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The Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has
said that the opposition All Progressives Congress has no chance of
electoral victory in Bayelsa.
Governor Dickson said that the APC was in a bad state and was indeed in
tatters having been mauled by failure, fake, unfulfilled promises.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis
Soriwei, quoted Governor Dickson as having made the comment while
addressing appointees of the Restoration Government under his leadership
in Yenagoa on Thursday.
The governor said that the remnant òf members of the party are decamping
to ruling PDP in droves having been convinced by the developmental
exploits of the government.
He said that the government had opened up access to various communities in
the three senatorial districts into which the state is divided in addition
to the massive investments and exploits in the education, health and other
sectors.
The Governor said, “The other party, the APC in Bayelsa is in bad shape. I
don’t see them winning any election in Bayelsa. Remember, when the APC was
brand new, it could not win the election against us in 2015 even with the
Federal might.
“Now the APC is bedeviled by a lot of fake promises. The party is in
tatters, it has no head or tail, and stands to chance to win against us.
“We have done so Weill. We have built roads and bridges across the three
senatorial zones. It is under this administration that we are driving by
road for the first time to Nembe. It is also under this administration
that people are driving for the first time to Aleibiri. And by the Grace
of God, we shall drive to Ekeremor in December.”
Governor Dickson who also commented on the ongoing implementation of the
Public Service Reforms, expressed shock at the magnitude of rot in the
public sector.
The governor was saddened by the fact that the holistic screening of the
files of all the civil servants in the states have shown that 92 percent
of civil servants are affected by the exercise.
He said that it was indeed shameful that 92 percent of civil servants had
indulged in procurement of grades and steps in the Bayelsa Civil Service.
He said that while the proper thing to do was to prosecute those involved
in the manipulative acts in the civil service, the government would retain
them and return them to their proper grades.
He said that the intent of the reforms was not punitive but to reposition
the civil service for greater productivity.
“There are those civil servants who are promoted every year. We want hard
work to be recognized but steps and grade levels are sold and bought in
the market. They change steps and grade level. The right thing to do is to
prosecute them but we are compassionate.The number involved, about 92
percent, are buying grade levels and steps.
“I have told them not to prosecute them; I am a man of compassion, a man
who loves his people. They are going to be brought to their normal grade
level. We have decided to say let my people go. Every file of the civil
servants, is being scrutinized, thoroughly. The preliminary report is
appalling. I am ashamed.”
He insisted that blackmail would not stop him from carrying out the
reforms in the interest of Bayelsa and her people.
Commenting on the issue of fraud in the pension payroll, the Governor
stressed that the government has been spending about N500 million on
pension every month without a reduction or increase in the figure for the
past six years.
The Governor said that while it was his in interest for pensioners to live
long, it was not possible for the people on the pension payroll to be
permanent without the slightest adjustment.