There are no “Sacred Cows” in Governor Okpebholo’s Administration- Ohonbamu
Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu has reiterated that the State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is a man of integrity, with moral principles who will not spare any one found wanting in his administration from any senatorial district of the state
According to the Commissioner in a statement in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo, popularly called Akpakomiza is in a hurry to make Edo the envy of other states and will not tolerate any obstacles on his path to transform the state
“It was therefore not surprising to political pundits when the governor took the action against the suspended Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Hon. Samson Osagie and The Chairman of Edo State Local Government Service Commission, Hon Damian Lawani over alleged financial infractions.
“The decision to suspend them can be applied to everyone irrespective of who they are and where they come from.
“They have been suspended to allow the panel to do their work and if they are not culpable they will return to their office.
“For the information of Edo People and the general public, the Governor is a no nonsense leader who is no respecter of anybody who runs foul of the law and it should be clarified that he is not against anybody or any particular senatorial district in the state,” the Commissioner noted.
While stating that the governor will take action against anybody even if the culprit is his brother, relation, or political party loyalist, Hon Ohonbamu maintained that he can state categorically that the governor believes in conventional means of resolving issues, not self help, because he will not allow any wrong doing to go unpunished.
“From the action taken on the suspended government appointees, the governor is sending the message to all government appointees to be transparent, shun corruption, be committed to the work towards developing the state and any one that cannot cope should leave the office.
“The governor believes that any government appointee is into an enterprise of honorable dangerous consequences, therefore they should not fall foul of the oath of their office because the appointment goes with responsibilities,” he added.
The Commissioner disclosed that In the last one hundred days in office, the governor has taken some milestone decisions to change the narratives which has placed the state on a new Pedestal for Socio- economic growth.
According to him, “the appointment of a retired Commissioner of Police to head the Edo security Network has paved the way for improved and organized security outfit in the state,unlike in the past when it was not regulated and the ban on market unions is stabilizing the prices of food stuffs.
“The governor saw the need for the Ramat Park fly over to reinvent Commerce and businesses to boom beyond the ease of vehicular movement in that area. There is no doubt that the state has experienced a lot of developmental strides so far.”
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, BAYELSA STATE
PRESS RELEASE
Diri Renders Scorecard At Fifth Anniversary Celebration
*Says 60mw Gas Turbines Expected In Two Months
*VP, Jonathan, Wife, Plateau Gov, Other Prominent Guests In Attendance
The fifth anniversary thanksgiving service of the Senator Douye Diri administration in Bayelsa State, on Thursday, offered a platform for the governor to render his stewardship.
The well-attended event had prominent Nigerians, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience, Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Muftwang, National Assembly members among others in attendance.
The thanksgiving service was held at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene, Yenagoa, and had renowned Ghanaian preacher, Dr. Otabil Mensah, as the guest speaker.
Governor Diri, in his remarks, said Bayelsa was witnessing a transformation with the completion of several impactful projects as well as ongoing and newly-awarded projects.
He listed some to include the three big-ticket senatorial roads, particularly the Bayelsa Central road, which he said would get to Oporoma, headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, and inaugurated this year.
He also stated that with the support of the federal government, the second phase of the Nembe-Brass road Bayelsa East would come on stream while the ongoing first phase would be 90 per cent completed by the end of this year.
Diri noted that because of the abundant sporting talents in the state, his administration will constructing a 25,000-seat FIFA-standard stadium, which he said will be flagged off by Dr. Jonathan on Monday.
Among others, the Bayelsa governor stated that the administration was addressing the issue of civil servants office accommodation by commencing the building of an iconic nine-storey secretariat complex. He disclosed that the contractor, Megastar Limited, had already been paid 50 per cent of the project cost.
In education, Diri said there had been a shift in paradigm to science and technical education and the government had built and equipped five science and technical colleges across the state. He directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that the two local government areas yet to be covered were completed this year.
On epileptic power supply in the state, the Bayelsa helmsman said it will be a thing of the past when the 60mw gas turbines worth $60 million arrive the state.
His words: “All of these projects run into billions of naira. Of course, the one that will make all of us happier and affects everyone is electricity.
“We have agreed with a private company that is supplying us 60mw of gas turbines, big enough to serve not only Yenagoa but the whole of Bayelsa State.
“We are expecting the gas turbines to arrive Nigeria in the next two months and I can promise you without looking back that by the end of this year, we will have 24 hours independent power supply.”
In his goodwill message, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Tope Fasua, commended Bayelsa State’s significant development and economic progress.
He said the state was diversifying beyond crude oil and gas, which include agriculture, fishery and sports, that are crucial to the state’s prosperity.
He noted that the commencement of commercial flights at the Bayelsa International Airport was a significant infrastructural development.
The Vice President also applauded Diri for his reforms, including the announcement of a minimum wage of N80,000 for state workers.
He acknowledged the state’s impressive economic statistics with Bayelsa having the ninth highest GDP in Nigeria and the second highest GDP per capital after Lagos State.
In a sermon titled: “Wisdom,” Dr. Otabil Mensah said all over the world, the most deprived, underdeveloped nations were in Africa but it was still the most endowed and spiritually-blessed continent.
Dr. Mensah criticised Africans that pray mostly against fellow humans, saying true wisdom does not destroy but build.
He urged Africans to use wisdom to transform the immense wealth God had deposited in the land.
Other dignitaries at the service were Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday Onyeme, former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and another former Rivers Governor. Chief Rufus Ada-George.
Others were two former Military Administrators of Bayelsa State, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (Rtd) and Colonel Edor Obi (Rtd) as well as former Acting Governor Werinipere Seibarugu and former Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi.
Also present were Senators Sunday Katung, Konbowei Benson, and Benson Agadaga as well as Bayelsa House of Reps members – Dr. Fred Agbedi, Marie Ebikake, Rodney Ambaiowei, and Oforji Oboku.
Also in attendance were Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Boladei Igali, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, King Edmond Daukoru, NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and other top government functionaries.
Daniel Alabrah
Chief Press Secretary
Thursday, February 13, 2025
