News
Group Tells Sylva to be Objective about Diri
Group Tells Sylva to be Objective about Diri
By: Michael Mike
The Bayelsa Mandate Group (BMG) has advised a former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, to be objective in his assessment of the administration of Governor Douye Diri, advising him not to allow partisan politics to becloud his sense of judgment.
The group, in a statement signed by its leader, Chief Nazuan Godfrey, asked Sylva, who is also the immediate past Minister of State, Petroleum, to act as a true statesman by acknowledging the giant strides of the Diri administration in the last four years instead of the baseless criticisms he has embarked upon.
According to Nazuan, what interests the people of Bayelsa, the only homogenous state in the country, is its development and the ability of the leaders to make life better for the citizens, this the group insisted is what Diri has been doing.
Taking a swipe at the performance of Sylva when he was the governor of the state and when he served as a minister, BMG noted that it was nothing to write home about when compared with the tenure of Governor Diri.
The group lamented that Sylva left Bayelsa underdeveloped and littered with abandoned projects.
“We are all witnesses to what happened in the recent past, during the Sylva era. The Glory Drive Road for which over N9 billion was earmarked, what came out of it? The Kolo Creek Electric Power Station switch gears project which was varied from an initial sum of N486 million to over N1 billion, only has an abandoned control room to show for it. What about the revocation of our prized jewel, OML46, otherwise called Atala Oil Field, who stole it through the back doors?
“For the records, we gathered that Sylva is talking about some gas turbines, when we all know who sold as scraps, the turbines bought by the late Melford Okilo. The Olympus Rolls Royce Gas Turbines were bought and installed by Okilo, while the other turbines were the Russian made Salut bought by the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and the Rolls Royce RB211 bought by former President Goodluck Jonathan during his brief stay as governor of Bayelsa State. What happened to them?
“Let Sylva mention the year, model and capacity of the turbine he claimed to have bought that was sold by his successors,” the group stated.
They berated Sylva for obliterating a major legacy of Okilo by selling the power turbines for peanuts.
BMG also accused Sylva of inaugurating projects that were not completed and recalled how the late President Umaru Musa Yar’dua was invited to inaugurate an uncompleted plant with a stand by generator, adding that it was in fact the last official engagement of the late President.
Godfrey stated that Sylvia’s desperation and obsession to get back to Creek Haven with claims that Bayelsa is owing him four years of governance is misplaced and provocative.
“Goodluck Jonathan as a Governor of Bayelsa State procured the RB211 Rolls Royce Gas Turbine which was haphazardly installed under the Sylva’s administration. Due to lack of proper project management, that project suffered serious structural defects that was extremely difficult to salvage. Professional technical evaluation indicates that the contractors engaged had little or no background to execute such a project,” he said.
The group stated that the 500-bed hospital started by Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha at Imgbi Road was turned into a cash cow by officials of the Sylva administration under the guise of remodeling and Public, Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
“After wasting so much money, the project was abandoned with the excuse that it was too bogus to manage, so nothing was done.”
Godfrey said the group would dust its file and would make public its findings on some other misadventures of the Sylva administration.
“Under his watch as the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum, over N750 billion was allocated for road construction nationwide for the NNPC, yet he couldn’t attract a single kilometre of road to Bayelsa, but wants to return as governor. Four years after initiating COVID-19 referral hospital with fanfare, the project remains an eyesore.
“All Sylva knows in politics is violence, bribing of security and electoral umpires which we are keenly watching. If anybody or group attempt to subvert the will of the people through intimidation, harassment and declaration of fake results as the Sylva group is planning like the Adamawa case they will know the true resilience of the Bayelsa people.”
Group Tells Sylva to be Objective about Diri
Five Dead, 26 Injured in Lagos Building Collapse – Police sources
By Zagazola Makama
Five persons have been confirmed dead while 26 others sustained varying degrees of injuries following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in the Ojodu area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred at about 9:00 a.m. on Friday at No. 10 Oremeta Street, Ojodu, where the building, owned by Equal Right Company, caved in during ongoing construction work aimed at adding a third floor.
Police at the Lagos state command said that the building, which had remained under construction for several years, was being used as a restaurant on the ground floor, with staff and customers trapped at the time of the collapse.
Upon receipt of a distress call, the police said rescue efforts were swiftly activated as a combined team of conventional policemen, Police Tactical Teams, firefighters, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Ambulance Service, Red Cross, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) were mobilized to the scene.
“So far, 26 victims who sustained varying degrees of injuries have been rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment, while five persons were recovered dead,” the statement read.
Police said search and rescue operations are ongoing, as more victims may still be trapped under the debris.
aFive Dead, 26 Injured in Lagos Building Collapse – Police sources
INTERNATIONAL GOLFERS ARRIVE DELTA STATE
· LATE OLARE-AJA OF KOKO GOLF TOURNAMENT BEGINS IN KOKO
· AKOGATE, COUNTRY CLUB UNVEIL ACTIVITIES FOR AGANBI MEMORIAL
By: Our Reporter
The Late Olare-Aja of Koko Golf Classic is due to begin on Friday, April 25, 2025 in Delta State.
The tournament scheduled from April 25-27 will be held at Country Club, Canaan Land.
‘’The invitational event is to celebrate the life and legacy of Deacon S. E. Aganbi, Second Republic Politician, Bible Interpreter and Revered Founder of Canaan Land, who served his people with unwavering dedication until his passing. It is also to honour his enduring values of leadership, integrity, love and cultural stewardship’’ a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Akogate Group, Felix Aganbi said.
The statement issued in Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area, expressed excitement about the tournament’s potential success.
‘’ ‘’There is a huge amount at stake. We are looking forward to the top talent from across the world competing at the Late Olare-Aja of Koko Golf Classic. We are also looking forward to a memorable weekend filled with friendship, competition and community spirit.
The statement highlighted Akogate’s role in the advancement of sports and inspiration of sportspersons in Nigeria and abroad.
‘’We are excited by the overall enthusiasm of amateur and professional golfers towards the history making Late Olare-Aja of Koko Golf Classic’’
The statement unveiled badminton, table tennis, darts, Ayo, Ludo, cocktail night and award presentation party as activities lined up for the celebration of the life of the renowned lawyer and politician’’.
It further highlighted the exceptional opportunity for rising stars to compete against world-class players.
‘There are a lot of players who will be playing. There are also many players on the waiting list hoping to gain entry. It will be a star-studded field’’ the statement added.
INTERNATIONAL GOLFERS ARRIVE DELTA STATE
Council Durbar inaugurated to revive cultural heritage—Committee Secretary
By: Yahaya Wakili
The Bade emirate council durbar committee was inaugurated three years ago by His Royal Highness, the Mai of Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, with sole responsibility to revive and improve the cultural heritage of the emirate.
The secretary of the committee, Alhaji Sale Garba Suleiman, disclosed this to newsmen in Gashua, the headquarters of the emirate. He said, By reviving our cultural heritage, our younger generation will grow up with their own culture.
He revealed that the committee will solicit advice and cooperation from the Yobe State Art and Culture Board to improve and boost our cultural heritage and also advise other emirates to emulate what the Bade Emirate Council is doing.
Sale maintained that his royal father was the first person who put his contribution into the committee account; therefore, he appealed to all sons and Bade emirate lovers to contribute generously to this committee.
The Secretary thanks and deeply appreciates the leadership of His Royal Highness, the Mai of Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, for his dedication to preserving the rich cultural heritage of Bade.
He also commended the effort of Hon. Yau Usman Dachia, Deputy Speaker of the Yobe House of Assembly, for his support, encouragement, and contribution to rendering this committee able to execute its function successfully.
Council Durbar inaugurated to revive cultural heritage—Committee Secretary
Five Dead, 26 Injured in Lagos Building Collapse – Police sources
INTERNATIONAL GOLFERS ARRIVE DELTA STATE
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