Why we are against Sylva’s return, by Bayelsans; monarchs back Dickson’s reelection

0

It was a bizarre tale at a mega rally in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, when it was revealed how the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Timipre Sylva, ruined the state economy through massive corruption and abuse of power as governor between 2007 and 2011.
The revelation came from the Secretary of Bayelsa Solidarity Forum, Comrade James Ebipade, who led the forum to the rally where over 400 other non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) gathered to raise awareness on why Sylva’s bid to return to power should be rejected by the people.
Other speakers also spoke on why they are against the return of Sylva to the Government House.
The rally, tagged “Operation Reject Sylva and APC”, was staged under the banner of the Save Bayelsa Movement.
In a statement at the end of the rally, Ebipade revealed that between 2007 and 2011 when Sylva was governor, he received N708, 895, 925 as allocations from the Federation Account.
This amount, he stated, was not inclusive of the bond and several loans his administration got but never utilized as expected.
In the statement, Ebipade also revealed that in the period under review, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state stood at N22,02 billion, raising the total accruals to the Sylva administration to a staggering N780,915, 925.
Out of this amount, it was further revealed, only N68 billion was spent on capital expenditure just as it was claimed by the forum that in spite of the huge resources, there was nothing to show for the allocations received as well as the bonds and loans.
“There was absolutely no accountability”, he stated.
The forum bemoaned the financial recklessness of Sylva, noting that recurrent expenditure under him as governor was N648,512, 509, which it claimed indicated that the former governor spent less than N60 billion for capital projects.
In the light of the revelations, the forum said it would be a disaster if Sylva was allowed to return to the Government House and why the various NGOs had to come together to sensitize the general public on the inherent evils of the APC’s candidate’s agenda which must not be allowed to hold in the state.
“Bayelsans naturally have the right to wonder and ask whether this is the kind of change Sylva and APC want to bring back into government in the state. And if not, whether the welfare of Bayelsans is of no consequence to them? Otherwise, why must Sylva now seek to return Bayelsa to the days of the locust?”, the forum asked.
Ebipade opined that the situation was so bad that when the incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson, took over the mantle of leadership, the state appeared like a waste land with the added burden of having to spend a huge part of the state resources to service inherited debts.
“So why does Sylva still want to come back? Why does a man who was not thought fit to be a minister think he is fit to be governor of Bayelsa State? Does he think Bayelsans are such gluttons for punishment or are possessed of such short memories that they will allow him to further inflict on them those regrettable wasted years”?
Meanwhile, traditional rulers from Epie kingdom on Wednesday lauded the efforts of the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration at transforming the state capital, Yenagoa in less than four years in office, assuring him of their total support in his re-election bid.
Leading other traditional rulers and council of chiefs in Epie kingdom to receive the governor on a courtesy visit, the Obenibe of Epie Kingdom, King Malla Sasime said in spite of the dwindling allocation from the Federation Account, the governor has been able to impact on the lives of the people not only in Yenagoa Local Government Area but the state as a whole.
With various developmental projects, completed and ongoing, the governor, according to the traditional ruler, deserves another term of four years in office.
The present administration has in the last three and a half years in office embarked on developmental projects worth over N100 billion. The projects include; the first ever flyover, the world class diagnostic centre, Micro-finance bank, multi court door hall, , Late Prof Dora Akunyuli drug mart, the Igbogene/AIT bypass, Traditional rulers council secretariat and the driving school.
Others are, the cultural boulevard, the police officers mess, the road safety/Hospital junction ring road, to mention but few.
Assuring his readiness to do more, if voted for second term, Dickson described the investments as historical and, therefore, solicited the support and cooperation of the people of Epie Kingdom in the realisation of his second term re-election bid.
The visit, according to the governor, was to formally inform King Sasime of his intention to sensitise the communities on the need for a peaceful governorship election.
According to him, “on the 30th of this month, the Restoration Team would kick start a tour of the communities across the state with a view to engaging them on the need for a peaceful and hitch-free governorship election come December 5th 2015.”
His words: “You have seen the little that we have done in spite of the tight financial situation. You have seen the investments by the Bayelsa State Government in your domain; in Yenagoa. It is our thinking that by the grace of God and with the support of the people in the next term, we have to finish them. These are big projects that we have started. A number of them are at 60 to 80% completion stage, which is excellent but we need to complete them.”
“The hard decision of starting the projects has already been taken. In your kingdom alone, we have investment of over N100 billion which has never been before. It is our thinking that with your cooperation, in the next dispensation; we will now work hard to finish the projects.”
Dickson thanked the people for their peaceful disposition, expressing commitment to strengthening the traditional institution in the state to enable it function effectively.
In a related development, Dickson urged security agencies to intensify efforts at keeping the state safe before, during and after the election.
Granting audience to the new Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Apeohi Suleiman, in Yenagoa on Wednesday, Dickson restated his administration’s commitment to partnering with the Navy to effectively police the waterways in the state.
He expressed concern over the resurgence of kidnapping in the state, stressing that government’s efforts to secure the Bayelsa environment for business and other social activities would yield little result if the Command fails in its mandate.
While congratulating the new Flag Officer on his posting, Dickson commended officers and men of the Command for their dedication to duty, which he noted, has resulted in an increase in crude oil production in the state.
He also used the opportunity to laud the immediate past Flag Officer Commanding the Central Naval Command for the leadership he provided as well as working tirelessly with other security agencies to keep the state safe and urged the new FOC to do same.
The governor also assured the Federal Government that his administration would spare no effort in its partnership with security agencies to sustain the war against oil theft and piracy as well as protecting the state from being used as a launching pad for insurgency.
His words: “We expect no less from you. And at a time that our state is gearing up for general election, we are counting so much from the Navy and other related services to ensure that violence along the waterways does not discredit or mar the poll.
“Bayelsa cannot be safe until the Navy plays its own role because of our maritime nature. The security of even the upland areas depend so much on the security of the creeks and waterways. And those are areas of your expertise and responsibilities that come with your office and that of your officers and men.
“We had addressed the issue of kidnapping before but in the last couple of months, we are beginning to get cases of kidnapping. It is not peculiar to Bayelsa but even one kidnap incident is bad enough. So I like to use this opportunity not just to point out these issues but also to commend your men because I’m aware that with a renewed determination and zeal, your officers and men have doing so well that crude oil production has started going up”.
Earlier in his remarks, the new Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Apeohi Suleiman, said the visit was to enable him formally introduce himself to the governor and exchange ideas on how to strengthen the bond of partnership existing between the state government and the Nigerian Navy.
Rear Admiral Suleiman assured the state government of the Command’s determination to not only executing its mandate in the Niger Delta but also synergise with other security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.