Monday 31 October 2011

NIGERIA AND FUEL SUBSIDY



Participants in a Radio Bayelsa News and Current Affairs programme titled “Nigeria and Fuel Subsidy”, have urged the federal Government to create an enabling environment for private individuals, and companies to own refineries in the country as it will lead to the availability of petroleum products to Nigerians than the removal of petroleum subsidy.
A petrochemical Engineer, Mr. Olaowei Indiamowei regretted that Nigeria as the Ninth highest producer of crude in the world still imports processed petroleum products instead of processing its crude internally.
Mr. Indiamowei further explains that Nigeria’s crude oil is very easy and cheap to refine due to the absence of supplier,noting that what the country needs most is the sincerity of purpose from everyone, especially the leadership in order to end the oil crises in the country.
Mr. Boleigha stated that the removal of fuel subsidy will cause untold hardship to the ordinary man that has already been over taxed stressing that government has the responsibility of improving the living standard of its citizenry.  

Sunday 30 October 2011

GOV. SYLVA SCREENED IN

We have read with horror a report that the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief
Timipre Sylva, has been screened out by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for
the 2012 Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Election. The report claims the
Gubernatorial Screening Appeal Committee of the PDP headed by former Ekiti
State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi, considered Sylva ineligible
to fly the party’s flag “for operating foreign accounts”.

Whatever the quality of the sources, this report is completely false. It
is low quality fiction. It is a cheap lie sponsored by those who are
afraid to meet Governor Sylva in the political field of contest, and their
paid and unpaid agents, working collectively or severally.

But then, we are not surprised as it follows a familiar pattern of a
structured campaign of serial untruths about Governor Sylva, a fact we
alerted the world about last weekend.

For the avoidance of doubt, there is no basis whatsoever for the PDP to
exclude Governor Sylva from the 2012 Bayelsa governorship race. He is the
man to beat. Ownership and operation of a foreign account by a serving
public officer is a criminal offence. No competent court of law has
indicted Governor Sylva for operating a foreign account. He has no such
charge pending anywhere in the world. God fobid!

The PDP Gubernatorial Screening Committee for Bayelsa last Friday issued
Governor Sylva a clearance certificate to participate in the party
primaries slated for 19 November. That clearance certificate remains
valid. It is true that the governor was at the National Headquarters of
the PDP Sunday afternoon at the instance of the Gubernatorial Screening
Appeal Committee. But as Sylva himself confidently told reporters after
meeting with the committee, “the deliberations were fruitful”.

In the face of continuous lies against Governor Sylva, we appeal to our
numerous supporters to continue to remain clam, peaceful and law-abiding.
Governor Sylva remains confident that the will of the Bayelsa people,
guided by God, shall prevail.
God bless Bayelsa!

DOIFIE OLA
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Bayelsa State
31 October 2011

Thursday 27 October 2011

AMATEUR FICTION: HUHUONLINE ON GOVERNOR SYLVA

Our attention has been drawn to a mischievous story titled: “Gubernatorial
Race: Gov. Sylva Threatens to Kill President Jonathan, His Wife… If”,
published by your online medium, Huhuonline.com on 25 October 2011.

In the story, you wickedly alleged that Governor Sylva had during a phone
conversation with former Bayelsa State Commissioner of Health, “Dr. Eruani
Azipanu” threatened to kill Mr. President and his wife should he be denied
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial ticket for the February
2012 election.

You also went further in your vicious tale to state that Governor Sylva in
the said call admitted to be one of the financiers of the dreaded militant
sect, Boko Haram, and that he threatened to unleash them on the state if
he is removed as Governor! This call, you further claimed, was the reason
for the recent emergency meeting of the Nation Security Council and a
beefing up of security around the President.

No doubt, it is election time once again in Bayelsa State during which any
means is fair by those who believe that the best way they can rule Bayelsa
is to hijack power through the back door and not by the popular mandate
freely given by the people. It is also given that the owners of
Huhuonline.com have sold their souls to those people bent on ruling
Bayelsa at all cost and therefore owe their paymasters a duty of
concocting and publishing unsubstantiated stories about the Governor, no
matter how ridiculous.

Nonetheless, this latest story by Huhuonline.com is, to say the least,
crude, bizarre and diabolical. It is only evil minds that can speculate
evil of that magnitude. The story is fiction at its amateurish lowest.

It is completely stripped of every sense of decency and decorum.
Huhuonline.com has simply taken all the known ethics of journalism or
citizens journalism to the pigs.
That story though meant to paint Governor Sylva black in public view is
also not fair to President Goodluck Jonathan whom its promoter or group of
promoters are desperately seeking his attention.

It is unthinkable and shocking that that a private phone conversation
between the governor and a former commissioner has now become the major
tool for Huhuonline.com’s obsession with speculation and blackmail.

Governor Sylva enjoys warm brotherly relationship with President Jonathan.
The Governor was in the frontline of the campaign for a Jonathan
presidency, convinced that Dr. Jonathan has what it takes to transform
Nigeria. If this story is one of the several attempts to put a wedge
between Jonathan and Sylva, its promoters should know that they have
failed again.

To pause and ponder a little, not even a fool will dare pull a phone call
and threaten to kill the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and his wife. The consequences are too
grave to imagine.

Since the reality of our emerging security challenges dawned on us all,
President Jonathan has risen to the occasion and had on several occasions
called emergency meetings of the Security Council to fashion out innovate
security responses. To say the last emergency Security Council meeting,
which was well advertised in the media, was to respond to a telephone
conversation is absurd and unfair to Mr. President.

Governor Sylva is a man of peace, patriotism and great achievement. His
role in the Niger Delta Amnesty Initiative is well documented. He abhors
violence and will never use that road for his political ambition. It is
simply cheap and amateurish to link him with Boko Haram.

Elections in Nigeria are not conducted on the Internet. Let the promoters
of this story sell themselves to the Bayelsa people. Governor Sylva has
endeared himself to the people of Bayelsa State through his laudable
development, people-oriented programmes. He is focused on the
consolidation of his development agenda for the state. By the Grace of
God, Sylva is the Governor today through popular mandate. He is seeking
another popular mandate. By the grace of God, the will of the people will
prevail.

God Bless Bayelsa!



DOIFIE OLA
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Bayelsa State, NIGERIA

Tuesday 25 October 2011

A NEW DAWN FOR WORKERS IN BAYELSA STATE


The State Governor Chief (Dr.) Timipre Sylva has taken the decision to pay the Eighteen Thousand Naira minimum wage to the state workers with effect from this month. This announcement was made in a meeting held with the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Government House, Yenagoa. Speaking, Governor Sylva also approved the monthly payment of Ninety Two point Nine Million Naira (92,900 000) only, to the Local Government Council for the purpose of implementing the payment of the new consolidated health care workers. He also stated that Government has set up a committee to review the benefits of pensioners so the effects of inflation will not erode the purchasing power of their little earnings. Governor Sylva also added that he has approved the release of fund for the purchase of a building which would be used as “Labour House” by the state NLC. Governor Sylva has directed the ministry of works and Transport to ensure the construction of the short stretch of road leading to the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) is done without delay. Governor Sylva stressed the need for workers in the state to ensure punctuality and dedication in their work to enhance productivity. The Governor also noted that the wage bill of the state was now in the neighborhood of Five Billion Naira monthly, therefore all hands must be on deck to increase the internally-generated revenue base on the state. The Chairman of the state union congress, Comrade Ayibaitari Yekorogha lauded the Governor for accepting to pay the new minimum wage without any acrimony or friction with labour. The Chairman of the state NLC thanked the Governor for his kind gestures.

Sunday 23 October 2011

BAYELSA STANDS STILL FOR SYLVA

The Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa and indeed the entire state this weekend stood
still for Governor Timipre Sylva as people from all walks of life gathered at
the city entrance, Igbogene to welcome Sylva, who was returning from Abuja,
where he had gone to submit his gubernatorial expression of intent form at the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) Headquarters, Abuja.

The mammoth crowd that had thronged the city entrance to welcome their governor
later moved to the Peace Park, Yenagoa, where a grand solidarity rally was held
in honour of the governor.


Speaking at the rally, Sylva announced to Bayelsans that he had submitted his nomination
form to the PDP for the 2012 gubernatorial election in the state.

The governor said the present administration has, in the last three and half years,
laid a solid foundation for the development of the state, adding that he was
poised to consolidate on his achievements.
He told the huge populace gathered at the city centre that it was most unfortunate
that in recent times, some politicians have been dragging the name of President
Goodluck Jonathan into the local politics of Bayelsa, pointing out that these
desperate politicians have been going around declaring that they were the
adopted candidates of Mr. President.

Sylva urged Bayelsans to ignore such stories as there was no iota of truth
in them, stressing that the name of the President should be respected and not
dragged into the local politics of the state. Governor
Sylva disclosed to the cheering crowd and the entire people of Bayelsa that he
has consulted widely among stakeholders within the state and Abuja and there
was no cause for alarm.
“I went to Abuja where I continued with my consultations and I wish to announce to
all Bayelsans that I have the blessing of President Goodluck Jonathan. There is
no cause for alarm as we are firmly in control”, the governor disclosed.


In his remarks, chairman of the state branch of the Association of Local
Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, said as the rallying
point of the people at the grassroots, ALGON has decided that Sylva is their
candidate for the governorship election in the state in 2012.
“Chief Timipre Sylva is our candidate for the 2012 governorship election in the state.
There is no vacancy in the Bayelsa State seat of power. For us, it is Sylva”, he
declared.


In his welcome address, Chairman of Yenagoa Municipal Council, Mr. Michael
Ogbolosinga, said ALGON organized the solidarity rally to affirm the
association’s loyalty to Sylva’s administration. Ogbolosinga pointed out that Sylva’s
score card was an eloquent testimony of the governor’s desire to develop the
state, adding that “come 2012, there is no vacancy in Government House, Yenagoa”.

The rally was attended by members of the State House of Assembly, commissioners,
leadership of the eight local government councils in the state, women and youth
groups, opinion leaders, senior citizens of the state and the physically challenged.


DOIFIE OLA
Chief Press secretary to the Governor

Saturday 22 October 2011

SPELLING BEE COMPETITION IN AMASSOMA



CENTRE FOR GENDER INITIATIVE DEVELOPMENT
YOUTH UNITED CLUB OF AMASSOMA
SECOND EDITION OF READING/UNDERSTANDING AND SPELLING BEE COMPETITION (DEBATE)
TOPIC: BEE COMPETITION
THEME: EDUCATION IS LIGHT
AT DES-CLIN BAR BY DSP ALAMIEYESEIGHA ROAD, AMASSOMA, BAYELSA STATE.

Hon. Eremananagha Vivian who was the speaker for the day said, the Hon. Commissioner for Education loves education and he gave free scholarships to students and trained people on fishery. She also said that the Co-sponsor of the COMPETITION Barr. Oyanbo Owei in NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKING effort to develop Bayelsa State Educational background will continue.

The Hon. Commissioner of Education in Bayelsa State, on his part said education is everything and everything is education. A little Book to assist the education of children is now in your hands. But can they be well educated, if their parents never send them to SCHOOL? This is a point that needs now to call for some inculcation. Which means parents have the responsibility to impress or encourage education to life of their children.

The prices were offered to the best participants
First price: School bags, Sandals, Dictionary, A set of school uniform, A dozen of note books, Mathematical set, A note book computer, Students companion book & cash price #120,000.
Second price: School bags, Sandals, Dictionary, A set of school uniform, A dozen of note books, Mathematical set, Students companion book & cash price #9,000

Third price: School bags, Sandals, Dictionary, A set of school uniform, A dozen of note books, Mathematics & English text book, Students companion book & cash price #5,000

Bayelsa State Nepad Coordinator
Mrs. Precious Vivian Owei Elishama also donated 50 note books and text books to the BEE COMPETITION (WORD SPELLING COMPETITION) at Amassoma.

The Competition was sponsored by
Hon. Ere-mananagha Vivian

Co-sponsor: Barr. Oyabo Owei
OFFICE OF THE SENIOR SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE GOVERNOR ON NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKING

Friday 21 October 2011

ANNUAL READING/UNDERSTANDING AND SPELLING BEE COMPETITION HELD IN AMASSOMA.



At the second edition of the Annual Reading/Understanding and Spelling Bee Competition held in Amassoma. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media and Social Networking was one of the judges of the occasion. Students of secondary schools have been charged to reawaken the reading culture to tackle challenges as key to mental spiritual and economic wellbeing of individuals. Speaking as  chairman of the occasion, House committee Chairman on Education in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Jonathan Ebuebite commended the efforts of Mrs. Vivian Ere-Imananagha and YUCA for addressing the falling standard of education. Also speaking, Commissioner for Education, Proff Tuemi Asuka describe Vivian Ere as a free thinker and urged her to continue, nothing that her well thought out effort is aimed at promoting education. In her response, Coordinator of the centre of the Gender Initiative Development, Mrs. Vivian Imananagha stated that the essence of the programme is to encourage reading culture among them and to support teachers in preparing them for challenges ahead. A total of five hundred and Ninety-six students representing the twenty-two compounds and three from each from JSS 1-SS3 are involved in the competition. Governor Timipre Sylva through the office of the SSA New Media and Social Networking is giving each winner of the spelling Bee competiton a Zinox computer, NEPAD Bayelsa chapter donated over 50 poetry books. Other personalities who graced the occassion are Amaibe Akara, Ogboin Ibe Council of Chiefs, Chief Kingdom Yeri, Executive Chairman SUBEB, Mr. Rhodesia Whyte and S A on Renewable Energy, Mrs. Timi Agara.   

Monday 17 October 2011

BAYELSA ASSEMBLY ENDORSES SYLVA

Bayelsa State House of Assembly has endorsed the re-election bid of Governor Timipre Sylva in next year’s governorship election in the state. In a document jointly signed by all 24 members of the Peoples Democratic Party-dominated Assembly, including the three members from the opposition Labour Party, KOWA Party, and Progressive Peoples Alliance, the House said its support for the governor was based on his excellent record of performance in the last four years.
The document, titled “On Sylva We Stand,” reads, “We, the elected representatives of the Bayelsa people in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, hereby endorse the re-election of Chief Timipre Sylva in next year’s governorship election in the state.
“Governor Sylva’s performance stands him out. Over the last four years, we have come to know him as not just an alternative to the coterie of contenders for the exalted position of Bayelsa State Governor, but the one we earnestly need now to lead us in our collective voyage to the future we all desire. We are happy with what we have seen.
“We have been impressed with Sylva’s wide knowledge, foresight, and clear understanding of the peculiar nature of our state and its people. These qualities of his have been apparent in the many development programmes of his government, which have put our Glory of All Lands ahead in several social, economic, and political spheres.”
The legislators noted the contribution of the Sylva government to the current amnesty programme of the federal government, which has encouraged the hitherto agitated youth of the oil-rich Niger Delta to turn their backs on armed struggle and embrace peace.
“The amnesty programme, which actually had its roots in our state, is not only a huge success but is celebrated within the comity of civilised nations as Nigeria’s contribution to the global search for peace,” they stated.
They also highlighted the vast infrastructural transformation programme of the Sylva administration, saying, “We are proud to be associated with a governor that has made Yenagoa, our state capital, one of the best lit at night in Nigeria, given Bayelsa State one of the best health institutions in the country, and given our youth one of the most robust human development programmes in the country.
“Under Sylva, we see a promising future for our Bayelsa State. We must allow this promise to continue to blossom.”
The endorsement was signed by Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nestor Binabo (SALGA II), PDP; Deputy Speaker, Hon. Fini Angaye (KOLGA II), PDP; Leader, Hon. Amalanyo Yousuo (BALGA II), PDP; Chief Whip, Hon. Konbowei Benson (SILGA IV), PDP; Deputy Leader, Hon. Agatha Goma (EKELGA I), PDP; and Deputy Whip, Hon. Igrubia Walaman (OGBIA III) PDP.
The following members also signed the document endorsing Sylva’s second term: Hon. Obolo M. Boubou (SILGA II), PDP; Hon. Daniel Igali (SILGA III), PDP; Hon. Dorgu Kuroahegha (SILGA I), PDP; Hon. Empere Bamua (SALGA III), PDP; Hon. Akpe Peter (SALGA I), PDP; Hon. Omekwe Azibola (OGBIA I), PDP; Hon. Emoto Obedient (OGBIA II), PDP; Hon. Alfred Egba (YELGA I), PDP; Hon. Emelah Gentle (YELGA III), PDP; Hon. Fekeoweimo Ebipadei (YELGA II), PDP; Hon. Omonibeke Kemelayefa (EKELGA II), PDP; Hon. Obuebite Jonathan (NEMBE I), PDP; Hon. Ayobegha James (NEMBE II), PDP; Hon. Obiene Iniyobio (NEMBE III), PDP; and Hon. Sam-Ateke Victor (BRASS I), PDP.
The following opposition members of the Assembly signed the endorsement: Minority Leader, Hon. Ingobere Abraham (BRASS III), KOWA Party; Minority Whip, Hon. Aprezi Victor (EKELGA III), PPA; and Deputy Minority Leader, Hon Isenah Tonye (KIOLGA I), LP.

SSA ON NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKING OBSERVED THE REPEATED ALLEGATIONS AND RUMORS AGAINST GOVERNOR SYLVA


                                                                                                                                                         
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media and Social Networking, Barr. Oyanbo Peace Owei, has described as worrisome and counterproductive the spate of character assassination of the state Governor Chief Timipre Sylva. Accordingly, Barr. Owei states  that it does not portray the state and its people in good light that some individuals and organization has engaged in absolute falsehood in an effort to malign the state Governor. In a statement, the SSA Barr. Oyanbo Peace Owei observed that with sadness that repeated allegations of mismanagement of state funds have never been substantiated rather such rumors and falsehood continue to make the rounds. She stated that these allegations which found expression in the social media networks are without any shred of evidence to prove the claim. Barr. Owei express optimism that deceiving Bayelsans will be able to distinguish facts from falsehood. The SSA on New Media and Social Networking adds that Governor Timipre Sylva will always remain focused on the task of restoring Bayelsa State to truly make it the “Glory of All Lands”.