Author: Preye Okah

The Bayelsa State Chapter of All Progressives Congress has described the judgement of Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja Tuesday reversing the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the November 11, 2023 Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Election, Chief Timipre Sylva as a big win for democracy and a victory for Bayelsa State. A statement by the Bayelsa State Publicity Secretary of the party, Doifie Buokoribo, read “The Appeal Court by its ruling has given the people of Bayelsa State a choice on November 11. “A choice between light and darkness. A choice between moving to the mountain top…

Although culture and tradition seem to be gradually fading away because of Christianity influence, ethnic groups and communities still celebrate their tradition which has been there even before the advent of Christianity. By and large, people still celebrate festivals like the New Yam Festival, Eyo Masquerade, and other forms of festivals no matter the multitude of churches around, a way of keeping and sustaining the African tradition. In Bayelsa State, most of these traditional festivals are still being celebrated. One of them is the Okolode New Yam Festival that is annually celebrated by the people of great Ekpetiama Kingdom in…

As campaign for the Bayelsa State governorship election heats up, accusations and counter accusations are going on as the immediate past deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd) has accused Timipre Sylva, the APC governorship candidate of allowing the state-owned oil field licence to be revoked and then diverting the oil field it to a private firm when he was minister of state for Petroleum Resources. Speaking on Wednesday, when the PDP Campaign trail visited the Nembe axis, Gboribiogha stated that with that and other things, Governor Diri stood a better chance to win in Nembe because…

Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Prof Patrick Lumumba have canvassed strong institutions to protect African democracy from recession and political instability. They made the call in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State at the annual Goodluck Jonathan Foundation’s Democracy Dialogue, tagged, ‘Breaking New Grounds in the Democracy -Development Nexus in Africa’. The leaders said the coup d’etat, poor election management, and poverty have derailed the continent’s democracy. They therefore, called for a re-jig of the continent’s democracy. Jonathan, who was the chairman of the occasion, in his remarks, noted that adhering to the…

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has declared as unjust and discriminatory, the purported move by the Federal Government of Nigeria to promote and legalise artisanal solid minerals mining in the country while clamping down on artisanal petroleum refineries in the Niger Delta. In a statement issued by the PANDEF and signed by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Ken Robinson, the organisation noted with displeasure, the efforts by the Federal Government to promote the solid minerals sector while suppressing artisanal refineries. “We have followed the various policy pronouncements on the intention of the government to legalize the activities of all…

As the Bayelsa State governorship election draws closer, the polity is becoming increasingly heated up with all manner of lobbying, fake endorsements, accusations, propaganda, counter accusations, and expectedly, court cases as parties and candidates try to outsmart one another to push for victory. There are three major contenders in this race to the Creek Haven, the state seat of power although there are 16 candidates in the race. Others are there probably to look for settlement or position for political position later. Looking at the political permutation, no one knows for sure, of the three, who will coast to victory,…

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has promised to offer teachers in Bayelsa State a better alternative and an opportunity to build the state’s education sector on a solid foundation. In a statement to mark the 2023 Teachers Day, Eradiri disclosed that he has signed a pact with the teachers assuring that he will make their welfare a priority. Promising that to wipe away their tears if elected governor on November 11, he sympathised with teachers in the state for their years of suffering and hardship under the current administration of Governor Douye Diri.…

Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Prof Patrick Lumumba have canvassed strong institutions to protect African democracy from recession and political instability.   They made the call in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State at the weekend, at the annual Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue, tagged, ‘Breaking New Grounds in the Democracy -Development Nexus in Africa’.  The leaders said the coup d’etat, poor election management, and poverty have derailed the continent’s democracy. They therefore, called for a re-jig of the continent’s democracy.   Jonathan, who was the chairman of the occasion, in his remarks, noted that…

The Delta State Representative of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC Olusegun Ogunnubi has advised stakeholders from the Oil and Gas producing communities not to truncate the setting up of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund provided for by the Petroleum Industry Act. Speaking recently in Yenagoa during a stakeholder’s sensitization meeting for the host communities, the NUPRC representative disclosed that the essence of the meeting was to sensitize them on the gains of the Petroleum Industry Act. Chapter three of the Petroleum Industry Act, provides a legal framework to ensure cordial relations between International Oil Companies and their host…