Jesse Ese, Yenagoa
There are several suggestions that the prominent people in Bayelsa State, including senators, chiefs and political leaders are the reasons behind the apparent lack of development in Bayelsa State.
The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Contractors Association, while making the assertion in Yenagoa recently, revealed that most abandoned projects in Bayelsa State were prosecuted by senators and eminent Bayelsans.
The Chairman of UBE Contractors Association, Korogha Awolowo, told newsmen that people are attacking Governor Seriake Dickson “because this government is not sharing the money.”
He also disclosed that in response to insinuations that Governor Dickson is not working, the association took a tour of all the eight local government areas to see things for themselves.
He added that he was impressed and overwhelmed particularly about the three senatorial roads and the education sector where over 200 projects are at various levels of completion.
In his words: “I appreciate what Dickson is doing in the state. But some dissident elements say he is doing nothing. That is why my exco toured all the eight local government areas to see things for ourselves.”
He also said that unlike in the past when mobilisation was paid but no work was done, work is ongoing on the Sagbama-Ekeremor road which will be completed in 2014.
Speaking further, he stated: “Since the creation of this state, no government has built headmasters’ quarters. Projects were abandoned but now he took them over and is doing them.”
Also, the director of operations of the association, Ebiye Zigina, said they carried out descriptive analysis and historical background of all the projects and urged Bayelsans to commend Dickson for the work he has done so far.
He stated that the governor has ensured local content in the award of contracts and the reestablishment of the Bayelsa State College of Art and Science alone has created employment for many Bayelsans.
