February 14, 2013 | 12:56
am
News
By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa — Governor
Seriake Dickson of Bayels
State, yesterday, assented to
the bill passed by the state
House of Assembly,
prescribing death sentence
for the offence of
kidnapping in the state.
Tagged Bayelsa State
Kidnapping and Allied
Offences Bill 2013, it
empowers the governor to
accent to the death warrant
of any person or group of
persons convicted for the act
of kidnapping and other
related offences in the state.
Dickson, in Yenagoa, during
the signing of the Bill into
law, warned those involved
in acts of kidnapping to stay
clear of the state because he
would not hesitate to sign
their death warrant.
*Gov Seriake Dickson
*Gov Seriake Dickson
He said: “If you are involved
in any act of kidnapping, let
me warn you today, don’t
come near Bayelsa. We have
put measures in place. I have,
commissioned 15 fast
moving patrol boats for use
by our security forces to
ensure maritime security and
safety.
“If you try that, whether it is
sea-piracy or kidnapping, we
are going to get you. We will
make it difficult for you to
succeed and whoever you
are and wherever you are
operating from, we are
going to get you.
“I am aware that the security
agencies have made several
arrests and most of the
young men and women,
who are involved in the
recent kidnappings that took
place are currently in
custody.
“Any of them found guilty of
the offence will be dealt with
in accordance with the law.
Today, with this bill having
been signed into law, we
have entered a new phase in
terms of the provision of the
legal framework that will
support our fight against
kidnapping and related
offences.
“It is morally indefensible for
young people, for whatever
reason, to go under the
cover of darkness, armed
with illegal weapons, to
terrorise villages and old
people in their homes and
then forcefully abduct and
rough handle old people and
take them as an article of
trade.”
…. To inaugurate BDIC
Board
Minister of Petroleum, Mrs.
Diezani Allison-Madueke,
Professor Edmund Daukoru
and other notable dignitaries
have been appointed into
the board of Bayelsa
Development and Investment
Corporation, BDIC, which will
be inaugurated today by
Bayelsa State governor, Mr.
Seriake Dickson.
The inauguration of the BDIC
Advisory Board, according to
a statement by the Chief
Press Secretary to the
Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-
Markson, is aimed at
repositioning the economy
of the state and ensure
diversification from oil and
gas sector of the economy.
The statement added that
the move was in fulfillment
of Governor Dickson’s vision
of diversifying the state’s
economy beyond oil and gas,
coupled with his drive to
stimulate private sector
participation and the need to
attract capital, both local and
foreign. It said that this
informed the
administration’s initiative to
send a Bill to the state House
of Assembly establishing the
Bayelsa Development And
Investment Corporation,
BDIC.
Members of the committee
are: Governor Seriake
Dickson, Ambassador
Lawrence Ekpebu, Chief
Duate Iyabi, Chief Ayakeme
Massah, King Amalate Johnny
Turner, King Edmund
Daukoru, Ambassador
Godknows Igali, Chief Francis
Doukpola, Dr. Daru Owei, Air
Vice Marshall Samuel Atti (rtd)
,Ambassador Emmanuel
Otiotio, Mrs. Diezani Allison-
Maduaeke, HRM King Alfred
Diete- Spiff, among others.