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Tag: Seriake Dickson

  • Bayelsa APC urges Gov. Dickson to withhold assent on ”Life Pension Bill’

    Bayelsa APC urges Gov. Dickson to withhold assent on ”Life Pension Bill’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa has called on Gov. Seriake Dickson to withhold his assent to the proposed Life Pension for lawmakers in the State House of Assembly because of its adverse economic consequences.

    Making the appeal in a statement on Thursday in Yenagoa, the party dvised the governor to yield to public opinion by withholding his assent to the bill when it is transmitted to him.

    The 24-member Assembly dominated by 22 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members on Wednesday hurriedly passed the pension bill for current and past members.

    The Bill proposed a monthly pension of N100,000 for members while the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be entitled to N500,000 and N200,000, respectively.

    But the APC rejected the planned law being pushed by the House of Assembly prescribing monthly post-service life pensions of between N100,000 and N50,000 for members of the state legislature.

    The party has also observed that the obnoxious bill, which was proposed and passed by the House on April 24, has provoked public outcry.

    The statement signed by APC’s spokesman in the state, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, described it as self serving and provocative and a display of insensitivity to public opinion.

    “APC Bayelsa completely rejects this life pension bill for members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. The party described the bill as unjust, ungodly and self-serving.

    “It is unsympathetic for members of the House of Assembly to seek to enhance their own lives at the expense of the vast majority of Bayelsa people living in pain and penury,” he stated.

    Buokoribo described the life pension bill as an unspeakable crime against the people of Bsyelsa.

    “APC has been at the forefront of efforts to enthrone a regime of better life for the people of Bayelsa State. And we have led a robust opposition to the current system of anti-people governance in the state for close to eight years.

    “Regarding this latest move by the House of Assembly, we again say that the idea is avaricious, wicked and insensitive.

    “By proposing such a law, the lawmakers have merely portrayed themselves as a people who feel no concern for the feelings of their suffering constituents.

    “They have once again confirmed that they are in cahoots with the executive in the serial impoverishment of the people of Bayelsa State.

    “APC advises the legislature to withdraw the obnoxious pension bill and avoid the appalling crime against the people of Bayelsa State.

    “In the event of the legislature’s refusal to heed this solemn advice, we appeal to Gov. Seriake Dickson, if he is still in touch with his essential humanity, to refuse assent to the pension bill when it is transmitted to him.

    “Failing this, the party calls on the people of Bayelsa to embark on a campaign of peaceful resistance against the rogue assembly and the poverty regime of Governor Dickson,” Buokoribo said.

  • Dickson, PDP shameless, people now know better, says APC

    Dickson, PDP shameless, people now know better, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has said the State Governor, Seriake Dickson and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are shameless and that the people now know better.

    The party made this statement on Monday following a press release by Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy in Yenagoa on the recent death of one of its personnel.

    “Monday’s press release by the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Yenagoa, saying the recent death of one of its personnel on Brass Island had nothing to do with last Saturday’s elections, has vindicated us.

    “The naval rating was not killed on election duty. The Navy authorities revealed that the naval rating was on escort duty onboard a ship at the sea.

    “The ship unfortunately came under attack offshore Brass, and he suffered a gunshot wound. He later died in a hospital in Twon-Brass.

    “But in stark contrast to the Navy’s statement, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State had rushed a statement to the media alleging that APC was responsible for the death of the naval rating, and that he died on election duty.

    “We have had cause to caution the unsuspecting public to take whatever comes from the mouth of the dying PDP in the state and Governor Dickson with a grain of salt.

    “Governor Dickson and his party are pathetic liars. They have lied before. They are lying. They will continue to lie to cover their desperation, fear and ineptitude. No government can survive on the basis of lies, fake news and agitprop.

    “Now that their latest lie has proven to be a cruel hoax, we expect the PDP and Governor Dickson to have the courage to apologise for shamefully misleading the public, raising a false alarm, and spreading rumour. But we know they will not.

    “The governor and his party are shameless. Of course, the people now know better,” the statement signed by Doifie Buokoribo, State Publicity Secretary of the APC.

     

  • APC accuses Gov. Dickson of using thugs to undermine elections in Bayelsa

    APC accuses Gov. Dickson of using thugs to undermine elections in Bayelsa

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State Chapter, has alleged the use of thugs and other criminal elements by Governor Seriake Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to undermine Saturday’s House of Assembly elections.

    APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said in a statement on Saturday in Okpoama-Brass that armed thugs loyal to the governor and his party were on the loose in a number of communities throughout the polls, rigging for the PDP and intimidating APC members.

    The statement reads, “Just on Thursday, we alerted the Bayelsa public to an evil plot by Governor Seriake Dickson to unleash mayhem during Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections on purpose to intimidate the opposition and impose his candidates in various constituencies of the state.

    “We also warned about his signature tactic of trying to cover up his nefarious acts with smear campaign and fake news against our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Dickson, as usual, did not disappoint.

    “On Saturday, thugs sponsored by Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state went on the rampage in several constituencies of the state, carting away electoral materials, thumb-printing for the PDP, and deploying sundry acts of intimidation against APC members and others opposed the governor and his party.

    “A few of the instances would suffice. Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Mr. Moses Cliopas, and other PDP leaders, accompanied by armed thugs hijacked all the electoral materials for Saturday’s election in Wards 16 and 17 of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    “It took the intervention of the armed and security forces for the materials to be recovered, and some arrests were made.

    “In Odioma, Brass Local Government Area, the PDP candidate, Barrister Esau Andrew, led thugs to cart away all the electoral materials. Our members were chased out of the community and PDP had a field day with the thumb printing of ballot papers.

    “Odioma is Dickson’s surrogate community. In Brass Constituency 2, Dickson imposed the PDP candidate, Andrew, and he is desperate to ensure his candidates wins. Dickson also used to be a lawyer for this community.

    “In Ogbolomabiri-Nembe, the hometown of the deputy governor, his younger brother, Gabriel Jonah, used thugs to threaten and chase APC agents out of the community.

    “In Sagbama, where Dickson comes from, our members were in hiding for the most part of Saturday for fear of being harmed by the governor and his armed thugs.

    “Quite in his usual style, Dickson went to town on Saturday on a campaign of falsehood, alleging malpractices by our party and pretending to be the victim. While voting was still going on is several areas, he was out and about with his usual fake news to try to divert attention from his immoral ways.

    “APC wishes to restate that elections are not fought on the basis of smear campaign or intimidation, but on the strength of support freely given by the people. This is our strength, it is what APC boasts. Dickson is, certainly, in terrible deficit of such support, and he is doing everything to make up for his lack of quality followership. But he will surely be disappointed.”

     

  • Seriake urges Buhari to restrain abuse of security personnel

    Seriake urges Buhari to restrain abuse of security personnel

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the various security agencies to charge their men to be professional in their duties as they resume for election duties in Bayelsa and other states of the South South geopolitical zone.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted him as having made the comment while reacting to the fresh deployment of troops and other security agents to the state ahead of the Gubernatorial/House of Assembly election scheduled for Saturday,

    The Governor said that it was in the interest of the country and indeed the general good for the President and his security chiefs to place emphasis on professionalism of security personnel on deployment to Bayelsa and other states of the Federation.

    He called on the President to prevail on the security chiefs to ensure that their commanders are professional in the discharge of their security responsibilities to prevent a spontaneous nationwide crisis and instability as a fall out of the elections which are the closest to the people.

    The Governor said that while he was not opposed to the deployment of additional security men to maintain law and order in the Society, he was against what he described as the unholy collusion between soldiers on ground and leaders of political thugs in the state.

    He restated his demand to the Army High Command to redeploy implicated officers and men of the service involved in brazen criminality in the last election.

    He said, “I wish to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to restrain abuse of our security personnel and electoral officers in the next election.

    “The service chiefs and the security commanders must be professional, and emphasize the right thing in all their actions in order not to cause a spontaneous nationwide crisis and instability.

    “The fact is that these elections are grassroots election and it is indeed important that the people are allowed to elect their leaders without subversion from anywhere.

    “I am one of the greatest collaborators on security matters. I have no problem with security deployments to the state, it is a fact that we need people who will do their job in Nembe Bassambiri, and parts of Southern Ijaw where we have experienced unholy collusion between soldiers and security agencies.

    “We as law abiding people want an arrangement that would prevent the criminality and brigandage that marred the Presidential/National Assembly elections so that our people can exercise their right to vote and elect their leaders.”

     

  • Bayelsa commission on electoral violence begins sitting

    Bayelsa commission on electoral violence begins sitting

    The Commission of Inquiry on election violence set up by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has commenced sitting.

    The commission, which commenced the sitting on Monday, admitted evidences from complainants at the Multi-Door Court House in Yenagoa.

    The Chairman of the commission, Justice Ineikadei Eradiri, said the body would abide strictly with its terms of reference.

    He also said the commission would avoid any matter that bordered on the actual conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Feb. 23.

    Eradiri said matters concerning conduct of elections fell within the jurisdiction of the relevant election petition tribunals already set up.

    The chairman, who explained that the commission would hear oral, documentary and other forms of evidence from witnesses, appealed to all those involved to observe the rules of engagement.

    He gave an assurance that the commission would maintain the highest level of independence, fairness, impartiality while abiding by its oath of office.

    Eradiri also called on those with useful information to come forward and testify so as to assist the commission.

    The chairman, who warned that the commission would deal with anyone caught threatening witnesses, urged them to report such matters to the police.

    The Secretary of the Commission, Dr Richard Ogbe, described the commission as apolitical.

    He pledged that the commission would ensure that those involved in violence during the elections in the state were brought to book.

    Ben Dotimiye-Braye, the Lead Counsel to the family of the late Seidougha Taribi who was killed at Oweikorogha Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, cross examined his witnesses, Mr Moses Taribi and Mr Doodei Week, who presented evidences to the commission.

    The Counsel to the commission, Prof. Festus Emiri, also cross examined the two witnesses who narrated the circumstances leading to the death of Taribi.

    The inquiry, which continues on Tuesday with more witnesses expected, would end on Friday.

    Recall that the governor had on Feb. 27 set up the commission to ascertain the cause of the violence that characterised the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

     

  • Dickson is not Bayelsa, APC lashes Governor

    Dickson is not Bayelsa, APC lashes Governor

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State on Thursday lashed out at Governor Seriake Dickson, dismissing as groundless and misguided a statement by the state governor.

    The Bayelsa State Governor in the statement had discredited votes garnered in the state by President Muhammadu Buhari and APC candidates during the last presidential and National Assembly elections.

    In a statement on Thursday in Yenagoa by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, the party stressed that Dickson was not Bayelsa State, and Bayelsa State was neither Dickson nor a political party.

    The party also rejected an attempt by Dickson to equate himself with Bayelsa by claiming in the said statement that the state condemned votes polled by APC.

    It advised Dickson to explore democratic option of seeking redress in the courts if he had any grievances about the poll results, instead of plunging into the realm of reckless and enflaming statements.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State Chapter, has been drawn to a recent public statement by the Government of Bayelsa State with the headline: “Governor Dickson urges Nigerians to discountenance concocted votes allotted to Buhari, APC candidates in Bayelsa”.

    “In the statement, the Bayelsa State Government is reported to have rejected votes won by our party in the Presidential and National Assembly elections. “Our state condemns the purported result from constituency 4 of Southern Ijaw and the seven Nembe wards. We want the world and INEC to know that what happened in Nembe Bassambiri and Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 was a blatant assault on the rights of our people”, the statement said more specifically.

    “The APC in Bayelsa State considers the government statement as baseless, ill-advised, and reckless. Dickson is not Bayelsa State. Bayelsa State is not Dickson. Bayelsa State is not a party to the general elections. Bayelsa State Government must not be confused with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “As a narrow-minded and petty politician, Dickson seems not to realise that he is governor of all, not just PDP. Or are we to assume that APC members in Bayelsa State are from Sudan?

    “The 23 February 2019 elections have taken place, the results collated and winners have emerged. No amount of threat, psychological warfare or fake news can change the results as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The only option open to any aggrieved party is a democratic court of law. As a lawyer, or even governor who has access to a myriad of lawyers, Governor Dickson should know this basic fact.

    “Working in concert with Governor Dickson is the amorphous Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Bayelsa State. Created by the PDP, CUPP is demanding fresh elections in Southern Ijaw and Nembe Local Government Councils won by the APC. Our advice to CUPP: go to court!

    “The peace-loving, democracy-minded people of Bayelsa State cannot be made pawns in a crude political game by rogue buccaneers seeking power at all costs”.

     

  • APC denies colluding with military in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday denied allegation by Gov. Seriake Dickson that the party colluded with the military during Saturday’s polls to cause violence.

    Mr Doifie Buokoribo, the State Publicity Secretary of APC disclosed this on Monday in Yenagoa, adding that the allegation was to blackmail the party.

    The party said that it was regrettable that Dickson was raising a false alarm about violence during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    It added that the move was intended to mask the governor’s error and lawlessness during the exercise.

    Dickson had in a press conference raised a number of allegations, including that the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army and its GOC colluded with APC chieftains to unleash violence that characterised the elections leading to deaths.

    He also said a ward chairman of PDP in Southern Ijaw and a photojournalist attached to the Bayelsa Government House were shot by the military, killing the party leader while the journalist survived the shooting.

    “Dickson specifically excoriated former Bayelsa Governor and APC leader, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    “In Dickson’s court, Sylva and APC stalwarts are guilty of hijacking of electoral materials, killings – and even terrorism.

    “Expectedly, the media has been awash with reports of “violence” by APC in parts of the state, particularly Twon-Brass and Bassambiri-Nembe.

    “We reiterate that the APC in Bayelsa and its leadership had nothing whatsoever to do violence during last Saturday’s elections.

    “Governor Dickson and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be held responsible,” it said.

    It would be recalled that the PDP ward chairman, Mr Seidougha Taribi and the photo-Journalist, Reginald Dei, were reportedly shot during the elections in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    Dei was reported be in a critical condition at Diete Koki Memorial Hospital Opolo, Yenagoa, while Taribi was said to have died on the spot.

    Spokesman of Army Brigade Major Jonah Danjuma, distanced the military from the alleged killings saying that on the contrary it arrested 15 armed men suspected to be thugs in a different area from where the deaths occurred.

    According to the APC, the governor’s allegation remains wild and unsubstantiated against the Nigerian Army, the APC and its leadership.

    IGP Adamu condemns attack on Police officers in Bayelsa

    Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has decried the attack on a DCP in Brass, Bayelsa State on Sunday, and has ordered for the immediate arrest, comprehensive investigation and diligent prosecution of persons involved, no matter their positions in society.

    The IGP, who described the incident as unwarranted and unprovoked, warns that under his watch, such brazen acts of impunity will not be condoned.

    Meanwhile, five (5) male suspects have been arrested in Umuahia, Abia State over an attack on a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who was patriotically defending the sanctity of the electoral system at a Collation Centre in Umuahia.

    “These attacks have once again highlighted the risks and hazards inherent in policing our clime, and the need for stakeholders and government at all levels to continue to support the officers and men of the Force in the discharge of their responsibilities,” Adamu said.

    However, the IGP commended all Nigerians, whom, by their words and actions, have clearly identified with the Force by denouncing these barbaric and uncivilized actions against Police Officers performing their legitimate duties.

    The IGP reassures the public that the two Officers are safe and in good health and are not under any form of unlawful restraint or detention.

     

  • Election violence: My photographer was shot by military – Dickson

    Election violence: My photographer was shot by military – Dickson

    Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, on Sunday alleged that a photographer attached to the Government House, Yenagoa, was shot, and a ward chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) killed by the military.

    Dickson alleged that the military colluded with some politicians to perpetrate the violence, which he said, characterised Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly polls in the state.

    The PDP ward chairman, Mr Seidougha Taribi and the photographer, Reginald Dei, were reportedly shot during the elections in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    Dei is in critical condition at Diete Koki Memorial Hospital Opolo, Yenagoa, but Taribi died at the spot.

    At a news conference on Sunday, the governor commiserated with the families of all those that lost their lives to electoral violence during the polls.

    ”The two were shot by soldiers and my condolences go to the families of those that were killed.

    ”It is regrettable that people have to die because of elections and we have been advocating against electoral violence in the past eight years.

    ”I commend the people of Ekeremor and Brass, including INEC, for resisting the pressure to sabotaging the voting process, and people actually voted there for the first time.

    “Prior to this time, they have been used to hijack of the process.

    ”It shows that our advocacy for peaceful elections is paying off but unfortunately, in places like Nembe-Basambri, it was still the same old story of hijacking the electoral process and I encourage them to resist it,” he said.

    Reacting to the allegation, Spokesman of 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Yenagoa, Major Jonah Danjuma, said that the army was not responsible for the incident.

    He explained that troops of the Brigade had conducted an operation in Ikebiri community, in Southern Ijaw, different from where the photo-journalist and party chieftain were reportedly shot.

    ”We had no such incident; troops of 5 Battalion, 16 Brigade Nigerian Army, on Saturday arrested 15 armed men suspected to be political thugs at Ikebiri 1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    ”It was a successful operation that led to the recovery of large cache of arms, ammunition and other items.

    ”This feat was achieved as a direct response by vigilant troops in Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2019 in 16 Brigade Area of Responsibility.” Danjuma said.

    Also Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force deployed to the Niger Delta, Major Abdullahi Ibrahim, said that the Command neither deployed men to the community nor had operation at Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw.

  • 2019 elections: Card reader rejects Bayelsa Governor

    Smart card reader has rejected the thumb of Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, amidst reports of delays in arrival of election materials in some parts of the state.

    Dickson was however allowed to vote at Ward 2 unit 5 in Orerewari, Toru Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area at about 10.35 am after several unsuccessful trials on the card reader.

    The governor was allowed to vote after his Permanent Voter Card (PVC) was read manually and his name, signature and phone number were documented.

    Speaking after voting, Dickson noted that the failure of the smart card to read his thumb print was not new as it had occurred in the 2015 elections.

    He said that despite earlier complaints to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the glitches with the card reader had persisted.

    The governor expressed concerns over the reported cases of electoral violence in Nembe Basambri, Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor areas of the state.

     

  • Okowa hails Dickson on maiden flight to Bayelsa airport

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated his Bayelsa state counterpart, Seriake Dickson on the successful arrival of the maiden flight to the Bayelsa International Airport, Amassoma on Thursday.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu said that the successful arrival of Air Peace 5N-BUV at the newly-built Bayelsa International airport in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw local government area marked the beginning of a new dawn in the state.

    The statement reads: “The successful completion of the Bayelsa International Airport and subsequent commencement of flights into the Airport marks a turning point in economy of Bayelsans as they would no longer travel long distances to access air transport.

    “Yesterday’s event is also a testimony of the dogged determination of PDP Governors to provide monumental and life changing infrastructure for the people of their respective states.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State i congratulate my brother Governor Hon. Seriake Dickson and the good people of Bayelsa State on the successful completion of the Bayelsa International Airport.

    “While we look forward to the official inauguration of the airport, we have no doubt that the airport will contribute significantly to the economy of Bayelsans as it will also make access to air transport services closer to Bayelsans.

    “The socioeconomic implication of the commencement of commercial flights in and out of Bayelsa airport is the creation of more jobs, more revenue generated as well as increased turnover for hoteliers, airport taxi operators and other ancillary businesses at the airport, it’s indeed a new dawn for Bayelsans”.

    Okowa said he was particularly happy Governor Dickson achieved the feat on the 7th anniversary of his restoration administration in Bayelsa State, adding that the people did not make any mistake in returning him to office when they massively voted for his second term.