Flooding: Bayelsa ACN asks Dickon not to go on leave

Posted by admin Bayelsa, Headlines, State News Thursday, July 4th, 2013

y Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Bayelsa State chapter, yesterday, urged Governor Seriake Dickson to reconsider his request to the state House of Assembly for permission to go on annual leave.

It insisted that if such permission was granted, it would make mockery of the seriousness of the state’s preparation to tackle the predicted flood in the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Dickson has signed into law, four out of the five bills presented to him by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson.

The bills are, the Bayelsa State Sports Academy, Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority Amendment, Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency and the Bayelsa State Welfare and Social Security Scheme Laws all of 2013.

Assenting to the bills, at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Yenagoa, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson explained that Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme Bill would be signed into law at a later date when the appointment of members of the board for the scheme is made to enable it become fully operational.

Describing the laws as significant, he said that they would help to usher in a new dawn in the annals of the history of the state. He called on the people of the state to support the government to enable it succeed in the task of transforming Bayelsa in line with the dreams of its founding fathers.

Meanwhile, the ACN leaders said “though the poor performances of the various emergency committees set up to tackle the last flood disaster was salvaged by the presence of the state governor, the absence of the governor at this critical moment will spell doom for the state and make nonsense of the huge funding proposed for humanitarian and infrastructural efforts by the various committees.”

The party through its Publicity Secretary, Mr Christopher Abarowei, said though the decision of Governor Dickson, to request to embarked on annual leave was normal and legal, “there is the need for the governor to shelve the proposed annual leave and fully monitor the judicious use of approved N1billion fund for flood control in the state.

“Against the backdrop of the House approval of N1billion for the state to tackle the issue of drainage and flood in the state, we call on the governor to shelve his proposed annual three weeks leave approved by the House to fully monitor and ensure the implementation and judicious use of the funds for the projects.

“We recalled the ugly incident of corrupt practices and diversion of relief materials meant for flood victims by some highly placed government and political appointee. Governor Dickson should rethink on the annual leave will caution and stop act of criminality and insensitivity to the plight of the people.”wp_posts