Bayelsa Govt raises alarm, says ‘blackmailers after Gov Dickson’; civil servant arraigned for defamation, remanded in prison custody

Bayelsa State Government has raised the alarm over what it described as “inflammatory statements and falsehoods being propagated by mischief makers” to incite the people against the administration of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.
He warned that no amount of blackmail would deter the government from its responsibility to the people.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, made the condemnation after the State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
According to him, the council expressed deep concern over the rumours being peddled by some prominent Bayelsans to malign the present administration, adding that they had criticised every activity of the government to promote their selfish political interests.
Obuebite said, “Council is condemning the activities of some Bayelsans that will from time to time, go out and issue statements that are not true, just to incite the populace against the government. We want to call on Bayelsans not to believe them. All through their lives, some of them have been dependent on the government; some of them have held different positions within and outside the government.
“Some of them have even held positions in very respected institutions and speaking for us as a people. But, in recent times, they have decided to condemn every activity of the government and also spreading falsehood. This is a very transparent government and there is no money to share to anybody.”
“No amount of blackmail will make this government change its ways and share money to people that do not deserve it. Bayelsans need development and we want to use the resources of this state to develop Bayelsa for our future, so that our children will benefit from the foundation that we are laying today.”
According to him, while the government is open to constructive criticisms on its policies and programmes, it will not succumb to any form of blackmail or propaganda by persons, who do not have the interest of the state at heart.
Obuebite said, the council directed local government chairmen to abide by the Income and Expenditure Transparency Law, by making public funds accruing to the councils from the federation accounts, towards promoting accountability and good governance.
He reiterated that Dickson had never tampered with funds allocated to the third tier of government, since 2012, stressing that, the state government has rather, been supportive of local governments with the payment of 60% of primary school teachers’ salaries.
Obuebite said the council approved the design of the proposed new Yenagoa City project and directed the Ministry of Lands and Survey to initiate efforts at advertising the site for Bayelsans and non-indigenes to acquire plots of land.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Perekiye Buruboyefe, said the council has approved the funds for the laying of astro-turf and tartan tracks a the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, stating that, upgrading of its facilities would be ready within 6 weeks.
Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Hon. Kuroakeagha Dorgu also expressed the council’s resolve to recover all government landed properties and warned land developers to steer clear from such lands as offenders would be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, a civil servant with the Ministry of Justice, Jonah Okah, has been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court 7 in Yenagoa, over a case of criminal defamation levied against Mr. Ritchie Etonye, the Government House Accountant.
The accused, who was arraigned before Magistrate Pere Bossa, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him and was asked to be remanded in prison.
The state Police Command had arrested Okah, for criminal defamation of Etonye.
His arrest followed a petition to the police by Etonye over a false allegation Okah levelled against him, which he also publicised on his facebook account, where he (Okah) claimed that he had discussed with Ritche on the phone and that he confessed to have absconded with the sum of $4.6 million, belonging to the state government.
While expressing his innocence, Etonye stressed in the petition dated 30th August, 2016, that he neither discussed with Okah, as claimed nor absconded with any money belonging to the Bayelsa State Government, stressing that, Okah’s action constituted an offence under section 302 of the criminal code law of Bayelsa State.
Etonye is demanding among other things an unreserved apology from Okah, which should also be disseminated via same media he used for the false allegation against him as condition to halt litigation against Okah.
He further requested Okah to publish the apology letter in two national newspapers and two local newspapers with a copy addressed to his professional body, the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), to clear his name of any misconduct.
The case was adjourned to September 20.