Bayelsa Election: Dickson punished 500 workers for supporting APC

There were indications yesterday that the Seriake Dickson-led Bayelsa State government has allegedly compiled the names of 500 workers for punishment for “supporting” the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last December 5 and January 9 governorship polls in the state.

Besides the punishment, it was learnt that the affected civil servants had not been paid since last October.

The government is said to be unhappy that the civil servants worked against Dickson’s re-election and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the polls that were marred by widespread violence.

The government’s action is said to be generating tension with the affected civil servants planning to seek redress in court.

Dickson was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after defeating former Governor Timipre Sylva of the APC and Moses Siasia of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM),  according to The Nation.

It was gathered that the government set up “a special committee” in each of the eight local government areas to monitor the activities of pro-APC civil servants before and during the elections.

Workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within grade levels eight to 17 are said to be affected by the government’s action.

The order to sanction the “indicted” civil servants was said to have emanated from the committee’s report.

It was learnt that the names of the affected persons were forwarded to the Due Process Bureau, which operates the automated payroll system of the state government, for appropriate action.

The directive reportedly emanated from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) through the Office of the Head of Service (HOS) to the Due Process Bureau.

The bureau, headed by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Treasury Matters, Mr. Timi Seipulo, was reportedly asked to implement the order.

It was also gathered that workers in the state’s broadcasting corporation and the sport council were the worst-hit.

A source, who spoke in confidence, noted that there was a deliberate effort by the government to flush out those considered APC members in the civil service.

“Right now, a fresh verification of workers is ongoing for this singular purpose. Most of these workers have not received their salaries since October, last year. While pro-PDP workers are receiving their salaries, those perceived to be APC members are not,” the source said.

One of the affected workers, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the accountant in his establishment told them their names were missing from the payroll.Dickson was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after defeating former Governor Timipre Sylva of the APC and Moses Siasia of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

It was gathered that the government set up “a special committee” in each of the eight local government areas to monitor the activities of pro-APC civil servants before and during the elections.

Workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within grade levels eight to 17 are said to be affected by the government’s action.

The order to sanction the “indicted” civil servants was said to have emanated from the committee’s report.

It was learnt that the names of the affected persons were forwarded to the Due Process Bureau, which operates the automated payroll system of the state government, for appropriate action.

The directive reportedly emanated from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) through the Office of the Head of Service (HOS) to the Due Process Bureau.

The bureau, headed by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Treasury Matters, Mr. Timi Seipulo, was reportedly asked to implement the order.

It was also gathered that workers in the state’s broadcasting corporation and the sport council were the worst-hit.

A source, who spoke in confidence, noted that there was a deliberate effort by the government to flush out those considered APC members in the civil service.

“Right now, a fresh verification of workers is ongoing for this singular purpose. Most of these workers have not received their salaries since October, last year. While pro-PDP workers are receiving their salaries, those perceived to be APC members are not,” the source said.

One of the affected workers, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the accountant in his establishment told them their names were missing from the payroll.

DasukiGate: Don’t give suspects media trial, Adebanjo tells FG

A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has urged the Federal Government to arraign the persons indicted in the $2.1bn arms scandal.

The elder statesman noted that the eventual court judgments would determine whether they were guilty or not and not by trying them on the pages of newspapers,according to The Punch.

Adebanjo, stated that the proper thing to do was for the Federal Government to proceed to court with the evidences against the accused, told The Punch .

While commending efforts of the current administration in tackling corruption, he added that the government must follow constitutional procedures in pressing charges against the suspects.

He said, ‘‘You cannot be the accuser, prosecutor and judge in your own case. In as much as I appreciate efforts to rid the country of corruption, things must be done constitutionally. All the people indicted in the arms deal case are innocent until proved guilty by competent courts.’’

Some individuals and members of the Peoples Democratic Party had been indicted in the mismanagement of the funds earmarked for the procurement of arms for the Army to fight the violent sect, Boko Haram.

The funds were allegedly distributed to the individuals by the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who served in the regime of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Former bodyguard for rapper Future shot, killed inside Georgia home

A former bodyguard for rapper Future was murdered inside the Georgia home he shared with his pregnant wife, police said.

Michael Phillips was shot and killed Monday afternoon, police told FOX 5. The unidentified gunman is at large.

The 27-year-old newlywed was at home with his wife when neighbors reported hearing arguing followed by gunshots coming from the house. The couple was expecting their first child, family said.

Phillips once worked as a bodyguard, providing protection for Billboard 200 artist Future.

After giving up the guard gig, he worked as a pianist at his mom’s church, Hand of Faith Deliverance. Church members visited Phillips’ home Monday afternoon to mourn the slain musician.

Police have not made any arrests or identified any possible suspects.



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Shortage of Husband: Marry Two Wives OR Be Arrested

An unverified statement allegedly issued by the government of Eritrea reportedly ordered its men to marry at least two wives due to acute shortage of men caused by enormous casualties suffered during the civil war with Ethiopia.

In the statement written in Arabic the government gave the assurance that it will give financial support to the polygamous marriages.

“Based on the law of God in polygamy, and given the circumstances in which the country is experiencing in terms of men shortage, the Eritrean department of Religious Affairs has decided on the following .”

"First that every man shall marry at least two women and the man who refuses to do so shall be subjected to life imprisonment with hard labour.

“The woman who tries to prevent her husband from marrying another wife shall be punished to life imprisonment,” alleges the activists in their translation.

May 1998 to June 2000 Eritrean-Ethiopian war saw 150,000 soldiers killed from either sides but having a bigger impact on male population in the tiny Eritrea nation who were then just 4million people in total.

Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova to book her place in the semi-final of the Australian Open

Tennis' great rivalry that never was ended in its usual fashion when Serena Williams ended up crushing her old sparring partner Maria Sharapova.

Williams reached the semi-final of the Australian Open by scoring her eighteenth consecutive victory over the Russian with a 6-4 6-1 that quickly unravelled to end after an hour and 32 minutes.

The repeat of last year's high class final was less competitive this time, with Williams eventually overwhelming Sharapova on a hot Australia Day afternoon at Melbourne Park.

From the start, where Serena kept her waiting for the ball toss, there were all sorts of mind games going on with the subliminal message from the American that she was in control.

Sharapova's serve has been in excellent nick this tournament, but nobody returns it as well as the 34-year-old world number one, who kept up the pressure in the first set to win a real tug of war.

Williams's serve was actually a big determining factor in the match, and it delivered thirteen aces as she eased ahead in the second.

The American summoned on the trainer twice, seemingly to dispense some painkillers, but it did not seem to hinder her performance. As ever Sharapova did not lack for motivation and fought until the very end, but to her evident frustration she cannot seem to dislodge Williams.

The top seed came into the tournament with huge doubts over her after a long layoff, but normal service has been quickly resumed and she now faces fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3. 

Williams said: 'It was super intense. She's an incredibly intense and focused player who was No 1 and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason.

'When you are playing someone like that who is so great, you have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity.'

On her semi-final opponent Radwanska, Williams said: 'She's a great defender and a great girl, so regardless whoever gets to the final it will be a great thing. I'm going to do my best, I have nothing to lose.'

And Williams explained later that she had been contending with an upset stomach in recent days, and cursed her relatively slow start.

'I just started slow. I missed three or four easy shots. I felt like, All right, I didn't make those shots, but if I had made those shots I probably would have won that game. 

'I just clung onto that and knew I could play better. I was a little lethargic. It was maybe just getting out to a faster start like I had been in all the rest of my matches. I was just dealing with some food poisoning issues from a few days ago. That was it.'

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