Cold War In Bayelsa: Dickson Sacks 2 Female Appointees Recommended by Patience Jonathan

 

The cold war between the Bayelsa State governor Seriake Dickson and the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday turned ugly with the sack of the state commissioner for local government, Mrs Marie Ebikake, and the special adviser on Federal Government Projects, Chief Remi Kuku, over alleged divided loyalty.

The two commissioner, Mrs Ebikake and Chief Kuku, were members of the Dickson administration that participated in Dame Patience’ reception at Otuoke community ahead of last weekend’s wedding ceremony of the president’s foster daughter, Miss. Inebai Paul and Dr Simeon Onyemaechi, at Otuoke in Ogbia local government area of the state.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the duo of Ebikake and Kuku allegedly shunned a blanket order asking all political appointees to shun the first lady due, probably, to a similar rebuff of the governor and his wife, Dr Rachel Dickson.

The state government, in a statement signed by the governor’s chief press secretary, Daniel Markson-Iworiso, did not give any reasons for the sack of the two state officials; he, however, warned the youths and women in the state of the presence of politicians who are out to destabilize the state.

It was gathered that the venue of the traditional wedding ceremony of the president’s foster-daughter was turned into a battleground by women loyal to the president’s wife and the state governor, Dickson.

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and dignitaries in Otuoke for the wedding showed signs of worry over the development.

It was also gathered that during the arrival of the president to Otuoke community in a presidential helicopter on Friday, women under the aegis of Women for Change Initiative, controlled by Dame Patience, engaged in loud singing of praises of their mentor and reportedly threw insulting banter at the administration of Governor Dickson.

But another women’s group, the Women of the State, gathered in huge numbers and stormed Otuoke with drums and large banners, singing in favour of the governor and blocked out the first lady’s group, some of whom were nearly beaten up.

A senior aide of the governor who spoke on condition of anonymity described the scene as tense.

“The women hired by the Women for Change Initiative were insulting the governor, but the loyal women of Bayelsa put up a show, affirming their support for the state governor,” he said.

A loyalist of the president’s wife and an aide to the sacked national vice chairperson of the Women for Change Initiative, Remi Kuku, told LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity that the alleged refusal by the governor’s wife, Racheal Dickson, and state government officials to accord the first lady her deserved courtesies angered the women within and outside the state.

“We were not abusive but only giving support to our Mama Peace,” she said.

The strained relations between Dame Patience and Dickson came to public attention in October 2014 as she resigned as a permanent secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service. She had been appointed in July 2012, five months after the governor’s inauguration.


Dickson explains sack of two female appointees

The Governor later explained the reason for the sack of two female political appointees and the redeployment of two others in his cabinet, saying it is part of efforts to ensure service delivery and fulfilment of his restoration agenda.

Dickson, in a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Mr Daniel Markson-Iworiso, yesterday said the minor cabinet reshuffle is in furtherance of the governor’s commitment to deliver more robustly on its administration’s restoration agenda.

The minor cabinet reshuffle witnessed the sack of the state commissioner for local government administration, Mrs Marie Ebikake, and the special adviser on federal projects, Mrs Remi Kuku.

Those redeployed include the state commissioner of information and orientation, Deacon Markson Fefegha, who was posted to the State Government House as the principal executive secretary to the governor with immediate effect.

He takes over from Hon Douye Diri who had resigned and is now the PDP candidate for the Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma federal constituency for next month’s House of Representatives’ election.

Also affected was the chief of staff, Government House, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, who was sent back to the Federal Civil Service after three years of service to the Dickson administration.

Governor Dickson thanked the outgoing chief of staff for her dedication, commitment and unswerving devotion to duty in the various capacities she served during the period of her secondment, first as deputy chief of staff, pioneer commissioner of Science, Technology and Manpower Development and later as chief of staff to the governor.

The way up is certainly the way down... This was the battle Amaechi fought so hard until he was labelled a black sheep.. first Lady's interference is certainly a big distraction to good governance.  

hope others coming after her learn this early enough.