DEVELOPMENT: MANTU, JERRY GANA, OTHERS HAIL DICKSON

YENEGOA, Nigeria – Former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ibrahim Mantu; former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana, on Thursday in Yenagoa, extolled the leadership qualities of the Bayelsa State Governor, Honorary Seriake Dickson, saying he has put the state on the global map.

Two former Ministers of Information, Chief John Odeh and Labaran Maku and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Shehu Gabam, also did same. The personalities also enrolled in the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme, thereby becoming the first honorary enrollees of the organisation.

A statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Francis Ottah Agbo, said they made the commendation during the commissioning of various legacy projects including the popular BAYELSA INFORMATION HOUSE.

Projects commissioned were, the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme Complex, the Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Research Centre as well as the Information House, which accommodates the state Ministry of Information. According to them, Dickson has translated good governance in concrete terms by building critical infrastructure for the development of the state.

During the commissioning of the Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Research Centre, Mantu described the health facility as exceptional, adding that, it would provide vaccines capable of preventing life threatening diseases.

He said, “Governor Dickson has made the best investment as the project will not only preserve the health of Bayelsans, but attract people from all over the world.” Mantu said the facility would also transform Bayelsa to be the Singapore of Africa and also increase its internally generated revenue.

Speaking as a panellist during a colloquium entitled: “Managing Government Information in this Volatile New Media Age: A Matter of Theory or A Question of Practice?”, shortly after commissioning the BAYELSA INFORMATION HOUSE, Gana, lauded Governor Dickson for placing high premium on proper management of information.

While observing that there was a nexus between good governance and effective dissemination of information, he stressed that, information provides enlightenment that engenders participatory democracy. Other Panelists included, Labaran Maku, John Odeh, former Commissioner for Information in Edo State, Louis Odion as well as one-time Political Adviser to former Senate President, Oche Victor Elias.

Speaking on his administration’s health policies, Governor Seriake Dickson said the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme, which has currently captured 66,000 public  servants, was introduced to make health care more accessible and affordable. According to him, efforts were on to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders to reduce the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS. Dickson indicated his readiness to sign the bill for the establishment of the State Primary Healthcare Agency into law.