CrossFire Interrogator

April 30, 2018 Press Statement PDP To Buhari: Your Outing in US Is Embarrassing …. Says Failure to Market Nigeria’s Crude Is Economic Sabotage The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mocks President Muhammadu Buhari’s performance at the meeting with US President Donald Trump as embarrassing as he completely failed to project the economic interests of our nation before the American government and the world. It was alarming that President Buhari buckled in bilateral negotiation and failed to address the issue of the drop in the US purchase of our crude oil, which is the main stay of our economy. Nigerians and the business community were aghast when President Buhari could not market our crude oil to his American counterpart even when in the course of question and answer session, a leeway was provided for him, he off-handedly declared that he cannot “tell America what to do”. Also President Buhari had no answers to President Trump's stance that the US has not been investing substanti

GOV DICKSON FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT KICKS OFF IN YENAGOA, AS DEPUTY GOVERNOR, OTHERS LAUD INITIATIVES… …CHRISTOPHER JUNIOR SCORES HAT TRICK AS AGUDAMA COMMUNITY FC THRASH ONOPA COMMUNITY FC 3-0. Raer Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, (rtd) at the weekend in Yenagoa took the ceremonial kick off of the second edition of the Governor Seriake Dickson Football Tournament, tagged Restoration Cup 2018. The kick off which had in attendance notable personalities including sport analysts within and outside the state witnessed an encounter between Agudama- Epie and Onopa communities. It ended three nil in favour of the former. Rear Admiral Jonah enjoined the youth to eschew violence and other vices, rather they should deplore their energies to profitable venture. He warned them against being used by self centred politicians, especially now that the 2019 general elections is around t

Bayelsa Govt Loses N7.04BN To Payroll Fraudsters in the last 2 years ...Dickson Inherits N1.320BN LG Teachers Monthly Wage Bill …Reduces It To N1.027BN Bayelsa State Government says, it has lost over N7.04 billion in the last 2 years to a syndicate of payroll fraudsters in the local government councils. Speaking during a joint press briefing on Thursday in Yenagoa, on the progress of the current reforms in the public service, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso- Markson decried the magnitude of fraud being perpetrated by fraudsters in the sector. Mr. Iworiso-Markson also described the 70% non-academic staff in the primary schools as unacceptable, stating that, the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration inherited N1.3 billion local government teachers monthly wage bill, which has been reduced to about N1.027 billion in the last 2 years. The Information boss noted that, the reforms exercise was a continuous one, pointing out that, tremendous pr

The Trouble With A Purposeless Agitation And The Need To Collapse All Structures In Support Of The Presidential Ambition Of A Young Achiever Like Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed In 2019.  By Nnamdi Ukasanya I have always had solace in the fact that, in whatsoever one does, what matters is the result. And I think the result so far, has not been favorable to us.  For a start: I'm not ignorant of the fact that, many, may have been pondering about the reason for my recent change in political ideology -and I want to make it abundantly clear that it has really changed for good. It's pertinent to also note that I remain unshakable in my stance and total conviction that any idea to boycott election in any part of Nigeria is not only an act of cowardice but gross insensitivity with regards to the brand of politics played in the Country, but that's a story for another day. After reading about Julius Sello Malema of South Africa, I'm compelled to conclude that we the youths are being i

Senator (Pharm.) Matthew A. Urhoghide (FPSN, FNAPharm.), Chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee today April 26, 2018 moved a motion on the floor of the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria for the impeachment of President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR over the president’s unconstitutional spending of money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund without the approval of the Senate. Nigerians across all divides hail this as a move towards ensuring proper separation of powers and curtailing extant impunity, chaos, usurping of roles and fiscal irresponsibility. See full text of motion below.                                                                             MOTION Violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as Amended The Senate: Notes that following the disclosure by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR in the letter transmitted to and read on the floor of the Senate on the 25th of April 20

RESTORATION CUP 2018 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The Central Working Committee of the Governor Seriake Dickson Football Tournament (Restoration Cup 2018) wishes to inform all registered communities and the general public that the competition kicks off on Friday, April 27, 2018. The first game is between Agudama community and Onopa community. Venue: Samson Siasia Sports Complex  Time: 3pm Kick-off by Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, His Excellency Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd) and supported by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Kemela Okara. There will be a march past of all the registered communities from the Yenagoa Local Government Area only. The teams are to dress in their official jerseys. All political appointees, chairman and officials of the Bayelsa Football Association, Bayelsa Referees Association, sports writers, football coaches, ex-footballers, captains of all registered communities, football stakeholders and the general public are cordially invited. Sign

GOVERNOR DICKSON INAUGURATES AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON PENSION VERIFICATION, ADMINISTRATION ...SAYS PAYROLL SYNDICATES BLEEDING BAYELSA STATE. Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Seriake Dickson on Wednesday inaugurated a 24-member Ad-hoc Committee of Pastors for Pension Administration in the state. The committee is mandated to verify all pensioners in the state. The committee is part of the government's ongoing efforts to put an end to payroll fraud and other unwholesome practices in the public sector. Inaugurating the members in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson said, Five Hundred Million Naira was being spent for payment of pensioners' salaries. The Governor in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Francis Ottah Agbo, said his government has discovered a syndicate that, defrauds the state public service in the name of settling retirees' pensions and sundry entitlements, thereby robbing the state of revenues that, should have been utilized

FOUNDATION LAYING CEREMONY OF THE "LABOUR HOUSE" BY GOV. DICKSON   His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, today laid the foundation of the "LABOUR HOUSE" that will accommodate both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Bayelsa State council and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Bayelsa State. The Governor said that the "LABOUR HOUSE" should be completed in five months time. He said there should be more support and understanding for greater productivity between Government and Labour Unions in the state. He also said that the Restoration Government will continue to bring out policies that will transform the state positively. The pioneering  Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chief Collins Cocodia thanked the Governor for the approval/ kick start of the "LABOUR HOUSE" project for the Labour unions in the state. The Commissioner said government will continue with the reforms in the civil service and labour unions sho

DICKSON ESTABLISHES VARSITY EDUCATION LOAN BOARD IN BAYELSA The Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson has signed into law, the Bill establishing the Bayelsa State Students Tertiary Education Loan Board. Dickson said that the board specially designed to provide unfettered access to tertiary education in the state would be inaugurated in the next two weeks. A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor as having said that a percentage of the state’s monthly internally generated revenue would be committed by law to fund the board. The governor explained that funding of the new board would be similar to the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Funds which was established by law to guarantee the arrangement for free education at the primary and secondary school levels in the state. Dickson said that the new board was being established with a consciousness to ensure that no Bayelsa youth with the requisite

GOWON CONDEMNS INSECURITY, SAYS BLOODSHED ACROSS NIGERIA WORRISOME ... KILLINGS, CONDUCT OF GOVT OFFICIAL A SOURCE OF CONCERN - DICKSON Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has described as worrisome the widespread insecurity and killings in the country. Gowon said that he had prayed and hoped at the end of the Nigerian Civil War that the country would not go through that path again. Also, his host, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, said that Nigerians were truly worried about the violence and conduct of officials of government in the country. Gowon who is the Chairman and convener of Nigeria Prays, said the activities of militant groups, the Boko Haram and the killings perpetrated by the ‘so called Fulani herdsmen’ were of serious concern to the leaders, elders and indeed the citizens. Gowon stressed that the country’s leaders were worried about acts of brutality and wickedness across the country. A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Dickson on Media Relations, Mr.

HURRAY!!!!! HURRAY!!!! GCUOBACC WINS CCC DIVISION 2 LEAGUE!!!!!!  Good Evening gentlemen, I want to use this medium to say a big THANK YOU to everyone in the house for the support given the GCUOBACC... We could certainly not have done it without the input of everyone in the house.. and we thank you all Specially!!!! It has been a long journey in such a short time frame.. When I look back and think about our start of the season last year and see what we have achieved collectively since then, it makes me proud to call myself a member of the GCUOBACC.. Though we have achieved and met one of our objectives and milestone we set for our self as a team this year by gaining promotion to the Elite Premier Division one League, the most impressive of our achievement I would say this season has been one of helping develop the game of Cricket as a whole in Nigeria.. We are proud to say that this year we had 11 of our players called up to the Nigerian National Cricket camp, we had 6 players in

UPDATES FROM THE WORLD T20 AFRICA QUALIFIER "A" IN LAGIS , NIGERIA. Match Day 5 .Game 2. Nigeria vs Gambia. Nigeria had yet another convincing win after playing The Gambia for a second time in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 Africa Qualifier “A” in Lagos, Nigeria, beating The Gambia by a huge margin of 88 runs. Gambia won the toss and elected to field putting the Yellow Greens on the crease. Captain Chimezie Onwuzulike opened the batting for Nigeria and scored a massive 90 runs off 70 balls (not out) with a strike rate of 128.57. Ademola Onikoyi followed suite in top scores supporting with 21 runs off 20 balls with a strike rate of 105 to help bring the total runs of the Yellow Greens to 144 for the loss of three wickets. In the second innings, The Gambia showed some resolve at the early stage of their batting innings as Andre Jarju batted 22 runs off 28 balls, helping his team have an impressive 7 runs per over in the first 8 overs of the innings. The tide however turned

Press Statement Resolutions at PDP's Emergency National Executive Meeting Held on Thursday, April 19, 2018. The National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held an emergency meeting on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at the PDP National Secretariat.  After an exhaustive deliberation of issues of urgent national importance, the NEC resolved as follows; That the PDP doors remain widely open to all Nigerians, groups and like-minded political parties to foster  a strong rallying point for the determined quest by Nigerians to rescue the nation from the misrule of the APC and enthrone good governance in our country. That the PDP leads a strong conversation and discussion towards a formal coalition of democratic forces to guarantee Nigerians the much desired all-inclusive platform ahead of 2019 general elections.  That the PDP deploys the instrument of its democratic structures at all levels across the country to legitimately and urgently rally all Nigerians to vote o

GOVERNOR DICKSON FLAGS OFF 2018 RESTORATION CUP... PRESENTS KITS TO PARTICIPATING TEAMS Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has emphasized the need to use sports as a veritable tool to change the mindset of youths in the state. Governor Dickson who disclosed this during the official draws and kits presentation to the participating teams in Yenagoa, reiterated government’s commitment to sports development. No fewer than one hundred and thirty communities and tertiary institutions registered to participate in the second edition of the Governor Seriake Dickson Football Tournament, tagged, "The Restoration Cup 2018", scheduled to kick-off in few days. The Governor emphasised that the football tournament is yet another tool in unifying and integrating the communities, and also discovering hidden talents among youths for self sustenance and development. Dickson said the state government was making plans to support football in all the communities, as he urged the participa

PRESS RELEASE ..... ......I will restore and improve image of Nigerian Youths - Datti Baba-Ahmed In a swift reaction to the comments of President Mohammadu Buhari in London describing Nigerian youths as lazy and uneducated, Sen Datti Baba-Ahmed, a prominent Presidential Aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party ,has enjoined his fellow youth to remain calm and forgive the unfortunate comments. He said that most Nigerian Youths today genuinely have the correct GCE O' level results but have remained victims of poor management of Nigerian Universities and corruption which President Buhari's  government has failed to address. He said Nigerian youths with first degrees, Masters degrees and PhDs abound but are either jobless or in sectors that don't reflect their expertise. Some graduates are known to be "Okada" riders and engage in all kinds of odd jobs to make ends meet. He noted that Nigerian youths are some of the most hard working and enterprising youths in the

APC Looters List Childish and uncalled for... – DICKSON …DICKSON DIRECTS COMMISSION’S BOSS TO DECLARE VACANCIES FOR EMPLOYMENT Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson on Wednesday, vowed that his administration would not be dissuaded from bequeathing a highly professionalized, disciplined and motivated public service through the ongoing reforms. According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Francis Ottah Agbo, Dickson stated this during a live media interview in his office in Yenagoa. The Governor also noted that the exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting any worker but to rid the service of all forms of irregularities, sharp practices with the view to repositioning the service to stand the test of time. He said: ‘‘The mind-set that you can keep your name on the pay roll without coming to work is negative and we have to draw the red line now because we want to leave behind a reformed, repositioned, motivated and efficient work for

PRESS RELEASE Gov Dickson football tournament draws hold April 18 The Local Organising Committee of the Governor Seriake Dickson Football Tournament has moved forward the date for the official draws ceremony and distribution of jerseys for the second edition of the competition. The tournament's Media Director, Hon. Daniel Alabrah, in a press release, said the draws for the Restoration Cup earlier slated for Thursday, April 19, will now hold on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 10am. He said the venue remains the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Yenagoa. The Restoration Cup is a grassroots, community-based football competition to foster unity and peaceful coexistence among communities in the state. The sports loving governor of Bayelsa State, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, is the special guest of honour at the event while his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) is the guest of honour. The chairman of the occasion is Nigeria's Confederation of African Footbal

FINALLY GOVERNOR SERIAKE DICKSON OPENS UP ON SUCCESSOR... SAYS, "GOD WOULD DETERMINE BAYELSA’S NEXT GOV - DICKSON" The Governor of Bayelsa State, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has said that the Almighty God would determine the next governor in 2020. Dickson said that the Almighty God would raise a leader with a heart for the people to pilot the affairs of the state and to build on the legacy of development established by his administration. The Governor made this statement on Sunday at St. Andrews Anglican (Ijaw) Church, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos. He stressed that all Bayelsans and indeed Ijaw people would support such a leader in the task of ensuring continuity in the development of the state after the exit of his Restoration Government in 2020. He stated further that every revenue received in the state must be judiciously utilized to carry out projects in the interest of the state. Dickson said that his administration had worked assiduously to change the development

Obaseki places 90-day total ban on grazing in Odighi , Odiguetue communities,  environs ● ...sets up special task force to comb out herdsmen from forests, communities ● ...orders arrest of herdsmen on sight, vetting, enumeration of all herders As an interim measure to forestall further killings and destruction of property, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has placed a  90- day total ban on grazing in Odighi, Odiguetue communities and environs. Obaseki announced the ban during a meeting with members of Odighi, Owan and Odigwuetue communities at the palace of the Enogie of Odighi Community in Ovia North East Local Government Council of the state. The governor said the ban  became necessary to stop further killings as the duty of his administration is to protect lives and property of the people of the state. "We have set up a special taskforce made up of the Army, Police, State Security Service, hunters and vigilante groups to comb the bushes and dislodge squatter camp

GOV DICKSON BAGS VANGUARD GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR AWARD... .......AS IKE NWACHUKWU BACKS CALLS FOR RESTRUCTURING Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson was at the weekend honoured, as the Vanguard Governor of the year in recognition of his selfless service, contribution to the political stability of the country, the enthronement of transparency and accountability in the state, good governance, purposeful leadership and infrastructural development of Bayelsa State.  The award held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Governor Dickson who was accompanied by Governors Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Muktari Shagari,  the National Working Committee of the People's Democratic Party ably led by the National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, former Governors members of the Bayelsa State caucus at the National Assembly led by Senator Foster Ogola, Bayelsa State Elders Caucus led by Ch

1 BILLION ECA FUNDS: BAYELSA THREATENS COURT ACTION OVER 13 PERCENT DERIVATION COMPONENT   The Bayelsa State Government has threatened to sue the Federal Government if it refuses to deduct  the 13 percent derivation component of the one billion Dollars Excess Crude Account Funds it plans to withdraw to tackle insecurity in the country.  Governor Seriake Dickson had demanded that the 13 percent derivation component of the funds be deducted and deployed in the oil-producing states to address the peculiar  security challenges in the region. Though the President Muhammedu Buhari claims the one billion dollar from the Excess Crude Account  would be used for security purpose but many Nigerians doubt his sincerity. The state government has also formally presented its position to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is also the Chairman of the National Economic Council. The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in a statement on Saturday, that the Stat

PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS: PANEL UNCOVERS 8000 INHERITED EMPLOYMENTS IN BAYELSA … TRACKS THOSE SELLING APPOINTMENTS FOR N250,000 IN LGAS … GOVT SAYS PERSONNEL REDEPLOYMENT IN PUBLIC INTEREST   By Michael Egiethua The Bayelsa State Government has said that the decision to redeploy personnel in the public  service identified to be redundant by their supervisors to other agencies was in their best interest and that of the public. Making this assertion, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, assured the citizenry while speaking with a select number of journalists in Yenagoa on Thursday that the implementation of the reforms was not meant to witch-hunt any employee of government. Iworiso-Markson averred that as painful as the government’s action was, it was done to avoid a collapse of the state’s public service which has been under rot for years. He said that the government had embarked on a painstaking process of implementing the reforms with a focus on the

YOUTHS SHOULD SEE THEMSELVES AS POTENTIAL LEADERS-Senator Baba-Ahmed L-R Datti Baba-Ahmed PhD, Presidential Aspirant, Elder Statesman Ernest Sonekon and Hon. Chuma Nzeribe Nigerian youths should see themselves as potential leaders rather than tools in the hands of failed politicians as 2019 general elections approaches. This was the position of a presidential aspirant, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed during a courtesy call on his Royal Majesty Aholu Tha-Zunnon Toyon 1 of Ajara Vetho kingdom, Aholu Ebenezer Ahisu Koshoedo in Ajara Vetho. Senator Baba-Ahmed said that as a young chap of forty-eight years old, he is ready to paddle the ship of the country as he is ready to defeat corruption rather than fighting it as it has become order of the day in Nigeria. The young and vibrant presidential hopeful enjoined all Nigerians especially the youths to see 2019 as a year of liberation against enthronement of an analog president and to vote in a digital President that is well