GOVERNORS SHUN DICKSON'S THANKSGIVING IN BAYELSA

The Bayelsa State Governor Mr.. Seriake Dickson and his beloved wife Dr. Rachel Dickson had celebrated their election victory in a crowd pulling thanksgiving service held at the Glory Land Chapel of government house, Yenagoa.The occasion attracted people from all works of life, but conspicuously absent were the colleagues of the governor. None of the members of the Nigerian Governors Forum of the 19 member faction led by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi or the 16 member faction of the Plateau Stat Governor, Jonah Jang. And the most unbelievable aspect of the governor's absence, was the none attendance by the South-South governors-forum led by the Akwa/Ibom State governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio should have at least parleyed with him as one of their own, but that was not the case. There was no official announcements of  representation of governors, ministers, ambassadors or other dignitaries from the presidency. In fact, the thanksgiving service was grandiose but without even the deputy governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah [Rtd]  or his wife; neither did anyone said about them.  All the Senators of Bayelsa and members of the House of Representatives except Senator Heineken Lokpobiri none was there. The speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson was not there but was represented by the deputy speaker, Mr. Otonye Sam Ateki, accompanied by a scanty number of the state lawmakers. The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Allison Oguru, the Head of the Civil Service, Mr.Frazier Okuoru, Professor Lawrence Ekpebu  and other political appointees saved the state from total disgrace. The political brouhaha of the posting of Chief Diekivie Ikiogha from his position of Chief of Staff to Abuja was murmured by some side talkers. What is not clear on the  scantiness of majority of prominent Bayelsan faces at the occasion was simply attributed to several reasons. One of the reasons given by our analyst was not unconnected with a deep political undertone, which has continued to divide the state to fragmentation.