ACTING GOVERNOR’S WIFE CALLS ON WOMEN TO COME OUT EN MASSE TO WELCOME THE PRESIDENT

As President Goodluck Jonathan begins a two day visit to the state, wife of the Acting Governor of Bayelsa state, Mrs. Martha Binabo has on behalf of women of the state welcomed the President and his wife Dame Patience Jonathan to the state.

Mrs. Binabo expressed delight with the visit of the President and his wife and urged women to turn out en masse to accord him a rousing welcome. She further added that their visit will further strengthen the dividends of democracy in the state and the country.

She welcomed other members of the entourage and wished the President a fruitful visit.

ACTING GOVERNOR WELCOMES THE PRESIDENT

The Acting Governor of the State, Chief Nestor Binabo has on behalf of the government, Chiefs and people of Bayelsa state welcome President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage as he begins a two day visit to the state.

In a statement issued out through the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Millionaire Abowei, the Acting Governor also wished Vice President Namadi Sambo and his entourage a fruitful stay. While in the state, President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to flag off the Peoples Democratic Party Governorship campaign in the state tomorrow.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN IS IN TOWN

President Goodluck Jonathan has arrived Otuoke, his home town to begin a two day visit to the state. He was received on arrival by the state acting Governor, Chief Nestor Binabo and other government officials.

The President was treated to a rousing welcome by women groups, traditional rulers and officials of the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). President Goodluck was accompanied by his wife, Dame Patience and national officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

ACTING GOVERNOR PRESIDES OVER HIS MAIDEN STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The state Acting Governor, Chief Nestor Binabo , while presiding over his maiden state Executive Council meeting in Government House yesterday, stated that there is no plan to dissolve the State Executive Council nor cabinet, contrary to speculations. According to the Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Chief Nathan Egba Ologo, announced  this during a post- Executive Council news briefing in his office.

Chief Egba-Ologo also stated that the present leadership, under the Acting Governor, intends to work with members of the executive council pointing out that one of his primary responsibilities would be to unite the people. He however noted that the acting Governor could terminate the appointment of any government official if he has cause to do so, but it will not be blanket dissolution of cabinet.

He further stated that president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s visit to the state tomorrow was one of the issues deliberated in the meeting. According to the information boss, the president is expected to flag off the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign in the state.

BAYELSA GOVERNMENT DISPELS RUMOUR OF CABINET DISSOLUTION

Contrary to reports making the rounds, the state Acting Governor,Chief Nestor Binabo does not have plans to dissolve the state Executive Council.

 Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Chief Nathan Egba-Ologo disclosed this during a post-Executive Council press briefing in his office.

 Chief Egba-Ologo said the State Acting Governor, Chief Nestor Binabo, while presiding over his maiden State Executive Council meeting in Government House yesterday, assured members of the State Executive Council that he has no plans of dissolving his cabinet.

 He stated that the present leadership, under the acting Governor, intends to work with members of the Executive Council and urged them to concentrate on their duties, adding that one of his primary responsibilities would be to unite the people of state.

 Chief Egba-Ologo however noted that the acting Governor could terminate the appointment of any government official if he has cause to do so, but it will not be   blanket dissolution of the cabinet.

 Chief Egba also said President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state tomorrow, February 2, 2012, was one of the issues deliberated upon during the meeting.

 According to the Information boss, the President is expected to flag off the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign in the state.

 Chief Egba-Ologo said the issue of the gas explosion at the Chevron Nigeria Oil Company’s Funiwa Oil Platform in Koluama 2 community, which has been raging for about two weeks now, also formed part of deliberations of the State Executive Council meeting.

 He noted that the Executive Council meeting resolved on the need to publicize the incident to inform the world of the enormity of the disaster which will live with the people for many years to come.

 Chief Egba-Ologo said up until now there has not been any clear effort on the part of Chevron Oil Company as to how it will contain the disaster, manage the situation and remediate the environment.

 Ebi Avi

Chief Press Secretary to the Ag. Governor

BINABO VISITS COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY GAS EXPLOSION; CALLS ON CHEVRON TO PAY ADEQUATE COMPENSATION

Bayelsa State Acting Governor, Chief Nestor Binabo has called on Chevron Oil Company operating in the state to pay compensation to its host communities impacted by the recent gas explosion from one of its facilities.
Chief Binabo made the call when he visited Koluama clan in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area as well as Akassa in Brass Local Government Area of the state.
While addressing the chiefs, elders and people of Akassa, one of the impacted communities, the Acting Governor expressed concern over the devastation caused by the gas explosion, saying that it has caused grave health hazard and degradation to the ecosystem.
Chief Binabo said, since the incident occurred, Chevron has failed to demonstrate its social and corporate responsibility to the impacted communities as the explosion was as a result of the company’s negligence, stating that if something is not done to alleviate the plight of the people, government would seek redress through every available legal means.
He promised that government on its part, would send relief materials and a team of medical personnel as soon as possible towards providing succor to the people of the impacted communities and commended them for their peaceful conduct over the matter. Chief Binabo urged the people to continue to maintain the peace and be law- abiding.
In his remarks, the newly sworn-in Secretary to State Government, Professor Millionaire Abowei explained that the purpose of the visit was to enable government have a first-hand knowledge of the level of devastation caused by the explosion as well as to find out how the people were coping.
Speaking, Secretary to the Akassa Council of Chiefs, Chief Baralaye Kuleha expressed appreciation to the Acting Governor and his entourage for identifying with them.
Chief Kuleha explained that over 25 communities and settlements were impacted by the gas explosion in Akassa and that the operations of Chevron, has affected their health as well as the ecosystem.
At Koluama, the Chairman of the Chiefs Council, Chief Christian Munghabofa described the visit as auspicious and thanked the Acting Governor and his entourage for identifying with the community in their time of grief, noting that since the discovery of oil in 1963, the community has nothing to show for its contributions to the national coffers.
The Acting Governor was accompanied on the visit by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Millionaire Abowei as well as the Environment Commissioner, Chief Robert Enogha and his counterpart in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Benson Dadigi.
Later in an interview with Government House correspondents, the Acting Governor, Chief Nestor Binabo reiterated that everything would be done to ensure that the oil company pays adequate compensation to the impacted communities.
Chief Binabo stated that in addition to the relief materials the state government would provide to the people, further assistance would be sought from the National Emergence Relief Agency (NEMA), adding that the position of the state government on the matter would be communicated to the Federal Government.
It would be recalled that the gas explosion occurred at the Funiwa Oil facility of Chevron Nigeria Limited, on Monday, January 16, 2012.

SYLVA DISMISSES THREAT OF EXPULSION FROM PDP

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, on Tuesday said he was prepared to face the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Sylva, who spoke against the backdrop of reports that the national leadership of the party had penciled him down for expulsion at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, said he remained unshaken by the antics of the party.

The ex-governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, restated his commitment to seek redress against what he described as injustice done to him by the PDP.

He said the report that the party might expel him was not new as it was one of the options the party’s leadership considered at the inception of his disqualification from contesting the party’s primary.

He recalled that Governor Rotimi Amaechi was expelled from the party when he dragged it to court over a case of illegal substitution, but that the court eventually reinstated him.

He said, “This has been on from the beginning of this crisis. It was one of the options on the ground. The governor is prepared for any eventuality. We are already in court over the injustice which the leadership of PDP meted out to him.

“So, if they still proceed on that same road, we will report back to the court. Don’t forget that Governor Amaechi was expelled from the party while he was in court, but the court nullified the expulsion. So, we are not afraid of such act because we have faced more situations than that. So, there is no fear. We have included it as part of our plans because they have the capacity for that kind of mischief.”

The former governor also reacted to the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission over the Supreme Court verdict that sacked five governors including him.

He rejected INEC’s position that only candidates who emerged after the Court of Appeal judgement of April 15, 2011 would be recognised for the state’s governorship election scheduled for February 11.

A separate statement by Ola said, “Sylva believes that under our laws, it is not the place of INEC to interpret any court judgement

February 1, 2012 by Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa