police to rig the poll. In Nembe, militia men took control, thumb-printed ballot papers and returned 80,000 votes for APC.

    “In Ogbia, they came up with 50,000 votes which had never been the case in the electoral history of the state. In Yenagoa, the area with the largest votes, they arrested, harassed and shot down PDP supporters. As we are talking, a number of PDP supporters are still in custody.

    “Some electoral officers were so angry that they have sworn to affidavits to expose what the military and the police did. They confessed that they sat down and wrote the figures.

    “Elections after elections, we will continue to talk about the neutrality or otherwise of the military. The soldiers and the police turned everybody off.

    “You need to understand our peculiar terrain. For you to have acceptable election, the security people must behave in an acceptable and professional way. We thought the military and the police will be neutral but they were not.”

    On the next line of action, Dickson said the battle will shift to the court and election petitions tribunal.

    “As of the date of the election on November 16, there were and there will continue to be two judgments of the Federal High Court. As of that date, the APC did not have a valid candidate.

    “As lovers of peace and firm believers in democratic process, we have no option than to use the existing legal process/ structure for redress. We will continue the battle at the Federal High Court and the Election Petitions Tribunal.”

  • Bayelsa guber: APC planning to kill, alter election results – Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was preparing to unleash mayhem and manipulate the outcome of the November 16 governorship poll in the state.

    Speaking in a live media chat in Yenagoa, Dickson claimed the APC lacked the requirements to win any elections under a peaceful and democratic atmosphere in the state.

    Dickson in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, maintained that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would beat its major opposition to retain political control in Bayelsa in the election.

    He said that the PDP Candidate, Senator Douye Diri, had a robust history of productive public service driven by his passion and love for Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.

    He said the outcome of the APC controversial governorship primaries reflected the pitiable credentials of the party, and its level of unpreparedness in terms of engaging the PDP in a free, fair and credible political contest.

    Describing the APC governorship candidate as unsellable, the governor called on the media to provide a platform for all the governorship candidates to debate on issues bordering on their party manifestoes, the polity and development of the state.

    He said: “This election is a very important election where you will either vote for stability or instability, security or insecurity, development or retrogression. But knowing the kind of people you are, I know the party you will cast your votes for.

    “The candidates are all there. As a party, we are preparing to kick-start our campaigns. I know the other side (the APC) is not prepared for election. They are preparing to kill and maim. They are preparing for a fight and intimidation of our people.

    “As usual, they are also preparing to write and announce fake results. But my party will be going out to all the nooks and crannies to talk to you the people.

    “I urge you all to shun violence. Say no to those young men who are carrying arms and driving their fellow brothers and sisters from their communities because of partisan differences.

    “Let me use this opportunity to again call on security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities. I also call on the leaders of these communities to rise to the occasion because communities are bigger than political parties. The historical, cultural and even the blood we share are more important than any partisan differences.”

    Dickson said his administration raised the standard of governance for the people to make an informed choice that would sustain the prevailing peace, stability and development in the state.

    He dismissed the allegation of hobnobbing with the APC, stressing that as a politician of conviction, he would continue to play opposition politics for as long as possible.

    Dickson, however, pointed out that he acted in the best interest of the state and the Ijaw nation when he congratulated some APC chieftains of Bayelsa extraction on their appointments at the federal level.

    He specifically mentioned the ministerial appointments of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva who is the leader of the APC in Bayelsa.

    According to the governor, his political liberality and maturity also culminated in the appointments of other APC stalwarts, including the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and the immediate past Managing Director of the NDDC, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa.

    Dickson who decried what he described as pettiness in Nigerian politics, urged politicians, particularly in the South-South to turn a new leaf to enhance the political and economic development of the region.

    The Governor explained that, although, he was opposed to Chief Sylva’s brand of politics, kicking against his nomination as a minister would have done a great disservice to the state.

    He, however, called on Chief Sylva to work with the state government as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, to ensure the actualization of the Nembe-Brass Road, Brass Natural Liquefied Gas and Fertilizer Company projects.

    Governor Dickson expressed his desire to collaborate with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and other patriotic stakeholders to ensure that, such critical development and economically viable projects are brought to the State.