SERIAKE DICKSON: A GOVERNOR AND HIS MANY OUT-OF-STATE TRIPS BY: OSA OKHOMINA ON JULY 23, 2013 - 3:33AM The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, in the last 19 months has been confronted with negative comments by the opposition groups over his frequent trips outside the state. Osa Okhomina examines the questions raised by the opposition. Since January 14,2012,when Hon. Seriake Dickson was sworn-in as the Governor of Bayelsa State, he has acquired the status of a “working” Governor where fulfilled promises on development plan, transparency and accountability have earned him pennants and medals. Added to his name within the last 12 months, the Seriake Dickson are over 41 roads and infrastructural projects in the various local government areas including the new and heavy investment in security, tourism and education. Such investments in infrastructural development and peace have led to the hosting of high profile visitors including the United Nation Under Secetary -General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Baroness Valerie Amos, one time Presidential Candidate of the Democrats in the United States, Jesse Jackson and many others. In the last few months however, the achievements and work-in-progress status is being thrown into controversy following rising criticisms against alleged frequent trips outside the state. Opposition claimed Governor Dickson is gradually becoming one of the most travelled Chief Executive Officer of States in Nigeria. Many of the aides, including the politicians and elders of the State, agree that the emerging Bayelsa project being handled by the governor and the need to diversify the dependence of the state from oil, the governor must be mobile and seek partnership from home and abroad. Such search for new partnerships, according to the Governor, at some of his fora with the people, include trips to South Africa, United Kingdom and Abuja in Nigeria. While political observers bought the idea of diversifying into the non-oil sector of the economy,they expressed fear that the frequent trips of Governor Dickson could spell doom for the state. Some claim that such trips by past governors such as D.S.P Alamieyeseigha and Timipre Sylva, contributed to the failures and added disgraceful removal as Governors of the state. D.S.P Alamieyeseigha was holed up in the United Kingdom and purportedly arrested on charges of money laundering,while Chief Timipre Sylva was accused of running the state aboard Helicopters and playing national politics with state funds. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Fred Agbedi and the Chief Press Secetary (CPS),Mr.Daniel Markson Iworiso, in seperate statements, argue that such fears are misplaced and mischievious. In one of the positions presented on the issue, the Congress of the Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), raised objection against the frequent trips of the governor outside the state.According to the NUJ, the governor should reduce the frequency he travels outside the state and concentrate instead on governance. The eight-point communiqué further suggested that Mr. Dickson visit communities in the state to ascertain the problems affecting them in order to attempt solutions. The union also urged the state government to conduct quarterly Town Hall meetings in order to integrate the views of the people of the state in major government policies and programs. The communiqué, which was signed by the NUJ’s chairman, Tarinyo Akono, and secretary, Samson Opokuma, called for security operatives to “extend security surveillance to all the streets in Yenagoa to effectively protect lives and property.” Also showing concern over the long absence of the governor, from the state are the Bayelsa leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Instead, the ACN leaders argued that the governor reconsider his request to the State House of Assembly for permission to go on annual leave. They argued that if such permission is granted and coupled with the number of days the governor has been absent in the last six months, it will make mockery of the seriousness of the state preparations to tackle the predicted flood in the state. The ACN leaders said though the poor performance of the various emergency committees set up to tackle the last flood disaster was salvaged by the presence of the State Governor, the absence of the governor at this critical moment will spell doom for the state and make nonsense of the huge funding proposed for humanitarian and infrastructural efforts by the various committees. The Bayelsa leaders of the ACN, through a statement issued by the state publicity secretary, Comrade Christopher Abarowei, said though the decision of the state governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, to request to embark on annual leave is normal and legal, there is need for the governor to shelve the proposed annual leave and fully monitor the judicious use of the approved N1billion fund for flood control in the state. According to the ACN, “Against the backdrop of the BYHA approval of N1billion for the state to tackle the issue of drainage and flood in the state, the ACN calls on the governor to shelve his proposed annual three weeks leave approved by the House to fully monitor and ensure the implementation and judicious use of the funds for the projects. The party recalled the ugly incident of corrupt practices and diversion of relief materials meant for flood victims by some highly placed government and political appointees.” “Gov. Dickson rethink on the annual leave will caution and stop acts of criminality and insensitivity to the plight of the people. The ACN is sad that the government is yet to deal decisively with and bring to book, the culprits of the mismanagement of relief materials meant for the last flood victims.With the heavy rains, experienced recently in the state, houses and roads have been flooded. Government is yet to tackle the menace and provide proactive measures to move against the predicted flood.” The result of the leadership chat with some politicians, civil servants and artisans in the state showed that the fear of the opposition over the purported absence of the governor was provoked by his aides. According to a senior civil servant, Mr. Stanley Joel, the absence of the governor will automatically lead to shoddy handling of government business. According to him, “it is under this administration that we have witnessed constant and regular payment of salaries and allowances. He never owes workers. But when he is out of the state, the Commissioners and other aides go into hiding. They seem to work without him around.” While Fred Agbedi argued that though the administration of the state is on course and not jeopardized, the purported frequent trips of Governor Seriake Dickson to Abuja is crucial to the actualization of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election plan. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor,Mr. Daniel Markson-Iworiso stated in a mail sent to Leadership that the claims that Governor Seriake Dickson is not a junketer but rather has raised the bar of good governance in the state in all ramifications and yardsticks.” According to Agbedi,” the developmental agenda of the Restoration government of Governor Seriake Dickson is on course regardless of his national assignments.The Governor’s actions and deeds are for the well being of Bayelsans.” “The governor is on national assignment as 2015 approaches and it is due to the importance of block support needed and crucial. It is important that the governor gather the necessary political waves for the actualization of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 aspiration.” “And to achieve this, he emphasized that participation in national politics, mobilization of a support base for President Jonathan are central to the fulfillment of the desires of the people of the Niger Delta region.” The Special Adviser on Political Matters assured Bayelsans that Governor Dickson is on ground and is already delivering the dividends of democracy for the people as exhibited in the state of emergency in the education sector, ongoing road constructions across the state, instilling fiscal discipline in governance, positive engagement of people across political divides as well as security and peace . He pleaded with the people to exercise patience as the choice of Chief Dickson as governor of the state was a decision well applauded by all. “all the projects initiated by the governor have financial backing as money to complete them have been set aside to ensure that no project is abandoned. The governor is prepared to place Bayelsa on the mainstream of national political activities often takes him to Abuja.” The CPS, Daniel Markson-Iworiso, in a statement, said the claims that Governor Seriake Dickson is a junketer is a lie and mischievous. “Governor Seriake Dickson Is a not a junketer but rather has raised the bar of good governance in the state in all ramifications and yardsticks.” Markson-Iworiso said the allegations of junketting were made by critics of the government “and mischief makers for want of something to say. Such allegations weren’t new, and challenged those making the allegations to supply proof of such claims, “This is not the first time such a report is being peddled.” “Those behind it are doing it out of pure mischief. And we know them. To them everything is politics even when it is so glaring that the government of the day is working round the clock and changing the face of Bayelsa State.” “The same Governor that they falsely accused of spending more time out of the state works harder than everyone, even to the detriment of his own health,’ he added. The media aide explained that even though trips were an integral part of government, Dickson has taken care to ensure that his trips, apart from being part of state functions, add value to Bayelsa State. “Those trips are themselves part of governance. In the first place, we are lucky to have a Governor who doesn’t like travelling. Each of the governor’s trip so far are official trips and we can count the number of times he has embarked on such trips since assuming office.” “The mischief makers typically blow things out of proportion and their aim is to distract the governor and seek undue relevance. We realised this from our first day in office and therefore, cannot fall for such antics,” he declared The Special Assistant to the Governor on SME, Ebiekure Jasper Eradiri, told Leadership that the potentials in Bayelsa have increased in the last few months and we have endorsed an MoU with the Investment corporation of the South African company,”We are currently riding on the global integrity of the institution.Everyone is rushing to do business with us because we have a credible partner.” These and many others, according to him, are results of the purported frequent trips of the governor outside the state. Eradiri‘s position was further corroborated by the Director-General of the State Investment Promotion Agency, Ms. Ruth Murray Bruce. She muted that such claims of junketing against the governor and his aides is misplaced and a smack of ignorance, “though the agency is established to enhance transparency, enhance security of lives and property of investors and promote investment haven, BIPA has high database of potential Nigerian Investors, as the agency has received over 50 proposals of potential investors willing to investors in the state”. “We have created a database of networks of potential investors, we have also created sectoral booklets for all sectors to promote and showcase our rich potentials. Diaspora investors are interested in Nigeria and Bayelsa business as the agency would soon organize a road show in all the localities of the state to showcase its economic richness” “This agency educates, enlightened investors on critical sectors of the state’s economy, including the investment and tourism promotion specially in areas of community relations. We shall soon organize trade missions to selected cities across the globe to showcase its rich economic potentials and attract investors”.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 10:33:17 +0000
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