SEA PIRATES TAKE FIELD DAYS IN NEMBE, OGBIA, BRASS WATER WAYS, COMMUNITIES CRY FOR GOVT'S INTERVENTION

His Excellency
Hon, Seriake Dickson

Mr. Asuquo Amba
Commissioner of Police
Bayelsa State

Worried by the repeated incidents of sea piracy in the Brass, Ogbia and Nembe Local Government water ways, there have been clarion calls on the Chief Security Officer of the state, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, and the Chief Law enforcement officer of the state, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba to take urgent steps at nipping in the bud such acts of terrorism in the lands and water ways of the state.
According to information at Golden Pen news desk, the area had suffered great setbacks in terms of physical attacks on law abiding citizens going on their lawful businesses been killed, maimed and their monies or goods carted away  with impunity in the eyes of the law, having a field day.
Mr. Gborienemi Thomson and Hezekiah Olotu in their separate interactions with this medium posited that the situation has become worrisome to the extent that fishermen and women are apprehensive of dangers of their lives in the rivers and creeks of the said local government areas and beyond either for fishing or embarking on a journey.
The water ways in that axis had recorded terrible casualties and there have been repeated calls on the authorities to identify the culprits and bring them to book, but not enough had been done till date.
It would be recalled that a young man of Okpoama kingdom in Brass Local Government area an expectant father, Mr. Timi  Iyabi was on th 27th July 2014 reported killed by sea pirates in the water way of Ogbia and Brjass Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
In the month of June, date 15, 2015 a Naval officer was attacked and killed at a Naval Security base along Akassa River, as reported.
Following the spate of sea pirates attacks and adverse consequences, the King of Okpoama Kingdom, HRM, Ebitimi Banigo also raised his voice, called on the authorities to intervene to stop the ugly trend, 31st of August 2015. The King, "... expressed concern over the rising cases of attacks and killings in our water ways and creeks of Brass and Nembe kingdoms by pirates"
While appreciating Governor Dickson for equipping the police with patrol vans to enhance police operations in the lands in Yenagoa, our sources called on the government to also pay adequate attention to our water ways to stop all acts of terrorism that be-devils the state.

BAYELSA PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING INSTITUTE READY FOR OPERATION SOON

Sir C.T Ikelemote
Chairman Public Service Training Institute

It is now clear that the Bayelsa State Institute of Public Service Training will soon go into organizing series of training programmes in line with the government commitment to excellent service delivery in the state.
This was handed down to the public, by the Director General of the Public Service Training Institute, Sir C. T. Ikelemote, while exchanging views with the Golden Pen Newspaper in the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa.
He said the Restoration Government under the able leadership of Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has a commitment to equip the public service to enhance it's productivity through training and retraining by the Public Service Training Institute.
The Director General observed that whereas, the governor had at different occasions expressed his willingness to approve the procurement of desired equipment to fast track the immediate take-off of the programme, that had been greatly challenged because of the economic situation.
Speaking on the prospects of training and retraining, the highly experienced government official has this to say:
"The function of the institute is to train all public officers as well as newly recruited officers. Training is done in three categories: we need the junior staff, we have the senior staff and we have the management staff. We have not done anything yet, because we have not been properly set up, not properly set in the sense that, we haven't bought the equipment needed in training."
Ikelemote, also talked about some of the areas that needed to be tidied up according to the vision of the government. Hear him:-
"There is no light, no water and the equipment we need is not yet there, but we have taken up our matter with His Excellency, the Governor who had made this place a reality and promised to make the Institute a legacy this administration will bequeath to the Civil Service.
" Every office needs furniture, there are some furniture that are specified for certain offices. In this place what we need most as equipment are computers, projectors, radio, televisions, to build a computerized system. That is a special programme that will be centrally done" the DG emphasized.
He used the medium to inform that the Bayelsa State Public Service Training Institute, when fully operational, will not only train Civil Servants but also those in the Local Government system, hold training programmes for the Police and others that may need the services of the institute.
Ikelemote explained further that:-
"Government work is like every other private work. There is planning, there is estimate, as the word implies, the hope of what you aim at getting, you may not get all of it because this is a general period of recession.
"But the emphasis the governor always place on this Institue, we are very hopeful that in the near future the vision of His Excellency for embarking on this project will be realised."

YOU HAVE NO LINK WITH BIAFRA BUT USURPER, IDUMANGE TELLS NNAMDI KALU, By Evans Tubonah

 The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu and his blind followers have been told that they have no link whatsoever with the Bight of Biafra that is not in the inter land but in the Niger Delta.
A Human Rights Activist and Anti- Corruption Campaigner in the Niger Delta, Dr. John Idumange made this know while exchanging views with the Golden Pen Newspaper in the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa.
He noted that the Igbo people have no basis to claim being Biafra which runs through the Niger Delta waterways and is not in the inter land where the Igbo people are divinely located, he described the act of Kanu and his middle class followers calling themselves as of Biafra, shows lack of knowledge or an act of usurpation against rightful people of Biafra of the Niger Delta.
Dr. Idumange stated further that that the colonialist marked the Right of Benin and the Bight of Biafra, both of which have nothing to do with the Igbo people who are in the inter land and not at all in the waterways through which the bights exit.
Reflecting on the the Secessionist move by the Igbo people who were led into a civil war by Odumegwu Ojukwu using the Name Biafra, as their intended Republic was a calculated plan by Ojukwu to hijack the Oloibiri and other Niger Delta Oil wells to prosecute that war of Ojukwu's obnoxious ambition. And they did not succeed because the true people of the bight of Biafra namely the Niger Delta people were not part of the maneuvering agitations.
"Ideally, it is we the Niger Delta's that should claim to be Biafrans. Have you looked at the map of Nigeria? Where is the Bight of Ibarra? The  Bight of Biafra is in the Niger Delta Area.
Those people in the inter land are not Biafrans. The Bight of Benin is from Benin to Lagos, that is the Bight of Benin. Benin was a very massive empire spreading all across Cotounu, Republic of Bene and so on.
So, if we are to go by that name, we are actually the people to answer the name, Biafra. And Biafra itself is a corruption of "Biafulo" (Soup that is done).  It's like when they came to Brass and our people said "Barasin, Barasin" and they called it Brass So, it is the people in the Niger Delta own rightfully what we call the Bight of Biafra."
Dr. Idumange who traced the origin of Biafra to colonialism in Nigeria by the British went further to say as follows:-
"During the colonial era they called this place, the Bight of Biafra and from Edo State, the Bight of Benin. So, if there is any move like Biafra we should be the ones to actually take that name.
"They should go and answer any other names: Ohaneze Republic, Maduemre  Republic or whatever, but real Biafra belong to the Niger Delta.
"To attest to that fact, look at the map of Nigeria and see where the Bight of Biafra belongs.We are not the people agitating. The Ibos, during the war Ojukwu had a perception that the oil wells of Oloibiri and the Niger Delta is what he would use to fund the state of Biafra, that was why he called the name, Republic of Biafra, the Ibos do not really belong to Biafra."
"The Ibos are in the inter land and remember...Harold Dapa Biriye and others did it for Gowon. On th 27th of May 1967, three days to the war he created 12 states. And in these 12 states Rivers State was big . All the Ibos with their population rapt into the South Eastern state and they were helpless."
Dr. John Idumange who repeatedly harped on the economic interest by the Ibo people in their dream to a Biafran state, spoke on the era of Odumgwu Ojukwu in these words.
"...Ojukwu had an eye for the crude oil of the Niger Delta. And that is why till today, some of those not too decent academics will regard their area as part of Biafra
"This Ibos are actually not Biafrans, going by the etymology of the word  and the geography that is spread in Biafra, Ibos are not Biafrans.
"We are the ones who have the right to choose Niger Delta Republic or Republic of Biafra, because we are actually the Biafrans. Looking at the map of Nigeria, it's a misnomer  whether some of our persons join Biafra or whatever..., I want to emphasize that the Ibos are usurping what does not belong to them." Idumange concluded.

Nnamdi Keanu
IPOB Lead

FORMER NIGERIAN HEAD OF STATE, GEN. GOWON IN BAYELSA-By Evans Tubonah

Gen Yakubu Gowon

The Bayelsa State Government had played host to a  former Military Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, who was in the state to commission a number of projects embarked upon by the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson administation.
A programme of activities lined out by the media team took the visiting former Head of State and his entourage to after landing at  the state capital, Yenagoa, in the afternoon,  proceeded to the Traditional Rulers Secretariat where he was  received by the Royal fathers. from there into  the Government House where a solidly built New Governors Office built by the Dickson  administration was commissioned at N3.3bn  on Wednesday July 12th, 2017.
The former Head of State, His Excellency,  General Yakubu Gowon accompanied by his lovely wife, Victoria Gowon, commended the Governor for embarking on such a people oriented project that touched the lives of the people of both the present and future generations of the state.
Speaking further on the laudable developmental  vision of His Excellency, the Restoration Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the former Head of State has this to say:
"I must congratulate the governor on the structures that I have seen, especially on this new office complex. I urge you to continue to do the good work, your commitment to development, General Gowon said."
Appreciating the mammoth crowd of dignitaries for their unalloyed support, the former Head of State went on in these words:-
" To the people of the state, I must say that you have been supportive to the governor irrespective of theparty you belong. I urge you to always play the good role for the betterment of the state."
The former Head of State, Dr. Yakubu Gowon recalled the support of the late Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro and Chief Dapa Biriye and other well meaning people of old Rivers State, when he was the Head of state.
In his remarks, His Excellency the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Dickson thanked General Gowon for his show of love to him and the people of the state for honouring them with his presence.
Governor Dickson went on to say that, the projects commissioning is to mark the beginning of an era of excellence in every sector of the Restoration administration; especially in the most critical areas of Security, Health, Education and Infrastructural Development.
The Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Information and foremost leader of the Ijaw people, Chief E.K. Clark who gave kudos to the governor, Hon. Dickson for his achievements in infrastructural development described the new governors office as the best in the country.
Chief Clark used the medium to call on the Nigerian nation to be restructured, which according to him will give a sense of belonging to all ethnic nationalities without majority or minority considerations.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Traditional rulers council in the State, and first Military Governor of Rivers State, HRM, King A.P. Diete Spiff said Rivers and Bayelsa couldn't have been so privileged to achieve such a high level of development, but for the benevolence of General Gowon who created the old Rivers State out of which Bayelsa was created.
The high point, was a cultural display at a diiner held at the state banquet hall in honour of the august vistor, by the State Cultural troupe titled: "Oloibiri" which tells the story of the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta, the exploitation and the wealth accruing from  it and the dejection, rejection and suffering of the people of the region that ignited unrest, and graphically emphasized the need for taking good care of "Oloibiri" as a panacea for peace progress and national cohesion.
In a related development the Bayelsa State government also played host to another august visitor, in person of the literary Icon of Africa, the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka who was conferred  with honorary Education Ambassador of the State.
Governor Dickson stated that the measure was in appreciates of the the Prof. for the role he's been playing across nation in propelling education, and called the attention of the Prof. not to shy away from giving support to the educational revolution of his administration, Gov. Dickson said.
The Governor and his literary giant visitors were at  Jaw National Academy Commissioned the previous day by His Excellency General Yakubu Gowon who also laid a wreath in honour Isaac Adaka Boro at the Heroes Park in Yenagoa.

PREXTAM WATER COMPANY, A CHILD OF NECESSITY By Our Correspo

Tena Gede

 All over the world, it has been documented that there are some basic needs for the survival of every human being on planet earth. It has been a strong point in developing nations that:
" The basic needs approach is one of the major approaches to the measure of absolute measurement of absolute poverty in developing countries.... A traditional list of immediate basic needs"  is food (including water), shelter and clothing."
That goes to explain the importance and value of water in the life of mankind. If you look at it carefully, you will agree that water is the most essential of every need, because, it is the all purpose need of life.
Water is used for bathing, for cooking, for drinking, for washing clothes etc; especially potable water or clean water, which gives good health and prolongs life.
Talking about the dangers of absence or lack of potable water in any society :
"The World Health Organization says that every year more than 3.4 million people die as a result of water related diseases, making it the leading cause of disease and death around the world ..."
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology also wrote a report also on the consequences of water borne diseases, quote:
"Water borne diseases are the most prevalent infectious diseases in the developing countries especially in new settlements....information obtained from the study revealed rather a grave scenario, showing that most common illness was diarrhoea and vomiting having a prevalence rate of 62.67% followed by skin problems (21%) preverlence rate..."
These are some indisputable facts about the dangers associated to unclean or dirty water. It is a common knowledge in African societies that most communities in especially the rural areas, depended on water that were found not fit for drinking, which gave birth to epidemics that kill thousands or millions of people in our societies.And this was the very scenario that faced the people of Bayelsa State, at the bifurcation following her creation out of Rivers State, Ist October 1996.
 It was indeed a great challenge to have potable water in the state capital. Yenagoa, even with the efforts of successive governments that committed funds anually to increase the sector.
But with a touch of compassion  to find a solution to the alarming situation of " water water everywhere but none to drink" and to stop the rampant cases of diseases and untimely deaths caused by polluted water, a Son of the soil, an Engineer took a bold initiative, went ahead with his vision to provide potable water, which resulted in the Foundation of  a water producing company, called Prextam.
Seeing this water in circulation at occasions and in stores, in bottles and in sachets in the Bayelsa State Capital, Yenagoa, our medium, Golden Pen Newspaper visited the Company for an interview with the CEO, excerpts:'
GP Well, my name is Evans Tubonah from Golden Pen Newspaper, am in your office to interact with you on the Foundation of this important water company in the state, how did it come about?
Ans:- Well, my name is Tena Gede, the CEO Prextam Water. We are a water company, a bottle and sachet water company based in the state capital , Yenagoa.
We work with locally sourced materials, locally employed staff.
"Cut in: What brought about the foundation of the company?
Ans:  Oh! water had always been a passion to my father who founded the company. He used to run NGOs to provide clean drinking water for communities. It is something he is good at or passionate about.
My father said, why not we put our resources together to create a company, something we can produce in Bayelsa, that is surplus, that is water. We can refine it, treat it and produce it. A company that could fund itself, to create jobs and to produce water for the masses. That was how Spottena Integrated Services Limited was founded to produce Prextam water being produced here in Bayelsa, having the quality to rival any water produced anywhere in the world.
It passed through NAFDAC screenings, NAFDAC testing, went through rigorous treatment and testing procedures, and it has good quality as could be found  anywhere in the world, with the added advantage of being local.
Ques:- That is quite interesting, can you tell us about the scope of your operations?
Ans:- So far, our operations are restricted to the state, Bayelsa State and eventually with time it can be extended beyond, but now our products are made in Bayelsa for Bayelsans.
We have several departments - production, Production, Marketing/Commercial, Administration/Logistics Finance/ Accounts etc.
We produce sachets water, bottle (50cl, 75cl & 150cl) w also produce 19 litres dispenser bottle. It will interest you to know that we have the nylon department which produces all the nylon we use for the sachets water production.
Ques:- But with all these, have you been receiving feedback from the public?
Ans:- We had very good report about us. Considering the fact that our company is new, we have started and spreading, though based in Yenagoa, our aim is to spread across the eight Local Government Areas of Bayelsa, because we are not restricted to certain areas alone.
We find it necessary to appoint distributors at appropriate time to take our products to different locations and we are working at hearts to liaise with some distributors to make it work. We also have customized water freelance and these events can be in different locations as well, that also help to publicize the products in such areas, Tena Gede continued.
Ques:- You talked about employment creation for Bayelsans how many are your staff?
Ans:- Our capacity for now is an average of 64 staff, during peak periods of sales we use to have more, because at peak periods we have increase in the need of staff during the dry season and at festival periods.
On the expansion that is taking place, we have the department of raw materials, the production of the nylon and sachets  takes quite a number of staff there, while the new site at Gbaraun Toru will give us more staff, so our staff strength is increasing, she he concluded.
Prextam water had caught the attention of many in Bayelsa State, especially those who deal with bottle and sachet water.

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PASTOR JUSTICE RETURNS FROM THE MOUNTAINS, INVITES YOU TO MEET JESUS IN HIS CHURCH By Evans Tubonah

A cross section of the Pastor and Congregation

A cross section of Church members front view

A cross section of members back view

The Founder and vision bearer of the New Divine Demonstrate Ministries (NDDM) worldwide Kolo, Pastor Justice Aggo who went to the mountains to meet with God  three weeks ago 9has returned.
According to information reaching Golden Pen news desk Saturday, 1st July, the Kolo born Pastor arrived the Kolo community and drove straight to his abode in  the Church compound unannounced.
It would be recalled that, before his departure, to the holy mountains in Lagos, the man of God consistently informed the congregation during Sunday services for weeks about the journey and urged the members not to relent, but to pray for him and the Church, while assuring them that he himself was going to intercede for members in the mountains.
And before his departure, he commissioned his Resident Pastor, Sunday Onyiteaziba to hold brief for him after presenting him to God for spiritual empowerment.
At a Sunday Service, 2nd July 2017, Pastor Justice who titled his sermon, THE FEAST OF THE LORD
First of all thanked the Church for their prayers and cash gifts to support the Ministry, especially for his journey to be with the LORD in the mountains. He said he used the money he received to sow seeds to attract the blessing of God for the members according to their individual needs, making it clear that in the Christian Ministry, sowing of seeds and giving is key.
The man of God who said he had a lot to say and also a lot not to say declared that the set time was come for the manifestation of the 'Creative anointing', which he likened to a covenant of Glory between the LORD and himself, to heal the sick, raise the dead, deliver those under demonic oppression, to turn native doctors, occult men, witches and wizards to God and to make the poor rich, and above all to preach salvation to all nations.
In that Service, his first from the mountains, he said he had returned from the mountains to manifest the Glory of the Lord at his location, the Church, because no one who go to the mountains manifests there, but at their locations.
He then announced that, Jesus has declared a feast and should be waiting in the altar of the Church as Chief Host, while the Holy Ghost is the Special Guest of honour, with hosts of angels to give packages all that comes.
He therefore called on the members of the Church to invite relations or friends, and all those who have various challenges: to be brought to the Church to meet ' Dr. Jesus' for miracles, that will serve as everlasting testimonies, Pastor Justice reassured.

Video  recording on

CHIEF DUFEGHA GIVING MEANING TO WORK ETHICS

Chief Emmanuel Reginald Dufegha

This world is indeed a classroom or a school in which one has to continuously learn from one another.
That is to explain the fact that there are some human beings who are pace setters or way showers, no matter how you look at it, such persons excel wherever they find themselves. Such are the likes of some Biblical characters such as Joseph, Daniel, and David just to mention a few.
That there a people who live like those great names even today is not an exaggeration. The aforementioned were all persons who served in governments and left a legacy as pace setters and or way showers in the records of the world.
What informed this view is not unconnected with the way and manner a worker in the Office of the Directorate Of Project Monitoring and Evaluation in Bayelsa State had given true meaning to works ethics in the State.
He is Chief Emmanuel Reginald Dufegha, the Director of Media and Publicity in the Directorate. Not at all that there may not be found some of his likes in the offices, but Golden Pen Newspaper found him extraordinarily industrious, highly committed to result orientation in service at his duty posts and in his office.
When Golden Pen met, Chief Emmanuel Dufegha some months ago in his office, he displayed an uncommon commitment to those who needed his attention to do his bid on the job at his table.
This attitude he had consistently maintained whenever our medium paid a visit to the Directorate of Project Monitoring and Evaluation, which endeared him to the camera man of our medium to give a shot in his honour and as acknowledgement of him as a pace setter and or way shower in this part of the world, from whom others need to learn from.