Dennis

​ Nigeria Books of Record honors Bayelsa PFN Chair, Eyedoude Bayelsa State Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Tam Seth-Eyedoude, has been inducted into the Nigeria Books of Record, in recognition of his selfless service to humanity. Recall that the inductee, alongside his executive successfully hosted the 17th PFN National Biennial Conference, where renowned fathers of faith converged on Yenagoa for the 3-days programme, which among other things qualified him for the honour. The induction ceremony, which took place at The Redeemed Glory Family Church Inc, Agudama-Epie, had in attendant fathers of faith, political class and other dignitaries from all walks of life within and outside the State. In a brief exhortation, guest preacher, Apst. David Zilly-Aggrey, who preached on the topic “ The honour of men” stressed the need to honour those that have labored in the vineyard in order to be honored by God. Represented by Apst. Abraham Monty, Apst. Zilly-Aggrey, d...

​ Nov. 11 Bayelsa Guber Poll: APC in trouble as Sylva's running mate risk disqualification over alleged conviction, forgery, jail-break.  .... group threatens court action, seek immediate arrest Trouble is brewing in the fold of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State following the threat by a transparency group, Coalition for Social Justice and Equity Initiative (CSJEI) to approach the court over the alleged ineligibility of the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Party, Joshua Maciver for the November 11th, 2023, Governorship election in Bayelsa state. According to the group, Joshua Maciver was allegedly convicted by an honourable court, and was sent to Kaduna State to serve a 10 -year jail term for murder and terrorism.  Maciver, according to the group, however, did not complete his sentence and escaped from prison by allegedly pretending to be sick and needed treatment. The CSJEI group, through its Public Relations Officer, Ezra Areo, also claimed that despite...

​ Trouble is brewing in the fold of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State following the threat by a transparency group, Coalition for Social Justice and Equity Initiative (CSJEI) to approach the court over the alleged ineligibility of the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Party, Joshua Maciver for the November 11th, 2023, Governorship election in Bayelsa state. According to the group, Joshua Maciver was allegedly convicted by an honourable court, and was sent to Kaduna State to serve a 10 -year jail term for murder and terrorism.  Maciver, according to the group, however, did not complete his sentence and escaped from prison by allegedly pretending to be sick and needed treatment. The CSJEI group, through its Public Relations Officer, Ezra Areo, also claimed that despite being declared wanted by the Ministry of Interior and the decision of the administration of Late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to offer Presidential pardon to militants during the militancy days in...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Wednesday, inaugurated two projects executed by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) and funded by the German government. The projects executed in Otuan community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area are a police post and a youth development centre. The projects also include provision of a  cassava processing equipment. Governor Diri, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, commended the German government and the UNODC for partnering with his administration on crime prevention and promoting community development. He said the projects executed in the community indicated that the collaboration between the state government and international development partners had yielded positive results.  The governor expressed appreciation to international development partners for working with the state government, stressing that the best way to control crime was prevention.  "I have engaged with var...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri,  has been commended for backing his words with action  by delivering State of the art equipment to Niger Delta Television station (NDTV). State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ayiba Duba, gave the commendation during the flag-off of a two month training programme for staffers  of the NDTV for effective handling of equipment at the Ernest Ikoli Media Complex, Yenagoa. Hon. Duba expressed gratitude to God and Governor Douye Diri for the equipment, said  it will enable quality service delivery and effective dissemination of government polices and programmes by the state owned broadcasting station across the Niger Delta region He therefore, urged staffers to be committed to the course of the Government for greater opportunities and empowerment. Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry,  Mrs. Jane Help-Yawei, emphasised that a balanced work ethics and morals are key ingredients to ...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Tuesday, paid glowing tributes to the first civilian governor of Rivers State, the late Senator Melford Okilo, describing him as a nationalist who moulded him politically.  Speaking during the 15th memorial celebration of Chief Okilo, who he eulogised as a political sage and visionary leader, Governor Diri stated that the late politician was his role model whom he studied closely. Diri said Okilo had a huge impact on his life and political career. His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that during his early days in politics, he ran for office under Okilo’s party, National Solidarity Movement (NSM). According to the governor, he followed in the footsteps of Okilo, got involved in Ijaw activism and was exposed to the injustices he always complained about and sought to change. He hailed Okilo as a leader that placed the interest of the people above personal considerations, stressing that his track record was r...

Special Assistant on media to the Bayelsa State Governor,  Mr. John Domkpee, has backed his principal, Governor Douye Diri, to retain his seat as the State governor with ease in the November 11 governorship election. This, he said, is because the All Progressives Congress(APC)  Standard bearer, Chief Timipre Sylva, does not stand a chance against his principal in the forthcoming election. Mr Domkpee, in an interview, maintained that the Bayelsa State APC has lost campaign ideas, stating that Bayelsans are well informed to know who is the better candidate between Governor Diri and the former minister of State for Petroleum Resources. “The fact that Bayelsa APC members are asking eligible Bayelsans to vote for Chief Timipre Sylva in the November 11 election to align with the center shows the party doesn’t have tangible things to campaign with.  “Bayelsans are informed and wise enough to know that Sylva who could not attract significant projects to the state as minister of s...

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, on Sunday made a clear statement of intent in their quest to win the Bayelsa State Governor's Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup with a 4-0 thumping of Ikolo FC in a game decided at the Samson Siasia Stadium. The NUJ team proved that apart from writing good stories everyday with catchy headlines for the public that they can also be described as title contenders. Oghene Tari put NUJ FC ahead on 24 minute from Okadi Micah's right footed delivery having squander several scoring chances in the opening ten minutes of the game. Substitute Gbefa Victor doubled the lead for NUJ on 76 minute from the spot kick when Ikolo FC defender Confident Ebisia hacked Sunday Samuel in his danger zone as Gbefa stepped forward to send Ikolo FC goalkeeper the wrong way. Having conceded two goals Ikolo FC mounted pressure on NUJ FC to break John Angese led defence line as NUJ capitalized on a counter attack to make it 3-0 on 85 minute. NUJ FC talisman V...

Former World and African champions are among top Nigerian players that will slug it out at the third edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship. The two-day event hosted by the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association (BYSA) in Yenagoa, the state capital, is slated for July 8 and 9 at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall. The governor’s tournament serves as the final preparation for the Nigerian contingent to the World Scrabble Championship holding in the United States from July 15. Expected to participate in the masters category are former world champion, Wellington Jighere, current African champion, Enoch Nwali, his compatriot and defending champion of the tournament, Nsikak Etim among other top-rated players such as Emmanuel Umujose, Eta Karo as well as Oshevire Avwenaghagha, who won in the first edition. Chairman of the BYSA, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the readiness to host the third edition with over 300 players from across the country expected to parti...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described as sad the passing of a former acting governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Nestor Binabo. Hon. Binabo, who was acting governor for a brief period between January 27 and February 14, 2012, passed on Thursday morning after a protracted illness. He also held other political offices, including being a Commissioner for Youth and Conflict Resolution, Deputy Speaker, Acting Speaker and Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly. Governor Diri in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said Binabo was a grassroots politician and will be greatly missed in the politics of the state. He also said Binabo contributed his quota to the development of the state and left at God’s ordained time, having battled to stay alive. Dir urged his immediate and political families to accept his demise as the will of God and be consoled by his great impact in the politics and development of the state. He equally prayed God to ...

  Bayelsa State  Commander of the  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr  Matthew Ewah, says the command  arrested no fewer than one hundred and ninety-three  suspected drug abusers in the state Mr Ewah, stated this during a press briefing in commemoration of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at his office in Yenagoa, with its theme “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention”. The State Commander of NDELA, described the theme as apt and timely, as it focuses on treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy, offering alternatives to punishment and prioritising prevention, among others.  Mr Ewah, commended Bayelsans for their support to the command,  hinted that the arrest which comprised one hundred and sixty-eight  males and twenty-five females, were made between July last year and June this year. According to him, the command seized a total of 88.019 kilogra...

The Muslim community in Bayelsa State has thrown their weight behind the second term bid of Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in the November 11 Gubernatorial election in the state. The Muslim Ummah gave their endorsement for the reelection of the duo as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively at a special banquet put together for the Muslim faithful by the Bayelsa State Government to mark the 2023 Eid-el Kabir celebration at the Government House in Yenagoa on Wednesday. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Council for Islamic Affairs in the state, Alhaji Yakubu Otobo, said the Muslim Ummah were fully supporting the Governor's reelection bid in view of the numerous verifiable infrastructural projects his administration had successfully executed in the state. Alhaji Otobo, who spoke through his Vice, Malam Usman Galadenchi, listed the projects to include Phase Two of the New Gateway Road, the Nembe-Brass Road, Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, and the...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has congratulated the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and particularly in the state on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration The Bayelsa governor in a statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, urged Muslim adherents to use the opportunity of the festival to renew their faith in the Creator and in the unity of our country. Governor Diri noted that Eid-el-Kabir is a feast of love, selflessness and sacrificial giving, calling on Muslims and other citizens in Bayelsa to continue to live in peace and brotherliness. He said his administration has guaranteed peaceful co-existence in the state and ensured that the right environment was created for business and work no matter your religion or where you are from. He said: “Love is the highest form of virtue. The Eid-el-Kabir celebration is a time to reflect on and manifest it.  “I urge our Muslim brothers to renew their faith in God Almighty and in the unity of our country as I congra...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri’s re-election bid received a boost on Monday as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Union of Bayelsa State Students (NUBSS) endorsed him and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, for a second term. They gave the endorsement at the first-ever students summit in the state organised by the Bayelsa State Students Management Committee.  The aim of the summit is to equip students with entrepreneurial skills. Speaking on behalf of the students, President of the NUBSS Worldwide, Dennis Ebobra, said the endorsement was as a result of the governor's developmental projects not only in the education sector but in virtually all sectors. Ebobra said their support was to reciprocate the huge investment of the Diri administration in education and that they will ensure the governor returns to office to continue with his good policies for the sector and the state. Also, the NANS Zone B Coordinator, Comrade Kings Tamarau...

The Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on New Media, Mr. John Domkpee,  has congratulated the management and players of the Bayelsa Queens Football Club over their recent triumph in this year’s Nigerian Women Federation Cup (FA Cup). Bayelsa Queens on Wednesday had beaten the Rivers Angels of Rivers State on penalties to retain the FA Cup trophy after playing out a goalless draw in normal time. Domkpee in a statement on Saturday also said he is not surprised by the team’s triumph given that the team has amazing players and a success-driven management that have what it takes to win laurels for the state. The governor’s aide further attributed the recent successes of sports teams in Bayelsa State to Governor Douye Diri whom he described as a sports lover. He added that Diri’s constant support for the state’s sportsmen and women serves as an incentive for athletes to do well. He said “I want to use this medium to celebrate the management and players of the Bayelsa Queens ...