₦airaland Forum

If Borno state( enclave of diverse terrorist groups and Boko-haram) was in the Niger-Delta or South-East do you think they will still be posting students there for NYSC?

WillieJah:
But on a more serious note, what exactly did Diezani do to this people that they are launching this kind of murderous propaganda against her person?

she is minority and worse she is a Ijaw woman.

No normal human being will compare Ayiri to Tompolo. Tompolo is light years ahead of Ayiri both in money and philanthropic gestures.

You're correct president Buhari it was my grand father that increased fuel price and systematically devalued the naira. Nama

EastGold:
Buhari is making this people feel important walahi

making them feel important? Just as your blood is useless to you. Namasobiri

ayindejimmy:
You're derailing the post.
It's about humanity not tribe.
All tribes have beggars

I disagree with you not all tribes. I have never seen an Ijaw man beg.

dragonking3:
God has truly blessed the people of SS with so many natural resources, cultural resources and most of all beautiful ladies with handsome men.

God bless Nigerdelta.

Haters gonna hat e

Yes o

ojinuocheibi:
Niger deltans are really morally bankrupt. they celebrate evil and despice uprightness and rightiouseness. the blow pipe lines and blame federal government. somebody steal almost the entire state money launder it to a location where a thief will pay for his action, after been delt with for the interest of the poor deltans citizen, this same poor people come to give this thief a heroic welcome whereas you people where surpposed to be thanking the british government. a poor man will come and shout '' NA OUR OYEL'' i pity una sha, that is why the IBO will continue to use you fat skull for wedge.

Go nd celebrate your saints and allow us celebrate our thieves. Nonsense

Akaujaa:
...and who asked you that? All these ethnic bigots sef, always trying to bring division in every matter. He's a Nigerian, that settles it.

He's Nigerian because he's not from your tribe abi? Nonsense

seunny4lif:
Who ask you?

if he was Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo I bet I would have been seeing all sort of comments depicting how sophisticated their people are but now an Ijaw man from Bayelsa state is making his people proud everybody is quiet.

He's Bayelsa state born to be precise.

The rate at which some people are happy that MMM has suspended payment till next year January 2017 is really alarming. They even claim the scheme has crashed when it's evident that it hasn't.
With the advent of government, private /public institutions and individuals opposition to the scheme i'm really convinced that there is an unseen hand or rather a secret society running Nigeria's financial sector that doesn't want any form of opposition and also seeks to create more debtors and spread poverty rather than millionaires that MMM is making.

This post was originally from facebook...a sick (mentally) facebook friend of mine who am sure is from the western part of Nigeria wrote this nonsense.......regional and ethnic bigotry just got to a whole new level

Prominent environmental rights activist Alagoa Morris Posted this on his facebook timeline.
"Just received a text message that heavily armed soldiers invaded Oporoza and environs in Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South LGA of Delta State at about 4:00am last night and not only arresting,but torturing residents...True or
false"?
Source: https://mobile.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=996643117038301&id=100000778652241&refid=7&_ft_=qid.6289648820887334508%3Amf_story_key.-4895065600003142402

Ma Ebifegha Titus Igiri kidnapped mother of APC Deputy Governorship candidate has regained freedom from her abductors.
---
Source : https://m.facebook.com/sayelbatimes/photos/a.275662012628127.1073741827.273026672891661/453700251490968/?type=3&source=46

A medical doctor by name Dr.Ekuweme from Rivers State attached to the Health centre in Korokorosei community in Southern Ijaw local government of Bayelsa state was kidnapped last night. A Niger-Delta foremost environmental rights activist, Alagoa Morris broke the news on his facebook wall. It will be recalled that Korokorosei is where the present speaker of the Bayelsa state house of assembly is from. Weeks to the December 5th governorship election have seen the escalation of violence and kidnapping in Bayelsa. Just yesterday the mother to APC deputy guber candidate was also kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Details soon

Read More at www.sayelbatimes.com/breaking-news-medical-doctor-kidnapped-in-bayelsa-state/ © Sayelba Times

The re-election of Dickson can NEVER be about the existence of the Ijaw people but about the selfish, parochial and personal interest of Goodluck and his cronies whose game in Abuja have ended.
»
Personally I see it as a insult to Bayelsans for Goodluck to tell us to support the mistake called Dickson.
»
Goodluck should know that he can never swindle Bayelsans to vote for Dickosn!!!
»
#DicksonMustGo
»
#GEJLeaveUsAlone

In  an  attempt  to  make  me  testify  falsely, I  was  blindfolded and thrown  down  from  a  balcony. I  landed  with  my  ribs  and  the searing  and  excruciating  pains  abide  sill. Twice, I  was  tortured with  electrical  devices. I  have  even  been  taken  to  the  cemetery  severally, under  the  watchful  eyes  of  Mr.  Ita  Ekpenyong, the  former  Director  General  of  DSS  and  asked, gun  to  my  head, to  send  my  last  wishes  to  my  family. I’ve  gone  through  all  sort  of  things, yet, I  didn’t  do  it. I  neither  have  prior  knowledge  of  the  infamous  October 1st, 2010  twin  bombings  nor  had  anything  to  do  with  the  bombing  claimed  by  the  Movement  for  the  Emancipation  of  Niger  Delta(MEND).

I  am  Edmund  Ebiwari  Opori, an  Abuja-based  graduate  of  Philosophy  from  my  state owned  Niger  Delta  University. Just  like  every  young  person, I  had  youthful  dreams. I had  dreams  of  becoming  somebody  in  life. So, when  the  opportunity  to  play  a  part in the  sensitization  of  Niger  delta  youths  when  amnesty  was  offered  militants  came, I gladly  grabbed  it  with  both  hands. This  role  afforded  me  the  opportunity  to  meet people. It  also  made  me  meet  and  get  to  know  some  ex–agitators, as  they  are  called now.

Everything  was  fine. I’m  happily  married, blessed  with  lovely  kids  and  was  doing  just fine  as  a  young  man. As  far  as  I  was  concerned; life  was  good.

Then, my  phone  rang  at  about  12  noon  on  the  third  day  of  October, 2010. On  checking who the  caller  was, it  was  Pastor  Reuben  Wilson(an  ex–agitator). We  exchanged pleasantries  as  friends  do, and  he  told  me  he  needed  me  to  come  over  to  Bolingo Hotel. “Hope  all  is  fine,” I  asked. “Yes,” he  answered. “I  just  need  you  to  do  me  a favor. Please  come  help  me  offset  my  hotel  bills. It  is  fifty  thousand  naira(N50,000).” I heeded  his  plea. I  agreed  to  help  him.

I  drove  down  to  his  location, eased  my  car  into  the  hotel  compound  and  relieved him  of  this  burden. Immediately  after  making  payments, everything  changed. Things happened  very  fast. I  was  rounded  up, my  car  keys  collected  and  seized, my  hands cuffed, my  eyes  blindfolded  and  I  was  bundled  into  their  vehicle  and  whisked  off. Unbeknownst  to  me, his  plea  was  a  plot  to  hand  me  over  to  the  DSS.

Before  I  could  call  Jack, I’ve  landed  in  the  underground  solitary  confinement  of  the DSS. My  crime? It  was  alleged  that  I  had  prior  knowledge  of  the  Independence  Day Bombings, even though  I  haven’t  met  Henry  Okah, the alleged  mastermind of the atrocity, in  my  life. However, as you will realize shortly, the hunt for my life has mothing to do with the Bombing or the Okahs.

I  was  affiliated  to  the  General Ibrahim Badamusi Babangida  campaign structure in the build up to the 2011 Presidential election. I, in fact, helped  High  Chief  Raymond  Dokpesi to secure  IBB’s  campaign  office  in  Yenagoa  in  September, 2010. My  reason  for working for  them  is  simple. It  was  borne  out  of  my  strong  disdain  for  reneging  on agreements. I  always  keep  to  agreements; it  is  a  matter  of  principle. I  believed  the zoning  arrangement  should  have  been  adhered  to. If  that  was  done, we, Niger Deltans, would  have  been  saved  that  embarrassing  loss  in  the  last  presidential elections.

So, for  this  cause, I’ve  been  given  a  life  sentence. For  failing  to  implicate  the  IBB group, Timi  Alaibe, Timipre  Sylva, High  Chief  Dokpesi, Charles  Soludo, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Nasir  el-Rufai, Emami  Ayiri, Senator  JK  Brambaifa  my  life  has  been  tacitly taken  from  me.

Timi  Alaibe  was  summoned  to  the  DSS  headquarters. We  met, and  I  told  them, in Alaibe’s  presence  that  I  didn’t  get  any  information  prior  to  the  occurrence, so  I didn’t tell  Mr. Alaibe  anything. I  was  drilled  and  instructed  to  say  I  met  Alaibe  some days before  the  bombing  and  advised  him  to  travel  to  London  before  October  1st. In the same  vein, they  took  me  to  the  cemetery, drilled me for hours,in order to get me to implicate  Chief  Dokpesi. They  wanted  me  to  confess  that  he  gave  me  money to facilitate the bombing. But  when  he  came  over, I  said  the  truth. To  their disappointment, I  said  the  truth  again. Mr. Dokpesi  was  elated. He  joyfully  danced.Alas, he  was  exonerated.

That  was why I  was  handcuffed, blindfolded  and  taken  to  the  underground  solitary cell  at  the  Department  of  State  Security  headquarters  in  Abuja. I  was  chained  to  the wall  for  three  months, brought  out  every  three  days  to  be  subjected  to  grueling torture, leaving  my  back  with  purulent  sores  and  the  rest  of  my  body  with permanent  swellings  and  a  mass  of  sores  which  no  longer  has  definition  as  each weal  has  merged  into  another. I  wasn’t  allowed  to  have  visitors. I  was  denied  visits, except  once  when  Festus  Kenyamo, my  lawyer, came  to  see  me.

They  later  opened  up, telling  me  Henry  Okah  is  their main  target. All  they need  me do is  to  falsely  confess  that  he  told  me  of  his  plans  to  bomb the  Eagle  Square  on Independence  Day. They  promised  me  largesse, if  I  danced  to  their  tune. Those  who orchestrated  this  bombing  have  been  freed  two  years  ago. When  I  probed  the  issue, the  prosecuting  counsel  said, they  were  freed  because  they  cooperated. Because  I don’t know  how  to  cooperate, all  I  had  worked  hard  for  have  been  confiscated, my name dragged  to  the  mud  and  I’ve  been  convicted  not  on  concrete  evidences  but mere assumptions.

I  met  Charles  Okah  and  Late  Francis  Osuwo  Gbokos  for  the  first  time  in  this underground  cell. We  were  later  transferred  to  Kuje  Prison  around  8p.m, one  day, in a  manner  too  scary  to  explain. We  spent  four  years  together  in  that  unaired, dark and  stinking  Kuje  solitary  cell, with  cavalcade  of  snakes, frogs, lizards, rats  and scorpions.

Francis  Osuwo  Gbokos  didn’t  survive  it. He  passed  to  the  great  beyond  leaving  his wife  and  five  kids. He  didn’t  have  the  chance  to  defend  himself  in  court. Till  date, his corpse  lies  at  the  morgue  of  the  Gwagalada specialist  hospital, his  family  not allowed to  claim  his remains.

Charles  Okah  is  presently  ill. His  ailment  and  Francis’s  death  are  sure  connected  to the inhumane  conditions  mete  on  us.

I  remain  jarred.
They  lied  when  they  told  Nigerians  that  High  Chief  Dokpesi  gave  me  money  to bomb. The  text  messages  I  exchanged  with  Dokpesi  were  as  a  result  of  the  office  I helped him  secure  for  the  IBB  campaign  group  in  Yenagoa.

I  lack  the  skill  to  capture  those  moments; the  still  suppurating  furrows; the  tip  of  the whip  digging  my  skin; the  scab  and  scars  it  left; the  wails  and  screams, with  hot tears streaming  down  my  cheek. Nor  do  I  pretend  to  understand  the  stark  nihilism that drove  whoever  roped  me  into  this  to  do  that. My  powers  of  empathy, my  ability to reach  into  another’s  heart, cannot  penetrate  the  thoughts  of  those  who  would subject an innocent  man  to  excruciating  pain, silently  and  slowly  murdering  him, abusing the humanity  we  all  share, with abstract, serene satisfaction.

I  need  all  well  meaning  people  to  support  me  because  I  am  innocent. I  think  of  my aging  mother. I  think  about  my  lovely  wife. My  lovely  kids  and  siblings, my  freedom, please, I need  you  to  help  me  get  it  all  back.

Read More:http://www.sayelbatimes.com/how-gej-used-my-fellow-ijaw-man-and-the-dss-to-frame-me-with-the-abuja-october-1st-bombing-edmund-ebiwari/

Governor Dickson is out to bankrupt Bayelsa state. EFCC were art thou? He hasn't even given account of how he utilized the previous loans.

•Receives Assembly Approval  

Less than 7 months after obtaining a N40billion loan from the banks to build a Cargo Airport that is also sponsored by the Federal Government, Bayelsa State Governor,  Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has concluded plans to seek an additional N25billion loan facility.  

The revelation is contained in a Letter the governor wrote to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly seeking their approval, which was read by the speaker Rt Hon. Friday K. Benson during Thursday’s sitting that was broadcasted live on the State owned Glory FM.  

SAYELBATIMES.COM recalls that the Bayelsa state Government under Mr Dickson had also previously obtained a 60 million Euros (N13 billion) foreign loan from Poland -which he insisted was a “Tied Direct Aid, (TDA)” – for a Maritime Academy in Brass Island in September 2013. Up to this moment, the Academy has not been built.     Gov. Dickson told Bayelsa lawmakers that the new N25bn was sought to enable his government complete some ongoing projects in the state.

Among the projects highlighted in the Governor’s request Letter were: the ogbia-Nembe-Brass Road, the Sagbama-Ekeremor road, the Yenagoa-Oporoma road, the New Yenagoa Gateway-Igbogene road, the Yenagoa Ring-Road, the Opolo-Elebele road, the Isaac Boro road, the 500 bed Melford okili Memorial Hospital,  Oxbow Lake Tourism pavellion, etc.   The Bayelsa Lawmakers unanimously approved the Governor’s loan request which the Leader of the House Hon. Peter Akpe  and a few others described as long-overdue.  

Meanwhile,  Bayelsans have been reacting to the loan, descibing it as part of plans by the Dickson Administration to further mortgage the future of the State.

Read More at www.sayelbatimes.com/bayelsa-gov-dicksons-shops-for-n25billion-loan/ © Sayelba Times

YENAGOA — Local government workers in Bayelsa on Tuesday resolved to embark on a three-day warning strike on Wednesday over non-payment of their two to four months salaries.   The state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), said in Yenagoa that the action became necessary due to the workers untold hardship.  

The Secretary of NULGE in the state, Mr Tonye Jaja, explained that several efforts to address the situation with the local government council chairmen had not yielded the desired outcome.  
According to him, the non-resolution of the issue necessitated the decision by the union to call on its members to embark on the three-day warning strike.   “We have made several attempts to get the matter resolved, but it is not working. You can imagine what the families of these workers are going through.   “They find it difficult to feed their children. The politicians are being paid, the councillors are being paid.   “The chairmen have collected their own security votes of N5million. ALGON has also collected their deductions but they find it difficult to pay the workers.”  

A staff member of Ogbia Local Govrnment, on condition of anonymity, told NAN that she had not been paid for four months.   “It has not been easy at all because no there is no money to feed and even to go out to do something.   “We have been going to work but nothing is happening. Everywhere is deserted.   “I owe a lot. I have not been able to pay even electricity bill.”  

Mr Chubby Walson, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Council, said he was in a meeting and promised to call back.   NAN recalls that Gov. Seriake Dickson had set up a committee headed by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo, to meet with the council chairmen and the unions to seek ways of addressing the matter. The effort has not yielded the desired result as the workers insisted that they would meet again on their next line of action after the three-day warning strike.  

It will be recalled that SAYELBATIMES.COM broke the news of an impending NULGE industrial action in Bayelsa State during the weekend.  

Our report reads “Local Government Unions Set To Embark On Strike.

Speaking to a Local Government Unionist SAYELBA TIMES was made to understand that National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have been feigning ignorance over the improvised condition of their fellow workers due to the fact that some members of its exco are stooges to the powers that be, so they cannot actually challenge them on issues affecting even themselves and their members, but the present situation have overwhelmed them.  
The pressure to embark on an industrial action is coming from medical and health workers union which is a more vibrant union because it is the local government that pays most of the public health workers. Due to their independent nature they are putting pressure on NULGE and are threatening to go on strike any moment from now. Government on its part is trying to cut short the union’s mission by insisting that once the committee set up by the governor submits its report they will do something to alleviate their plight, but the union is not buying into that story so any moment from now they will be going ahead with their plans.   All our efforts to get the Government’s perspective on the issue proved abortive as our SMS to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor were not replied, just as his number was not connecting.”  www.sayelbatimes.com/exclusive-why-local-government-salaries-have-not-been-paid-in-bayelsa-state-for-more-than-four-months/

Source: www.sayelbatimes.com © Sayelba Times

YENAGOA — Ijaw Producers and distributors of  Kaikai (local gin) on Friday blocked the Ijaw House axis of the Sani Abacha expressway in the heart of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital in protest over the ban of the gin by the Federal Government.  

The protesters who spoke to SAYELBATIMES.COM during a peaceful march under the auspices of a group, “Izon Otu Keniwemo Oru yeri ogbo” were armed with placards which read among others, “Police Stop harassing Ogogoro sellers in Bayelsa” Local Gin is not Federal Govt problem” “Kaikai does not kill, Bayelsa Police stop harassing Kaikai Sellers”, “We use Ogogoro to train our children in school, local gin didn’t kill, Gamalin 20 kill”, “Kaikai is use for medicinal purpose,” “Ogogoro is the only legitimate industry in Niger Delta, banning Ogogoro is like passing death sentence on us.”  

Addressing the Protesters on the Sani Abacha expressway,  the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr Felix Tuodolo appealed to them to leave the road they had already occupied, to clear the traffic for commuters.  

In his words “I know the Economic impact of Ogogoro on our people. It is something our mothers have been using to train our children from time Immemorial. I know the impact on our economy that any ban, without proper investigation, will have on our people in terms of lost revenue. If Ogogoro is ban without proper investigation,  the economic effect on our people will be much.”  

The Commissioner also added “To place a blanket ban on all Ogogoro related activities without proper investigation will not be fair to our people. From the stories we’ve heard, I know that there is a source of contamination from somewhere. I am calling on NAFDAC to properly investigate that source and stop that source from production. So that this business that has empowered our people in several ways can continue.”  

The Pioneer Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) President also reminded the Public of previous similar cases of product contamination in Nigeria, such as the Beans Poisoning in Adamawa in 2011 that claimed two lives and the reports of Killer Indomie Noodles, which all did not warrant outright ban of the products. In those case, he noted, efforts were put into finding and stopping the sources of contamination.   “I also recall that in 2011 two persons died from poisoned beans in Adamawa State. And beans was not banned totally. The source was soughted and stopped. There was even a story about Indomie in 2004, so total blanket ban on Ogogoro is not fair to the Ijaw people.   As a government,  we will look into your plight. I will take it up with my Boss, the Governor,  and the necessary Authorities. So that we will look into this matter properly; so that the  good of our people is not affected.  

The Restoration Government is a government of the people and we are here to protect your interest.” The Commissioner said.   Motorists and commuters were stranded on the usually busy road for about fifty-five minutes until, Dr Tuodolo’s arrival to plead with the protesters to vacate the road for free flow of traffic.     Lamenting the plight of Ogogoro dealers in the state, the publicity secretary of the group, that consist mostly of women, Jackson Bobra – a 2008 graduate of the University of Port Harcourt who has been producing and selling Kaikai after graduation due to lack of employment opportunities – said they were compelled to stage the peaceful protest on the Sani Abacha expressway to voice their anger over the ban on the local gin, the only legitimate thriving industry of the Ijaws and people of the Niger Delta.  

He also gave constant harassment, extortion and exploitation from the men of the Bayelsa State Police Command who raid and seize their products to force money out of them as another reason for their protest that rainy Friday morning.

Read More at www.sayelbatimes.com/ijaw-ogogoro-traders-protest-ban-and-police-intimidation-and-exploitation/?fb_ref=Default&fb_source=message © Sayelba Times

As financial crisis hits some states of the federation, making it problematic for state governors and local governments councils to remunerate their workforce, Bayelsa state cannot be said to be left out as fresh revelations have emerged as to why governor Henry Seriake Dickson embarked on a one week recess and resolve of some local government unions to embark on strike to protest the inability of Local Government Chairmen in the State to pay salaries.  

Any keen follower of socio-political happenings in Bayelsa state will discern that civil servants at the local government level for have not been paid their salaries for more than three (3) months; a development which have brought untold hardship to the workers and their families. Unfortunately Councils Chairmen have not given any reason why salaries have not been paid.  

When contacted a reliable source who doesn’t want his name on print revealed to SAYELBATIMES.COM that this sad development propelled the state governor to set up a committee saddled with the responsibility of gathering information about the wage bill of various local governments that haven’t paid salaries, their financial status and recommendations as to what he can do to bail them out. Chief of staff  Government house who is no other person than Hon. Talford Ongolo was appointed chairman of this committee.  

Our source further stated that the committee is very dubious because Hon. Talford Ongolo who was a one time Chairman Local Government Service Commission whose tenure was marred with nefarious activities that helped wreaked the system cannot bring anout any meaningful change.   “How can you appoint a cat to be a judge in his own case, who will he find guilty is it the owner of the fish or himself? And for the governor to appoint someone like Hon. Talford Ongolo as chairman its very unfortunate. Because it is obvious that their resolve will be to put the blame on dwindling revenue.” our Source said  

Going deeper, our source also revealed to SAYELBATIMES.COM that it is only the state governor that can call for a JAAC (Joint Account Allocation Committee) to hold, and he has deliberately refused to summon the committee to share funds for local governments, while pretending as if the local governments are accessing their funds whereas in reality they are not.   It is unfortunately that the states has cornered the local governments to open a joint account. So now the local governments are at the mercy of the states. The Local Government Councils can only access their funds at the discretion of the Governor,  our source lamented.  

Information reaching SAYELBATIMES.COM from the labour circles is that the committee is dormant and has done nothing. Some labour leaders who spoke to SAYELBATIMES.COM on condition of anonymity said the governor traveled out of the country in the guise of a one week leave, but the truth is that the pressure by those concerned prompted him to take this short leave hoping that by the time he returns federation allocation account committee (FAAC)  must have met and shared the month’s allocation.  

Unfortunately, pensioners in the state are worse hit by the inability of governments at state and local government levels to pay salaries. A sad development which have made things hard for pensioners because many of them don’t have any other source of livelihood apart from their pension due to old age.  

Local Government Unions Set To Embark On Strike.

Speaking to a Local Government Unionist SAYELBA TIMES was made to understand that National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have been feigning ignorance over the improvised condition of their fellow workers due to the fact that some members of its exco are stooges to the powers that be, so they cannot actually challenge them on issues affecting even themselves and their members, but the present situation have overwhelmed them.

  The pressure to embark on an industrial action is coming from medical and health workers union which is a more vibrant union because it is the local government that pays most of the public health workers. Due to their independent nature they are putting pressure on NULGE and are threatening to go on strike any moment from now. Government on its part is trying to cut short the union’s mission by insisting that once the committee set up by the governor submits its report they will do something to alleviate their plight, but the union is not buying into that story so any moment from now they will be going ahead with their plans.  

All our efforts to get the Government’s perspective on the issue proved abortive as our SMS to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor were not replied, just as his number was not connecting.

Read More at www.sayelbatimes.com/exclusive-why-local-government-salaries-have-not-been-paid-in-bayelsa-state-for-more-than-four-months/?fb_ref=Default&fb_source=message © Sayelba Times

"Perhaps you’re forgetting that you are there to meet some pressing needs of your constituents. May I remind you, Honourable Senator, that Brassians and indeed the Nelgans and Ogbalgans (a people you represent) are in dire need of basic infrastructures, without any form of human capital development. There are small scale businesses that need augmentation; unpaid school fees, natural canals that need bridges; taps that have no drinkable water rushing out, dilapidated roads that need refurbishment; there school uniforms and books to be bought for indigent pupils and students and what not.

Obviously, the said amount can go a long way in solving atleast one out of the lot. Yes, I am not denying the fact that you reserve the right to use that allowance for what ever purpose you deem fit. Albeit, we are but your people who feel that there are lots of things that money could be used for (aside from using the other half on Akassa widows). Besides, you wouldn’t be opportune to have that allowance if we hadn’t voted you in. For now, you live to represent us; and our needs, your needs"

I don’t want history to write against you like former President Goodluck Jonathan who developed other regions and neglected his own region. If you really are passionate about bringing respite to Osun workers, why don’t you use a (your) foundation to help them. Do it with the money from your huge business estate. Your pocket is more than filled to help them. Please bring the proceeds of your senatorship to your senatorial distict. It’s my conviction that it behoves you to do so.

Do you know that Council workers from Ogbia, Nembe and Brass LGAs are owed some months’ salaries? Yes! Council Workers from your own Local Government Area (Brass) are owed salaries. The vogue now is that the Council pays only junior staff this month without senior staff, and pays senior staff the next month excluding the juniors. That’s how bad it is in your own Constituency. This is why I will never applaud your philanthropic gesture towards the Osun NLC.  It is measured opinion that a charity that doesn’t begin at home is, with all due respect, a complete charade.

Read More at www.sayelbatimes.com/an-open-letter-to-ben-murray-bruce-by-sam-dogitimi/?fb_ref=Default&fb_source=message © Sayelba Times

Admin pls do the needful... Let's show the rest of Nigerians that initial gra gra no dey pay... That politics is not about social media propaganda

The people have spoken...

In what appears to be a stunning offset in the political calculus of Brass Constituency II, former Governor of Bayelsa State and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state,  Chief Timipre Sylva lost his Polling Unit and Ward to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Saturday’s rescheduled House of Assembly election as APGA wins the election.

The APC Leader’s preferred candidate, Mr Sam Igbeta pulled a total of 65 votes in Okpoama Unit 004, while the winner, Deacon Alfred Watson Belemote of APGA scored 66.   It will be recalled that SAYELBA TIMES monitored Okpoama Unit 004 during the April 11 polls and brought you reports of the event that led to its cancellation and rescheduling.  

Observers have described this result as a big blow to Chief Sylva,  who has already been hailed as the new Leader of the Ijaws and Niger Delta by his followers,  owing to his position in the country’s ruling party. This is because yesterday’s election was seen as a litmus test of the much trumpeted political resurgence of the former Governor and a gauge of his street cred as Bayelsa Prepares for a Gubernatorial election in November of this year.  

As one PDP Chieftain who spoke to SAYELBA TIMES on the condition of anonymity puts it “Election is about numbers, which means the man that’s more popular will emerge victorious. Frankly, Sylva is not popular in Brass LGA. But his virtual stooges will hype him like he’s loved by his people. Politics is beyond facebook propaganda. Today, you can’t win elections with violence. Besides, nobody has monopoly of violence. What happened in Brass Constituency II is a case of the electorates showing Sylva that he failed them as Governor, and that his sins are unforgivable.

That’s why his handpicked APC candidate; Sam Igbeta, failed woefully. He, Sylva, can never win an election in his ward. He should forget about vying for any elective post because we know he will still fail us.” The PDP man spoke further “am happy that even if we did not win, the APC too lost. At least now people will know that despite his fantasy Sylva is not close to been as popular as his Facebook vuvuzela boys and girls want to world to believe. He can lie to his Masters in Abuja that he is popular, but the reality on ground is that he is not. I will be extremely joyous if he runs against Dickson with this form”  

SAYELBA TIMES brought you a report earlier today where the Bayelsa APC number One man hinted at the possibility of him joining the Governorship race, by declaring his eligibility.     Confusion has however trailed the results as the Returning Officer who declared the election inconclusive by 2am, turned around to declare the APGA Candidate winner by 4am.  

Still Constituents of Brass Constituency II SAYELBA TIMES spoke with revealed that the APGA man, Deacon Belemote is a far more popular candidate than his three other main challengers.   Nevertheless, the exercise was cancelled in 12 Units, 8 of which are in Ward 3 (Ewoama) a ward some claim to be a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stronghold.   Of the results out so far, APGA leads with more than 300 votes with the APC, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and PDP in second, third and fourth positions respectively.  

The PDP’s candidate Hon. Nyananyo Tubo was the Deputy Chairman of the Party in the State under the suspended Col Sam Inokoba.  

With this win, APGA now has two members in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly having earlier won a seat in Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency II through Mr Ebiye Tarabina.

Source: www.sayelbatimes.com/bayelsa-apc-leader-loses-unit-and-ward-to-apga/ © Sayelba Times

The fallacy that certain Candidates running for offices in Bayelsa State were anointed Candidates of President Jonathan chosen by him to protect his interest in Abuja, was blown open yesterday at the PDP Presidential Rally in Yenagoa.

Before the rally, many failed politicians who have continually betrayed the trust reposed on them by their people attempted to hide behind the President to gain public sympathy by tying their dead weight on the President's name .

However, yesterday at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex venue of the Presidential Rally, President Jonathan snubbed all of them. He did not acknowledge, mention nor canvas support for any of these candidates claiming to be his men. In fact the only person he called for support for was the same man these so called Jonathan men are fiercely fighting - Governor Dickson.

With this development, it should be clear to all that no one is President Jonathan's candidate. So anyone claiming to be anointed by the President is lying to himself.

Power belongs to the People! That is what even the PDP meant by "Power to the People."

Vote for a better tomorrow and not sentiments like party affiliation. Vote for the right people and not for failed people trying to hide behind the President.

New evidence has emerged that confirming that THISDAY newspaper did not make any typographic error when they reported that the Bayelsa State Governor’s Office would gulp 33.8 Billion Naira. An audio recording provided by Sahara Reporters TV caught the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure gushing about how the 33.8Billion Naira edifice will be among the best in Nigeria and West Africa.
Below his the transcript of the recording.

Q: How Much has gone into that project?
Commissioner:

“Well that contract sum is N33.8b and when you go there you’ll know the cost is worthwhile it, but in terms of how much have gone there I won’t be able to tell you but I know we’ve already sunk 50-60% of the contract sum that is why you see the contract is at the stage where it is now. When you got there they were doing the finishing which is more of electrical, plumbing and fitting. When we went into the chamber the ACs are already there. So I can tell you as soon as we give them additional money which we’ve promised to give to them in the next one or two weeks. We are targeting December thinking that the governor will spend the christmas in his new office all things being equal that is our target but you know man proposes but God disposes, all things being equal (ceterus peribus) as the economists will always say we believe we should be able to achieve that. We’ll speak full on other projects we’ve visited as the time comes but as you’ve asked as part of the building projects we’ve inspected I can assure you the money we’ve sunk there is worth it. You need to know what we’ve done there before we got to this stage that we are, we sand filled almost 2mitres from the ground and you can see despite that filling water is still threatening the area and what we’ve just discussed with the contractor is to do a concrete reinforcement about 3,4,5mitres away from the building towards the river side and if you go there you’ll see the quality of work not only the quality of work but the movement and flow within the office. And I keep saying this our governors office is one in Nigeria and to some extent one in West Africa, I don’t know of any governors office that will beat this in West Africa.”

Thisday Newspaper had on the 10th day of October 2014 broken the news about the outrageous amount the government is spending on the office. On its part, after over ten hours, the Government came out with a rebuttal, through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, claiming the newspaper erred and that the actual cost of the edifice is N3.8Billion, which in my not so humble opinion is also tragically outrageous.

The statement from Daniel Iworiso-Markson reads

“Bayelsa state Government strongly debunks media report by a national newspaper (THISDAY) for erroneously reporting that, the new Governor’s office will gulp N33.8b as against N3.8b as disclosed by the commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, during a routine inspection of projects executed by the Governor Seriake Dickson administration.”

Read More and listen to the youtube audio here : /p3DlVY-rC

The N33.8b or( rebased sum) N3.8b new Bayelsa governor's office

In a state where there is no functioning public water system, bad internal roads, one of the highest rate of unemployment,etc despite receiving one of the highest federal allocation:

Following the collapse and the subsequent demolition of the Bayelsa State governor’s office, the state government has disclosed that the new office project under construction would gulp about N33.8 billion.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this to journalists during his inspection of the ongoing projects executed by the Governor Seriake Dickson administration.

Ewhrudjakpo said the office complex, when completed, was expected to be the best not only in the country but in the West Africa sub-region. He stressed that the project would be equipped with the latest state-of-the-art facility.
“The contract sum for the new governor’s office is N33.8billion As you saw the work done at the site, so far, you will know that the sum is worth the while,” he said.

Ewhrudjakpo expressed optimism that the governor would celebrate this year’s Christmas in the new office. He said about 50-60 per cent of the contract sum had been sunk into the project so far and that had brought it to near completion.

The commissioner enumerated some of the challenges in erecting the building to include sand-filling of the site to two feet above the ground before the commencement of construction work.

“If you ask me how much we have sunk into it, I won’t be able to tell you. But I can say that about 50-60 per cent of the contract sum has so far gone into it and that’s why the work is at the stage it is.

“When we got there, you saw that they were doing the finishings, fixing electrical and plumbing fittings. Inside the executive chambers, you saw that the air conditioners are already there.

“I can tell you that as soon as we give them (A and K Construction Limited) some additional money, which we have promised to do in the next one or two weeks, the job would have gone very far.

“We are targeting December. We are thinking that his excellency will celebrate the Christmas in his new office all things being equal,” the commissioner said.

SOURCE: www.sayelbatimes./2014/10/10/bayelsa-new-governors-office-to-gulp-n33bn/

Don’t get us wrong, we have nothing personal against very ‘local’ and unsophisticated folks. Yet, we are of the considered opinion that one of the greatest contributors to the underdevelopment of Bayelsa State is the continuous recycling of peasants as rulers of the land.

These Country folks see installing Traffic Lights or constructing an Overhead Bridge in a State Capital as big deal. This is because in the rustic places most of them have dwelt in for most of their lives before they were gifted Public Offices, these things are non-existent. So to them, they are in Paris. It is the same country mentality in the citizens that inspire them to applaud failed Governments for providing many low quality services for them. And you will hear them say things like “the Governor try nau.”

Thus, when they see the enlightened few criticize Government for its failures, these epitomizes of the Political Economy of Backward Societies will fire back in defence of the same failed Governments that have short- changed them. It is this same phenomenon that is responsible for the infantile policies of our Governments.

If not how else do you explain the Ghetto Nature of Yenagoa, a City that is built between 1996 to Date? Over 90% of the structures in Yenagoa were built between 1996 to date. What explains the fact that Amassoma Sand Field that was created sometime in 2003/2004 has been built like the Old Amassoma without any thought of Urban Planning?

How else would you explain the fact that even the Niger Delta University, an Institution of Higher Learning, which was established in 2001/2002, is being built like Amassoma Sand field or ‘Tomboulo’? Bayelsa state is suffering from what we call the “Waterside Mentality” or “Batcher –Face-me –I- Face -You Mentality”. When Ijaw people who came from Port Harcourt and elsewhere with their Marine Base, Bundu, Ajegunle Town Planning Mentality are pushed to power by some Puppeteers, they reproduce new Marine Base, New Bundu, New AJ City in Bayelsa State.

Before delving any further, let us seize a few seconds to unequivocally state that, we have absolutely nothing against Country folks, yokels and slum dwellers. In truth, we have had our fair share of life in the Ghetto. And in fact those are some of the most interesting times of our life. What we are actually against is people allowing their physical environment to limit their thinking and World-view. You can live in the most backward Village in this world and still think like a Nuclear Physicist and/or some sophisticated Investment Banker in Manhattan. There are no limits to the capacity of the mind to build up imaginations.

Until Bayelsans in particular and the Ijaws in general are ready to come together to give power to enlightened people, the Country (Village) people will continue to produce Village Policies.

The root of this problem can be traced back to the periods between 1996 and 2001/2. When the State was created by the Abacha junta in 1996, many ‘enlightened’ folks of Bayelsa origin did not relocate to the State because of its country nature. They remained in the comfort of their domains like Port Harcourt and Lagos.

However, most of the ‘nchi men’ who had almost nothing back in the Old Big Cities and thus back nothing to lose, and many Villagers moved over to the State Capital and got themselves fixed up in strategic places in the Civil Service and other areas(even with Standard 6 or School Cert).

So, by 1999, when it was time for transition to Civil Rule, those hitherto ‘nonentities’ were the men on ground. And with their local knowledge and good understanding of the system, they were able to call the shots and decide who gets what when and how. Despite half-hearted measures by the ‘Port Harcourt’ and ‘Lagos’ Boys to gain entry into the polity of the State, it was too late.

That is how these guys have been able to entrench themselves in the system that it is now safe to say Bayelsa State runs an Idiocracy. If the Power Brokers consider you to be sophisticated, you are sure not to be allowed near the citadel of power. So on and on we go reproducing and strengthening the Confederacy of Dunces in Government. They can travel the world all year round, yet the things they build for the Public will only be influenced by the quintessential Village World view.

The above explains why the architecture of Professor Steve Azaiki Public Library (a Library built by a private citizen) is 100 years ahead of that of the State Library. Bumpkins build outdated out-of-taste structures for the state in this 21st Century. We once saw a guy who was a Local Government Chairman at the time at a Car Wash marvelling at the fact that his car was being washed by a Machine. To the then Council Chairman, that was the 9th wonder of the Earth.

Although we were unemployed broke asses at the time, we saw the Chairman for the Yokel that he was despite his exulted office! And what do you expect from that guy in terms of development?

You can call us Elitists for writing this, if you may, we will plead no contest. If not for this same backward thinking, how else would anyone in their right senses be celebrating a Government for transporting water from tankers to GP Tanks for Citizens to fetch from in this 21st Century?

How else do you explain the fact that some people keep posting pictures and celebrating what they Call “Bayelsa State’s First Flyover” as if it is the best thing to happen to mankind since ‘Agidi Jellof’? Call us what you may, but we refuse to bend to the Standards of these pumpkins. Bayelsans deserve more. If you as a Bayelsan think this is the best you deserve, then you are on your own! we vehemently refuse to accept your mediocre standards.

As you read up to this point, let our words hunt you, prick your conscience, inflame your consciousness and force you to think towards a paradigm shift before leave this piece.

ARE YOU ANGRY? if you are angry at our words, GOOD!

That’s our objective! Do you feel like we are talking about you? Then change your ways. We all need righteous indignation against the thinks falling apart in our land to build a better alternative reality.

Source: www.sayelbatimes.