Taraba is fully atikulated. PDP...POWER.

KEEP THE GOOD FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY GOING OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.

What ever you say doesnt stop us from voting the right man.. we are all Nigerians and a family and Atiku is here to unite us. stick to him and save yourself the economical and emotional stress this present administration has brought on us and our country.
WE STILL LOVE ATIKU LIKE THAT AND WE ARE READY TO JOIN HIM TO #GetNigeriaWorkingAgain

While Sylva accused Dickson of plotting fake negative news reports to discredit Abba Kyari, Nigeria's Chief of Staff, Aso Rock and other officials of the presidency with the intent of linking him (Sylva) to the reports, Dickson on the other hand, referred to Sylva as an "unpopular and desperate politician whose conscience remains his greatest threat".

The political strife between Timipre Sylva, erstwhile Governor of Bayelsa State and Seriake Dickson, the incumbent Governor of the state, has taken a new dimension with the duo renewing their frequent resorting to name-calling.

While Sylva accused Dickson of plotting fake negative news reports to discredit Abba Kyari, Nigeria's Chief of Staff, and other officials of the presidency with the intent of linking him (Sylva) to the reports, Dickson, on the other hand, referred to Sylva as an "unpopular and desperate politician whose conscience remains his greatest threat".

A statement by Julius Bokoro, spokesman to Sylva, read: “The Dickson government has been built on layers of empty propaganda that he has sustained with robotic consistency. His habitually high-sounding claims and promises have not produced tangible results to uplift the people he has impoverished for close to eight years.

“Having pursued efforts to discredit Sylva as his best public policy since assuming office in February 2012, to no avail, Dickson has now settled for a dangerous fake news campaign, the be-all and end-all of hazardous publicity stunts, to try to cover his mess in power and give himself a soft-landing. But, as usual, he has failed from the start.

“Unknown to Dickson, what the people of Bayelsa State need are imaginative economic strategies and tangible deliverables, not glib publicity stunts. At the national level, Sylva unmistakably and unequivocally emphasises that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is one he, along with other patriots, helped install in 2015.

He is all too enthusiastic to repeat this gesture come this February. Sylva is not in the business of unhelpful, petty rivalries in this same government, as the darkest side of Dickson's generally dark imagination is dreaming to manufacture."

On his part, Fidelis Soriwei, Special Adviser, Media Relations to Dickson, said Sylva cuts the "gnawing image of a troubled man screaming and fleeing at the sight of nobody".
The statement by Soriwei read:
"This type of report falls short of the standard of a story that should command a place in our respected media space. Somebody of the exalted status of a former Governor is crying wolf where there is none and hallucinating that the Governor reputed to be his political nemesis is after him. The point to note is that the Governor is too busy with the execution of the mandate given to him by Bayelsans in place of Sylva to be bothered by anticipated clashes between Sylva and the President’s Chief of Staff.
This comic claim by Sylva and his minion is a classic example of the wicked on flight at the sight of nobody. The fact is that Sylva is so scared and intimidated by the shadow of Dickson, that his nightmares about him occur in the day time."

Sylva had ruled Bayelsa under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2007 and 2012, and later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014. He was APC's governorship candidate in the 2015 election and lost to Dickson.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/11/dickson-sylva-exchange-verbal-jabs-bayelsa“

SHAGARI: DICKSON LEADS IJAW DELEGATION TO CONDOLE WITH SULTAN, TAMBUWAL
...DECRIES UNDERDEVELOPMENT ÒF NIGER DELTA
...SOKOTO GOV URGES NIGERIANS TO VOTE OUT APC IN FEBRUARY

The Governor òf Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, on Thursday, led a high powered delegation of top Ijaw leaders and traditional rulers to condole with the Sultan òf Sokoto and the Government and people of Sokoto State on the death of former President Shehu Shagari.

Dickson described Shagari as a great statesman and leader who belonged to the generation of leaders who designed a progressive alliance between the North and the South South especially the Ijaw nation which was mutually beneficial in the interest of the country.

The Governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that Shagari would be remembered for his uncommon capacity for inclusive and responsive governance and the roads and bridges he built in the Niger Delta as President.

However, the Governor said that it had become necessary for the productive alliance between the North and the Ijaws who are indigenous to the six coastal states òf Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Ondo to be reworked in order to sustain its mutual benefits.

He said that the alliance should be adjusted and refocused to prevent the neglect of the Niger Delta and the indiscriminate sacking of qualified citizens of the area from their positions.

He stressed that the Ijaw people deserved better treatment having made sustained efforts and great sacrifices for the development and stability of the Nigerian Federation.

He said, ‘We in the Ijaw nation can still point at legacies, left behind by the administration of our late leader and father, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, which are products of this historic, productive alliance.

“Roads that needed to be built were built, bridges that others did not want to understand the need to build were constructed, appointments that were needed to be made to deserving sons and daughters were made.

“In the old rivers state, we had a Minister òf Finance, a Minister òf Works in his administration. We had GMD NNPC, we had so many things, everything we needed.

“The Ijaw nation is by this visit reminding the leadership of the North of our historic alliance which has served our nation, our people and the need for us to go back to it, renew it, deepen it, and rework it so that never again do we have a situation, where we have Ijaw sons and daughters thrown out of offices.

“Never again do we have a situation where you have development abandoned in Ijaw nation, in this great country that our people have made great sacrifices to build, a nation that we are making great sacrifices for, never again are we left out where there are key decisions are to be made.”

In his remarks, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state said that the APC lacked the capacity to actualize the nation’s desire for greatness.

He called on the electorates to vote only for leaders with the requisite capacity to govern and the desire to promote the welfare of the people.

“Nigeria must work again, despite the fact that those who are there today, probably never understand and share the dynamics of Nigeria of today.

"They don't understand and not ready to practice what we called inclusivity in governance.

"As President of Nigeria, I believe you need to bring everybody together and worked together as a nation.

"By the grace of God, our party shall returns to power in February, 2019 to restore hope for the country.”

The delegation included HRM King Alfred Diette-Spiff, HRM King Luke, King Uwaba, Former Minister òf Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas, AVM Larry Koiyan, the President òf the Ijaw National Congress, Professor Joseph Ayenka, the Chairman, Bayelsa Council òf Elders, Chief Francis Kpakula, Former Director General òf the Department òf State Services, Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, Former Minister òf Police Affairs, Mr. Broderick Bozimo, and Former Permanent Secretary Ministry òf Power, Ambassador God knows Igali.

The delegation earlier visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, and Shagari family where they were received by received by the eldest son, Alhaji Bala Shagari.

The Sultan while thanking the delegation when he received them in his palace also used the opportunity to is the first to condole with Governor Dickson, on the death of his mother, Ma Goldcoast Dickson.

YENAGOA — BAYELSA State Government, yesterday, said it realised N13.6 billion as its annual Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, for last year as against the N4.5 billion realised in 2012.

State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (retd) disclosed this in Government House, Yenagoa during the monthly transparency briefing for November and December 2018.

He attributed the improvement in the state IGR level to prudent and painstaking measures put in place by Governor Serienke Dickson-led administration to boost the revenue profile of the state in the last seven years. Jonah said the current administration was still not satisfied with the current IGR, and, therefore, poised to intensify its revenue drive particularly in the area of tax collection.

His words: “Our target was to take care of half of the salary obligations from tax receipts. We have not been able to meet that target, but we have been able to make real progress. “We are intensifying efforts as our tax drive is still going on. If we can increase the IGR level, even if the allocation from the federal level falls very low, we should be able to pay salaries without any stress.”


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/bayelsa-generates-n13-6bn-igr-in-2018/

Two persons, on Sunday, were shot dead along Onuebum-Otuogori road in Ogbia council area of Bayelsa State.
The deceased identified as Mr. Lagos Gift and his driver Christopher Etima were suspected to have been killed by kidnappers.
According to investigations the two were said to be on their way to pay ransom for a kidnapped relative when they killed.
The suspected kidnappers believed to be monitoring the movement of the deceased from when they took off in Yenagoa were said to have shot them dead at close range.
Security sources said they were killed on the suspicions that they had leaked information to security agents of plans to pay ransom.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Asinim Butswat who confirmed the incident said the Police had begun a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers.

Butswat who assured residents of Bayelsa state that the Police command is on top of security situation in the state said a crack team of detectives have been deployed to the scene of the incident.

He said, “On 16/12/2018, at about 0100 hrs one Lagos Godgift (m) and his driver Christopher Etima (m) went to pay ransom to kidnappers at Onuebum, but they were murdered by the suspected kidnappers at Onuebum. The scene was visited and the two corpses deposited at FMC Morgue Yenagoa. The Black Toyota Sequoia Jeep with Registration Number LAGOS EKY 382 CZ was removed to Kolo Divisional Headquarters. The command has launch a manhunt for the kidnappers.”

https://www.today.ng/news/metro/gunmen-shoot-dead-bayelsa-180149

The Bayelsa Government has advocated the need for the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to allocate more funds to states.

The government justified its position by saying that states required more funds than the Federal Government to enable them to tackle developmental challenges.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to Bayelsa Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (Rtd) made this known when members of the Commission led by Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed Sokoto paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Yenagoa.

He also stressed the need for devolution of some responsibilities from the federal government to states to reflect the practice of true federalism.

Jonah also acknowledged that such issues are constitutional and hoped that hey would be achieved in the near future.
On the use of land mass as major parameters for revenue sharing, Jonah, urged the Commission to accord special consideration to Bayelsa State, which he said, was grappling with development challenges in view of its difficult terrain.

“When you talk about land mass as criteria for revenue sharing, we get disadvantaged to some point because Bayelsa is predominantly a riverine state.

“Development in this area is challenging because of the difficult terrain. That is why we are clamoring for more revenue allocation to tackle development efforts.

“The airport we have just finished constructing and waiting for commissioning, the state government pumped a huge amount of sand into that area before we could create land for its construction.

“So whatever thing that can be done to lighten the burden on us arising out of our natural location will be welcome,” Jonah said
He also called for fairness, justice and equity among all Nigerians, lamenting that Bayelsa is yet to receive any support from the National Emergency Management Agency in spite of the fact that it was declared a disaster area during the recent flooding.

“On the 4.18% revenue, which the Federal Government holds in trust, it is believed that all of us have equal access to that fund.
“I want to put on record that in the devastating flood that necessitated the evacuation of many communities in the state, we were also declared a disaster zone.

“We were expecting that NEMA would draw from this 4.18%. Apart from some donor agencies and efforts from the state government, we didn’t get anything up till today.
“And these are the things that make people start feeling cheated. It’s a national team and every person should be treated fairly and once justice is done, the sky is the limit for this country,” Jonah said.

Earlier in his remarks, leader of the delegation, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed said members of the Commission were visiting states, the FCT and local governments to verify data provided by them.

The authenticated data would be used to fashion out a new revenue allocation sharing formula.
Mohammed noted that the Commission would come up with a new revenue-sharing formula early next year.
According to him, the 1999 constitution as amended empowers the Commission to undertake a periodic review of the sharing formula, which he noted was long overdue.

He explained that the current revenue sharing formula stands at 48.5% for Federal Government, 26.7% for states, local governments, 20.6% while 4.18% of the total amount is set aside to address emergency situations by the Federal Government.

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/177827/

Bayelsa Drug Trade Fair Tagged “Bayelsa Pharmaceutical Exhibition 2019” at the State Drug Distribution Centre in Yenagoa restated 

the commitment of his administration’s to improved public health and services to the people at the two-day exhibition which had over forty companies from Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna in attendance.


https://tvcnews.tv/2018/12/bayelsa-govt-organizes-trade-fair-to-promote-wholesome-drugs/

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, and the Management of the Niger Delta University have hailed the appointment of former Acting Director General òf the Department òf State Services, Mr. Mathew Seiyefa, as Pro Chancellor of the University.

The Government’s Spokesman and the Vice Chancellor òf the NDU, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, said that the appointment was designed to properly reposition the foremost institution in the state as a first class institution of global reckoning.

Iworiso-Markson said that the State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, decided to appoint the former DSS boss in a bid to put the university on a solid pedestal to compete with top universities across the globe in the production of First Class graduates.

According to the Government’s Spokesman, the Vice Chancellor, the institution’s management and indeed the entire Bayelsa citizenry desirous òf the development of the school celebrated the emergence Seiyefa as the new Pro Chancellor òf the University in view of his record of performance as a public servant.

According to him, Seiyefa who got to the pinnacle of his career before he retired as the Acting Director General of the DSS in September, 2018, was expected to deploy his vast experience, exposure, managerial skills, keen appreciation of the dynamics of governance to reposition the NDU.

He said that Seiyefa who enlisted into the defunct National Security Organization In 1984, also occupied command positions of the DSS in Osun, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Ekiti, Oyo has Ekiti State in addition to being severally appointed as a director in the critical Directorate of Intelligence and Operations.

He recalled that the former DSS boss was also Director in charge of the Institute of Security Studies from 2015 to 2018 where his leadership qualities, uncommon visibility, and intellectual depth took the Institute to new heights until his appointment as Acting Director-General of the Service in August, 2018.

The new NDU Pro Chancellor attended “various professional and strategic courses locally and abroad, including Public Policy Analysis (Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, Badagry, Lagos), Strategic Leadership course (National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, leading to the award of mni) and International Leadership Course (Harvard University, Boston, USA).”

Also, the VC òf the NDU said that the appointment would no doubt strengthen the NDU as a foremost institution with the objective to play frontline role in university education in Nigeria.

Dr. Jennifer Atiku Abubakar, wife of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar paid her condolence visit to His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson over the death of his mother Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson whose sad event took place on the 8th of August and would be laid to rest on the 8th of December 2018 in Angiama, Patani, Delta State.



She was so perplexed with her words as she got her message across Bayelsans not to be worried of anything because our mother has given us what would have been deprived of if she had never existed (Seriake Dickson).



The Visit was not just a visit but an inspirational visit which brought most despair minds to the center of their realization of not losing a hope for a second.



May mama soul rest in perfect peace

The Federal Government on Tuesday said it would embark on the survey of persons with disabilities in the federal civil service.
Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Permanent Secretary, service welfare department in the office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), made the disclosure in Yenagoa at the opening session of the 2018 meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.
She said the plan was to give them priority attention and enable them to participate maximally toward national development.
The three days event is tagged, “Sustainable industrial harmony in the public sector: An imperative for achieving the Federal Government’s change agenda for national development.”
She explained that programme which between government and the Public Service Trade Unions was to examine critical matters bordering on the welfare and conditions of service of workers.
According to Walson-Jack, the essence of the survey of persons with disabilities is to enable those with disabilities participate maximally in all service activities.
“People with disabilities are a vulnerable group which office of the head of the civil service of the Federation wishes to integrate and give priority attention.
“The head of the civil service of the federation has approved a survey of people with disabilities in the federal civil service.
“The survey is to be launched on December 3, 2018, to mark the international day of people with disabilities in public service with a view to identifying their needs and ensuring their full inclusion in service activities,” she stated.
She further disclosed that the HCSF has initiated the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Scheme (FISH) programme to serve as the flagship programme of the office, which has the mandate of providing quality and affordable housing for civil servants.
Walson-Jack said that plans were also underway to establish a reward and recognition system in the federal civil service as motivation for workers.
She said that it would serve as one of the measures to encourage their productivity for more efficient and effective service delivery.
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa while declaring the event open, pledged to support and encouraged workers in the state through better welfare packages in order to promote industrial harmony.
Dickson stressed the need for sustainable industrial harmony for nation-building.


https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/federal-government-survey-persons-disabilities-civil-service-174440

2019: POLITICIZATION OF SECURITY AGENCIES, GREATEST THREAT TO NIGERIA’s STABILITY - DICKSON, CLARK
...SAY THEY ARE NOW EXTENSION OF APC

Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, and the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, have raised the alarm over the increasing abuse of security agencies by the ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress, and the Federal Government.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Governor Dickson and the Elder Statesman as raising the concern when Pa Clark paid him a condolence visit on the death of his mother, Ma Goldcoast Dickson, in Abuja, on Friday.

The governor said Nigerians were deeply worried about the conduct of the security agencies across in the country.

According to him, the security agencies were disturbingly metamorphosing into an extension of the ruling party, the APC, ahead of the 2019 general election.

Governor Dickson condemned the recent assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, and the police invasion of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

He described the action of the police authorities, who sealed off the House òf Assembly, as an assault on the democratic order, which he said should not be encouraged.

Dickson stated further that the recent posting of eight police commissioners to Bayelsa State within a shockingly short period of three months only showed a sinister plot to destabilize the peace, security and stability of the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He called on the relevant authorities and the security agencies to conduct themselves in a way that would promote the nation’s democracy rather than putting it in jeopardy.

“We are all concerned about the conduct of security agencies ahead of the 2019 general elections. In fact, all lovers of Nigeria and democracy are concerned about the conduct of the security agencies.

“The agencies have become an extension of the ruling party, which should not be. The abuse of the security forces constitute a threat to the security, democracy and stability of the country.

“I condemn the recent assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu. It is totally reprehensible.

“I also condemn the invasion of the Akwa Ibom State House òf Assembly. It was a desecration of the democratic order.

“In Bayelsa, we have had no fewer than eight police commissioners in the last three months. It won’t take you long to know that there is a sinister game going on to destabilize and create instability in the state that we have worked so hard to stabilize. We urge the security agencies to conduct themselves in a way that would stabilize democracy.

“The greatest challenge we have ahead of the 2019 election is the conduct of the security agencies. That is the concern of all well-meaning Nigerians.
Politicians and people in government need to know that there is a country to govern after elections.

“Let us not in the quest for election, destroy these critical agencies of state and the career and reputation of these officials. When you politicize these agencies, you threaten the careers of these people who are professionals in their own right,” Governor Dickson said.

Governor Dickson warned against subjecting control of security agencies to non-state actors in the country.

Speaking also, Pa E.K Clark condemned the erratic transfer of eight police commissioners to Bayelsa State in three months.

He said that he was not surprised at the conduct of the police as they recently invaded his house in Abuja even at his age of 91 in a purported search for arms.

He cautioned a former governor of Bayelsa, who is a Chieftain òf the APC, who he accused of being behind the instigation of the politics in police postings to the state to stop making himself a laughing stock.


https://www.facebook.com/bayelsanewmedia/posts/2112779852108141?__tn__=K-R

Some prominent Nigerians poured encomiums on the former governor of old Anambra State,Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, as he celebrated 80 years.

Ezeife
Speakers who spoke Tuesday night during a special event organised by the octogenarian in Abuja, paid glowing tributes to the elder statesman, who they said lived an exemplary life.

Former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Charles Soludo, who was the chairman of the occasion, described the celebrant as an icon, who many Nigerians have looked up to.



According to him, Chief Ezeife left an indelible mark in the sand of time, adding that he had spent the greater part of his life working for good governance and humanity.

Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, also speaking at the event, held at International Conference Centre, Abuja, hailed Ezeife for living his life in the service of humanity.

On his part, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State described the politician as a pride to not just Igbo but entire Nigeria, saying the 80-year-old had impacted many lives in Nigeria and beyond meaningfully, urging the young generation to emulate him.

Former chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, described Ezeife as a man who had spent most of his time working for the unity of the country.

Roll call

Others present at the event were Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Kingsley Nnaemeka Achebe; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige; Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonaya Onu; Senator Uche Ekwunife, Senator Ben Obi, Governor Obiano, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Deputy governor of Enugu State, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, and Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, among others.



http://news.bestnaira.com/posts/view/dickson-obi-soludo-others-celebrate-ezeife-at-80

YENAGOA—AS the exchange of tirades between All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP-led government in Bayelsa State continues, the PDP has alleged that the office of the Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mukan, has become an annex of the APC.

Dickson

We left APC because of unkept promises – Alaibe
Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Mr. Moses Cleopas, said the leaders of APC in the state have now made the office of the Police Commissioner their operational base.

But the APC, reacting yesterday through its State Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, said the PDP had taken what it described as its phobia to an alarming level.
The PDP Chairman said the alleged conversion of the office of the Commissioner of Police to the security wing of the APC was the first manifestation of the political mission of the CP, Joseph Mukan, in Bayelsa.

He said: “We made it clear to Nigerians a few days ago that this Police Commissioner was posted to Bayelsa to intimidate PDP supporters to join APC and destabilise the security of the state for political purposes ahead of the 2019 elections.
“This unholy alliance is fueling the upsurge of activities of cultists in the state.

“Since he was posted to Bayelsa State, his office has become an annex of the APC headquarters as members of the party have relocated to the command to plan how to destabilise the state by weakening its security.

“Nigerians should note that this Commissioner of Police has been transferred to Bayelsa State for the third time, and we as a party, wonder why the commissioner out of many in this country, is the preferred Commissioner for Bayelsa.”


http://news.bestnaira.com/posts/view/bayelsa-pdp-alleges-apcs-collusion-with-cp-to-destabilise-security

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa says the ‘astronomical’ rise in the cost of the Bayelsa Cargo Airport from N40 to N80 billion is worrisome and a waste of public funds.
The APC said that the reaction of Bayelsa Government to its allegation on the project was a failed attempt to divert attention from obvious lack of fiscal discipline and prudence by the state government.


The party said that “serious issues of accountability, due process and democratic governance” raised in its Nov. 15 statement regarding the airport project was never addressed.
Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, the APC Publicity Secretary in Bayelsa, said in a statement in Yenagoa on Monday that the state government had carefully avoided the critical concerns raised by the party.


The party said that by the diversionary response, the Dickson government had only confirmed the allegation, stressing that “Governor Dickson is guilty as charged.”
The APC had criticized the Bayelsa Government for borrowing from the money market at the current high-interest rate and described it as a ploy to siphon public funds.


It alleged that the high interest of N62 billion to be paid on the N80 billion loan would stifle the state of funds through the monthly repayment obligations in the next eight years.
It said that the project lacked vital intermodal network for easy accessibility.


The APC said that the N80 billion project was inflated and described it as “clearly the most expensive airport project in Nigeria.”
Buokoribo said that Bayelsa Government’s response was silent on the economic viability of funding such a capital-intensive project from the money market at huge interest rates.

“The Bayelsa State Government’s reaction to our statement of Nov. 15, 2018, on the Bayelsa Airport scam did not address any of the issues we raised. This is unfortunate but understandable.
“Unfortunate because the government is attempting to divert the attention of the Bayelsa populace from the serious issues of accountability, due process, and democratic governance.


“These concerns underscore our party’s intervention. We said the airport project is a fraud. We said at more than N80 billion, it is grossly inflated.

“We said the airport project is a deliberate cover by Gov. Seriake Dickson to launder state’s funds. We have no reason whatsoever to change our well-thought-out position.

“Rather than address the concerns we raised, Gov. Dickson, through his Information Commissioner, chose to abuse our party and its leaders.
“The APC is a party of serious-minded people. We are not in competition with anyone as to who will emerge best in exchange of insults and abuse. We are focused on a better life for all the people of Bayelsa State,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Bayelsa Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, had during an inspection tour of the airport in August, put the cost at N90 billion.
In his reaction, Iworiso-Markson said the past administration in the state failed to give the people the desperately needed international airport between 2007 and 2011.

Iworiso-Markson said that the Gov. Timipriye Syla-led administration (now in APC) failed to build an airport in spite of the huge resources at the disposal of his administration.
According to him, the past administration used what should have been a laudable idea of an airport project to milk the state and siphoned billions of naira into private pockets.

The commissioner challenged the APC to tell Bayelsa people and Nigerians what the former governor did with N300 billion agriculture loan the state took from the World Bank.

According to him, the past administration also frittered away the N3 billion Millennium Development Goal (MDG) funds made available to the state and foisted a bond obligation of N125 billion on the state.



https://tsb.com.ng/2018/11/n80bn-bayelsa-airport-apc-kicks-over-outrageous-inflated-amount/?fbclid=IwAR2mddUxCF0NEEsfsYSAGN6vRxRhKW1KWPauY4mV8UORzYlHJshfqn6QeuE

The

BRRR:
Really?

The truth is the APC administration is not the best option for the people of this country

The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the state airport project being undertaken by the Seriake Dickson administration as a “cesspit of fraud”.

Doifie Buokoribo, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Bayelsa State, made the allegation in a statement, saying that the project “is a fraudulent scheme put up by Governor Seriake Dickson to facilitate the syphoning of state funds”
Buokoribo said the cargo airport project has no economic value to the state and that the total cost has been over bloated.
He said the governor borrowed N40 billion from a bank to begin work on the project, but the same governor, during a visit to Amassoma community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, told the people that the sum of N80 billion has so far been spent on the project.

Buokoribo said the N80 billion loan, when added to the N32 billion interest it will accrue, “the cost comes to N112 billion”.
“It is clearly the most expensive airport project in Nigeria, as none of the 26 owned by the Federal Government or the eight owned by States is near that figure,” the statement read.
“The Bayelsa International Airport project does not make any economic sense. A total interest of N32 billion (to be serviced within eight years) is a crippling repayment burden to the State.”
The Bayelsa APC spokesman further alleged that the conceptualization of the Airport was faulty as it leaves the airport without a standard road network or connecting rail system.
Dickson responds
In a statement forwarded to the ICIR on Friday by the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Information, Daniel Iworiso-Mackson, the state government said: “it would only take a band of unconscionable political desperadoes to criticize the well conceptualized and effectively executed Bayelsa International Airport”.

He urged the public to disregard the APC which, according to him was being manipulated by Timipre Sylva, former Governor of the State.
However, Iworiso-Mackson did not address any of the allegations raised in the APC statement.
The Bayelsa Cargo airport was scheduled to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in August this year, as announced by the State Government in July, but that did not happen.
At the time, the airport was said to be 95 per cent completed, as the runway and terminal were already in place.
How much does a new airport cost?

The ICIR does not know the total cost of the Bayelsa Airport project. Calls to Iworiso-Mackson were not answered, and when a text message sent to him asking for the information, he simply referred to the press statement already quoted above.
However, in April this year, the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, told a joint National Assembly committee that it would cost an upward of N67 billion to construct a second runway for the Abuja International Airport.
It is not clear how long the proposed new runway will be, but the Bayelsa Airport runway is said to 3.5 kilometers long. Assuming the new Abuja airport runway will be the same distance as that of Bayelsa, the cost could be higher given the location.
In April 2017, the Prime Minister of Dominica Republic, Roosevelt Skerrit, said it would cost the country $220 million to construct a new international airport. That is about N67.1 billion, using the official rate of N305 to $1.
According to African aerospace. aero, several airport projects are springing up across Africa, each estimated to gulp hundreds of millions of dollars.
Rwanda is constructing the Bugesera International Airport at $818 million, the construction to split the Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, into two phases, is expected to cost $560 million, Tanzania’s new US$300 million terminal is due to open in June 2019, while the Zambian government is planning to spend US$500 million in airport construction projects in Lusaka.



https://www.icirnigeria.org/bayelsa-airport-project-is-a-fraud-state-apc-attacks-seriake-dickson/

...Advocates Revival of Inter-School Sports Competition To Foster Peace, Unity

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John -Jonah on Thursday advocated the need for governments at all levels and the private sector to encourage more youth participation in sporting activities, particularly at the grassroots level, towards fostering peace and unity in the country.

Rear Admiral John -Jonah made the plea, when the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Sunny Obot presented the Torch of Unity for the 19th National Sports Festival to him at the Peace Park in Yenagoa.

He said the move would not only nurture the innate talents of the teeming youths but will also enable them to channel their energies to positive ventures, build friendships and bridges of unity across the country.

Describing sports as a unifying factor and a money spinner all over the world, the Deputy Governor expressed concern over the dwindling fortunes of inter-schools sports festivals in the country and stressed the need to revive it.

Rear Admiral John-Jonah assured the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports of the state's preparedness to fully participate in the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Abuja scheduled to take place from the 6th to 16th of December, 2018.

His words: "When we were part of Rivers state and when we had inter-schools sports competition in Port Harcourt, it was a very big carnival and it was always very exciting. So sports has been a very good unifying factor in this country and everywhere. It is actually a thing of concern for all of us that this is not happening and so we should be very glad that it is coming back to us."

In his remarks, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Sunny Obot, said the presentation of the Torch of Unity to the state government was in recognition of Bayelsa's excellent performance in producing Olympic and African champions, as well as to invite the state to participate in the 19th national sports festival.

Mr. Obot, who noted that the torch of unity signifies peace, was flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 1st of last month and has since been going around the geopolitical zones of the country.

He explained that the National Sports Festival has come to stay to promote peace and stability in all states of the federation.

Also in his contribution, the state's Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr. Prekiye Buruboyefe, expressed the preparedness of the state's athletes to compete in the Festival, stating that, although the athletes were expected to be in camp last week Monday, he assured that they would go into camp soon.

Well, I want to thank you, you know the sport is an everyday thing. Whether we like it or not we have been preparing our athletes from day one to this minute, it is important we stay in camp but the fact that we are not in camp doesn't make that we are not prepared.

We are more or less like soldiers prepared for war anytime. Yes, we are doing all we can to ensure that, under normal circumstances, we are to be in camp from last Monday but things don't always work the way we want.

Be that as it may, we are hoping we are going into camp very soon and we assure you that we are very prepared.

We are not God like I said but I expect that we will be among the top 5”


https://www.facebook.com/bayelsanewmedia/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARBcQpdI0bolUeY-gAQs--HaF17UKMlGG4cQ2BNdrzu5aIGfBhGLbqiecSU0gzrbqzxxbH3UYOCbEhUg&hc_ref=ARR_exlrvW61Bic__AEoGgIccs

YENAGOA—TRA-DITIONAL rulers and chiefs from various communities of Bayelsa State are set to meet today over rising cases of cult attacks and violent crimes in some parts of the state.

Poverty eradication: DRC visits Kogi, to understudy YESSO, SIP programs success story
The meeting, which is being organised by the Institute for Niger Delta Studies in collaboration with the Association of Rural Chiefs Peace and Development Initiative, is expected to deliberate on increase in sale of illicit drugs to underaged youths, misuse of illicit drugs, human rights abuses, and hiring of youths for violence during elections in the state.
Labour again shun meeting with FG on minimum wage
The meeting is tagged One Day Stakeholders Dialogue on Peace, Security, and Election Matters in Bayelsa.

http://news.bestnaira.com/posts/view/bayelsa-traditional-rulers-meet-over-insecurity

The Bayelsa State Government has condemned in strong terms the murder of a 100-level student of the state-owned Niger Delta University, Miss Seiyefa Fred, by a suspected gang of cultists.
The state commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, described the murder of Seiyefa as shocking, reprehensible and unacceptable.

He said that the government would do everything to ensure that those who perpetrated the dastardly act were fished out and brought to justice.

The commissioner said that the government was elected primarily to bring peace, security, development and stability to the state and would not condone the murder of innocent people.

Iworiso-Markson urged the people of the state to be united as the government intensifies efforts to rid Bayelsa of cultists and criminal elements, who place no value on human life.

He said that the government is in touch with the police authorities in the state whose men had commenced immediate investigation to unravel those behind the heinous act.

The government’s spokesman also called on the people to volunteer relevant information to the police and relevant agencies on the activities of the miscreants involved in all manner of criminalities in the state.

He said, “The government of Bayelsa received with shock, the gruesome murder of a 100-level student of the Niger Delta University by people suspected to be cultists on a robbery mission.

“The government condemns with all vehemence, this collective assault on our humanity as a people and would do all within our power to address this provocative act.

“Government calls for the cooperation of all our citizens in the days ahead as deliberate efforts would be made to go after those who have declared war on our peace and security.

“This is a task that would involve everybody. We all need to take responsibility for our collective security.

“We must all collectively condemn this and rise up to confront these criminal gangs terrorising our neighborhoods. The perpetrators are not spirits; they live among us. Let us not be silent.

Let’s not be afraid or shy away from reporting them because it could be anybody.

“Government commiserates with the family of the late Seiyefa and assures that the killers would not go unpunished.”



https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/bayelsa-government-condemns-killing-ndu-student-yenagoa-169693

Ahead of 2019 general elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to foist siege mentality on Bayelsa state.

Describing it as security infringement, PDP warned Buhari-led federal government and the APC to immediately steer clear of Bayelsa state as their continued onslaught and siege on the state would spell doom on the nation.

Addressing newsmen at a world press conference, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, explained that “it is no longer news that the APC, for obvious reasons, has been bent on forcefully taking over the control of oil rich Bayelsa and other littoral states, for which it now seeks to turn them into theatres of war, with the support of certain individuals in control of federal apparatus of power.

“Today, the PDP and the people of Bayelsa state are being pushed to the wall as with the on-going plot by the APC and the Buhari Presidency to bully the people of Bayelsa and politically annex the state, by the use of crude force.”

The party alerted Nigerians of “the current design to use security agencies, particularly the police to browbeat the people, foist a siege mentality on the state, trigger confusion and violence; then create an impression of security emergency with a view to use such as justification for a coordinated invasion, attack and annexing of political structures of the state for President Buhari and the APC ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“In the bid to forcefully seize control of Bayelsa state, the APC is attempting to convert the Police into its violent militant wing, leading to the violations of rules of engagement and putting security agencies on a collision course with the people despite potential bloody consequences.

“It may interest Nigerians to know that, in its desperation, the APC has directly influenced the Inspector General of Police into posting eight different Commissioners of Police to Bayelsa state within the space of the last three months just to destabilize the state.

“Some of the Police Commissioners spent less than a week before being pulled out of the state by the police authorities that have unfortunately acceded to the demands of the APC on the deployment of police chiefs to Bayelsa State.”

PDP spokesman pointed out that the change of guard is part of the plan to compromise security architecture of the state and by extension rig the election for President Buhari in 2019.

“This alarming change of guard of Police hierarchy in Bayelsa state is part of the devious plot to compromise the security architecture of the state, orchestrate security uncertainty, instil fear and siege mentality on residents and then seize the political structure in the state so as to pave way for massive rigging for President Buhari and the APC in the 2019 general elections.

“We are privy to the fact that some of the Police Commissioners were changed due to their failures to infiltrate the firm resolve of the people to remain peaceful and determinedly supportive of the development-oriented PDP administration in the state, under Governor Seriake Dickson.”

Ologbondiyan also revealed that the party is aware of series of meetings in Abuja involving certain cabinet ministers, two particular Presidency aides, some APC leaders, some top security officers and certain compromised officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including a close relation of President Buhari, where plots to destabilize Bayelsa state was hatched and orders handed to the police.

“We have documentary evidence of these meetings and will not hesitate to make them public if the APC fails to steer clear of Bayelsa state,” he said.

The fact remains that the APC knows that it cannot win any election in Bayelsa state as well as other littoral states or any PDP state for that matter. As such, it believes that the only way for them is to use security agencies to frighten Nigerians and break their resolve of ahead of the 2019 polls.

Warning that their assault on Bayelsa will definitely attract very terrible consequences, as it will be firmly resisted by the people, head to head, with every means available, accessible and implementable in the defence of democracy, Ologbondiyan called on Nigerians to counsel the IGP, Ibrahim Idris to thread cautiously and protect his office from politicization.

“Bayelsa remains a stronghold of the PDP and this fact is known to all. The Buhari Presidency and the APC should recall that they tried to forcefully take over the state in 2016 with their ‘penetration plan’ but failed woefully. Bayelsa has not altered its status as a stronghold of the PDP and any attempt to disrupt this order has the capacity to trigger a crisis that is capable of sinking our nation’s economic mainstay.

“As we all know, section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) amply provided that no person shall take control of the government of our nation or any part thereof, except in accordance with the democratic provisions of the law. Therefore, we are not ready, in any way, to cede this statutory provision to anybody no matter the threats.”

Ologbondiyan, however, warned that the nation would not be able to survive another unrest in Niger Delta, cautioning INEC officials and all security operatives, particularly the police, not to allow the APC to set them on collision course with Nigerians, as such may not augur well with them, both as institutions and individuals.

“Nigerians must note that our country cannot survive another unrest in the Niger Delta, especially when our security agencies are grappling with the worsening insurgency in the North East and prevailing daily violence and bloodletting in various parts of the country,” he said.



https://www.today.ng/news/politics/2019-pdp-accuses-muhammadu-buhari-apc-foisting-siege-mentality-bayelsa-169551

A new police commissioner has been posted to Bayelsa state; making this the seventh CP posted to the state in less than four months

- The Bayelsa state PDP chairman, Cleopas Moses, protested over the development; stating that the posting of CPs to the state had been politicized - The state governor, Seriake Dickson, also stated that the frequent changes of CPs in the state were geared towards favouring the opposition, ahead of the 2019 general elections Bayelsa state has gotten a new police commissioner, Joseph Mukan, its seventh in less than four months. The development has elicited outrage from top government officials who claim that opposition politicians are influencing the changes. Legit.ng gathers that the new appointment was questioned by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); which noted that it came barely a month after Ebere Onyeagoro was posted to the state as commissioner of police.


In a statement, the Bayelsa state PDP chairman, Cleopas Moses, said the posting of CPs to the state had been politicized. He accused leaders of the opposition in the state of being responsible for the high rate of turnovers of CPs. Moses claimed that their goal was to instill fear in the citizenry and create the impression that the opposition would use security agencies to take over the state in the upcoming elections.

On his part, the state governor, Seriake Dickson, also stated that the frequent changes of CPs in the state were geared towards favouring the opposition, ahead of the 2019 general elections. The public relations officer of the Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, however, stated that Mukan was posted to the state to take over from Onyeagoro, who had been redeployed to the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Abuja, as CP for the Special Fraud Unit. He said: “Until his present posting, Mukan was the commissioner of police, SFU, Force Criminal Investigation, and Intelligence Department, Abuja. He is a disciplinarian and a professional police officer, who has served in various commands and formations in various capacities.”

Butswat further urged the people of the state to support the new CP in the discharge of his duties. Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters deployed a fourth commissioner of police, Austin Iwar, to Bayelsa state in two weeks, seventy-two hours after it settled for Abdulraham Ahmad. Ahmad was believed to have been posted to the state following the power play between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2019 general election, which forced the police headquarters to reverse the initial redeployment of John Mukan and Ahmed Bello, hours after the announcement of their posting to the state was made.



https://www.legit.ng/1202239-bayelsa-pdp-governor-protest-state-receives-7th-police-commissioner-4-months.html

BY recovering the remains of the late retired Major General Idris Alkali in Lafande community in Jos, Plateau State, the Nigerian Army successfully carried out a grim mission to find one of its officers who disappeared on September 3, 2018, on his way from Abuja to Bauchi through Jos.

Missing Army General: Police declare district head, 7 others wanted

General Alkali
The sad story can now be pieced together. Pending any other conclusion that could be drawn by the investigating team based on intelligence at its disposal, it is safe to assume that the recently retired Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army was possibly a victim of circumstance.

According to a press briefing by the General Officer Commanding the Army’s 3rd Armoured Division Jos, Major General Benson Akinroluyo, Alkali had run into an irate mob protesting gunmen’s attack on a shopping complex in Lafande community in Dura-Du area of Jos, with 11 people killed.





Apparently, the mob killed him when he introduced himself as a military officer. They shared his belongings, disposed of his car in a disused mine filled with water and buried his body in a shallow grave.

They later retrieved the body from the grave and dumped it in a well in another location within the area, where the military search team constituted by Army Chief, Lt-General Yusuf Buratai, found and took it away for proper military burial.

We commend the Nigerian Army for the painstaking job it did in the best possible professional tradition. By so doing, the Army lived up to its promise of avoiding the terror tactics of destroying surrounding communities and massacring people indiscriminately when similar ugly incidents took place, as in ODI (Bayelsa State), Zaki-Biam (Benue State) and the handling of Biafra agitators and Shi’ite protesters.

This is obviously a great triumph of intelligence which rarely fails. Now, with the recovery of the body, nothing stops the law enforcement agencies from pursuing those directly implicated in the murder of General Alkali according to the laws of our country to ensure they pay appropriate prices. This should also be done without undue sentiments.

The Federal Government and the armed forces should work harder in the various theatres of security challenges in the country.

The armed and security forces belong to Nigerians. Everything should be done to restore the people’s full confidence in their armed forces.


http://news.bestnaira.com/posts/view/the-late-gen-alkali-and-triumph-of-intelligence

Senior Special Assistant to Delta State Governor on Research, David Akpobolokemi, has called on the Federal Government to proffer a permanent solution to the perennial flooding in the country, especially, the riverine communities.


Akpobolokemi lamented that the destruction caused by flooding annually could better be imagined than experienced, saying that authorities responsible for flood control should come up with plans on how to avoid colossal damages.

Akpobolokemi spoke when he visited communities affected by the flooding in Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, and rendered assistance to displaced persons.

Army begins ‘Operation Crocodile Smile III’ in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, A/Ibom states

He appealed to the government and its relevant authorities to provide protection to the communities in coastal areas and called for donations from individuals and corporate organizations to enable officials of the IDPs to provide adequate services to flood victims.


http://news.bestnaira.com/posts/view/akpobolokemi-tasks-fg-on-solution-to-flooding

The Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonal (rtd), has said the abuse of drugs by youths have complicated security challenges in the country.

John-Jonal stated this on Monday when he received participants of the Course 27 of the Defense College in Yenagoa.

Course 27 has 137 participants, and the theme of the tour is: “Youth Management and National Security.’’

The Deputy Governor noted that the youths were the ready tools used and involved in perpetrating criminal activities because of their low level of education.

“The challenges are becoming more complex because of the use of drugs by young people.

“This is not only in Bayelsa, but the country at large. Those under the influence of drugs are easily misled, and it increases crime rate in the country.

“When the individual is secured, then the society is secured. If we don’t educate our people security challenges will always be there,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Deputy Commandant, Defense College, Maj.-Gen. Peter Dauke, said population is one of the elements of national power, and the youths are a segment of the population.

He said if the youths are not fully engaged it would have negative effects on national security.

“If the youths are properly engaged it will impact on the national security, and if they are not it will have adverse effect.

“It is for this purpose we are visiting Bayelsa State to see things for ourselves, and to see how the youths will be properly engaged,’’ he said.

https://www.facebook.com/BayelsaLegacyProjects/posts/242124996481165

Governor Seriake Dickson on Monday the 24th of September has signed three important bills into law for the betterment of the State.
The bills signed to law are,
1) Medical University Law 2108
2) Corporate Social Responsibility Law 2018
3) New Yenagoa City Development Bill 2018

https://www.facebook.com/BayelsaLegacyProjects/posts/238005150226483

Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has described the recent claim by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, that the state government owes N800 billion, as “pathetic and manifestation of a mind in custody of a raving hallucination”.

Dickson said in a statement on Wednesday, that Lokpobiri’s claim only portrayed his depth of ignorance about governance in the state.

The statement which was made available to newsmen by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. FIdelis Soriwei, said the Governor expressed shock that somebody of the status of a minister could show a demeaning lack of capacity for a simple research to arrive at the truth in the interest of the general good.

The governor described the minister’s claim as a manifestation of the peaking frustration of a diaspora politician who has alienated himself from the state and lacks the capacity to actualize his political dream to govern the state.

The governor urged Bayelsans and indeed the Nigerian citizenry to discountenance the spurious claim contained in the ill-conceived publication by the minister which he said was in conflict with facts and reality.

He referred the minister to a report released by the Debt Management Office in September 2018, which provided in details the debt profile of all the states of the federation as of June 2018.

He stressed that the DMO, the Federal Agency which is the authoritative body on States and Federal government debt profile put the total debts owed by Bayelsa state at N123 billion.

The Governor said that his administration had even ensured repayment of debts incurred by Lokpobiri’s political godfather and leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, in addition to the steady execution of several big ticket projects across Bayelsa.

He said that somebody with an analytical mind would know from the reports of the DMO that Bayelsa debt as at 2007 was N27 billion representing 1.40 percent of the debts by all the state.

He posited that the debt profile of the state rose astronomically by 300 percent as the state alone had 13.0 percent of the total state debts with N162 billion from 2007 to 2012 during the locust years of Sylva.

According to him, the current figure of N123 billion representing 3.54 percent of the total debts owed by the states showed in clear terms a drastic reduction of the debt burden in spite of the recession occasioned by dwindling federal allocation and the execution of high profile projects in the state.

The Governor challenged Lokpobiri to channel his energy into more productive ventures in the interest of Bayelsans who have been denied federal presence because of his lack of influence and interest in the development of his state.

“Lokobiri’s claim that Bayelsa is owing N800 billion is a falsehood that exists in his hallucinating mind. Figures released by the DMO put Bayelsa’s debt at N123 billion.

“These figures include contractual obligations, pension and gratuities, as the major components.

“The Governor wishes to say without equivocation that Bayelsa is not for bloodthirsty cultists and criminal. Lies and bloodletting which are the strongest credential of Lokpobiri cannot create access to political control in our state.

“Lokpobiri has failed to take advantage of his position and supposed contacts in Abuja to attract projects to Bayelsa. He should remain silent as he lacks the moral ground to make any comment on the development of Bayelsa”, the statement added.

https://www.facebook.com/BayelsaLegacyProjects/posts/236901317003533

The Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday said the latest report which indicates that it is among the most fiscally stable states in Nigeria is a confirmation of the frugal nature of the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson led administration.

Bayelsa came behind Rivers and Delta in the report launched on Tuesday in Abuja by BudgiT, a budget transperency advocacy group.

The report which was titled: "2018 State of States" was sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson in a statement said the new Fiscal Sustainability Index published by the group is a true reflection of how the government has managed its finances in the last six years.

Iworiso-Markson while congratulating Governor Dickson for the feat, said unlike some other states, Bayelsa have revved up its internally generated income and slowed down on borrowing to fund key projects.

The mouthpiece of the Bayelsa Government stated that the state clearly passed the assessment module of fiscal stability and ability to cover recurrent expenditure without borrowings.

According to him, with the confirmation of the healthy financial profile of the state by no less a reputable and credible research agency like BudgiT, critics of the government can now bury their heads in shame.

Iworiso-Markson particularly berated recent outburst by some leaders of the opposition in the state, who claimed that the government was on a borrowing spree, saying the latest report has portrayed the depth of their ignorance about the state finances.

He pointed out that those who are making unfounded allegations of financial recklessness against the government has forgotten that the Dickson administration is still repaying loans obtained by the previous government.

The Commissioner argued that rather than support Dickson to continue in his good works, they are shamefully making spurious and malicious claims, forgetting so soon how their profligacy and misrule took Bayelsa many years backward.

Iworiso-Markson particularly called out Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Agriculture for his reckless remarks against the government, even when he has failed to attract a single project to Bayelsa State since his appointment.

He said: " Nobody is taking the minister's spurious allegations seriously because somebody with an analytical mind would know from the reports released by the Debt Management Office in September 2018, which provided in details the debt profile of all the states of the federation as of June 2018 which learly revealed that Bayelsa is one of the least indebted states in the country.

"It is not in doubt that the Restoration administration ensured the repayment of debts incurred by the junior minister's political godfather and leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, in addition to the steady execution of several big ticket projects across Bayelsa, including the Bayelsa International Cargo Airport"

https://www.facebook.com/BayelsaLegacyProjects/posts/236554290371569

The Bayelsa State Government have sought the collaboration of the media in tackling the perennial flood that is currently ravaging parts of the state.

At a meeting with General Managers and Heads of News of the various Radio and Television stations in the state, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said such collaboration will help the government to mitigate the situation.

He explained that increased awareness is needed, considering the critical situation the state has found itself and urged the media to take up that responsibility.

According to him, the media must work with the government to inform the people of steps being taken to provide succour for victims and reduce the level of panic associated with the occurrence of such disaster.

He appealed to the media chiefs not to commercialize reports of the flood situation but see it as a social service they are rendering to a state and people that are in dire need of help.

Iworiso-Markson stated that Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has put in place measures to prevent any escalation of the flood and again called on the federal government to step up support to compliment its effort.

The Commissioner thanked the state media for the existing partnership and reminded them of the need to remain apolitical in their reports during the 2019 general elections.

"This meeting is essentially to solicit your cooperation as we tackle the challenge of flooding that is facing us now. I don't need to inform you of your role as professionals but to let you know that this is a critical moment for us as a people and as a state.

"At times like this, mass sensitization is important as it will help to reduce panic among the people. So if the people are aware of the efforts we are putting to mitigate the situation, I think we would have conquered one major thing.

"I know that you have to run your various stations, buy diesel, pay salaries and other bills, but this is a natural disaster and should not be commercialized".

The General Managers lauded the government for being proactive in handling the flood and pledged to use their medium to create the needed awareness.

https://www.facebook.com/BayelsaLegacyProjects/posts/236297900397208

Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (centre) in a discussion with the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus (left) during a meeting with Party stakeholders from Brass, Ogbia and Nembe LGAs at Government House Yenagoa, while the National Vice Chairman of PDP, South-South, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi (right) looks on. Photo by Lucky Francis.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus (left) explaining something of interest to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (right) during a meeting with with stakeholders from Brass, Ogbia and Nembe LGAs at Government House, Yenagoa. Photo by Lucky Francis .

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (centre) addressing an enlarged meeting of PDP stakeholders from Brass, Ogbia and Nembe LGAs at Government House, Yenagoa, while the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus (left) and the National Vice Chairman, South-South of the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi (right) look on. Photo by Lucky Francis.

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