Dickson Reveals How He Spent N600billion

Governor Seriake of Bayelsa state has reacted angrily to a statement made by a former member of House of Representatives, Warman Ogoriba, saying his government misappropriated about N600billion.

Dickson said Ogoriba statement is rather unfortunate adding that he has been blinded by political indulgence,’ The Sun reports.

He added that the ex-lawmaker by his statement showed that he lacks proper understanding how government is being run.

Ogoriba had in an interview said the incumbent government in Bayelsa state has nothing to show for the N600billion so far received from the Federation Account.

The governor spoke through his chief press secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, where he described the former lawmaker statement as “reckless political indulgence, uninformed and lacking in facts.”

Dickson stressed that the state maintained an active civil service where salaries are paid at due when while many states in the country are battling to pay salaries .

He further stated that aside prompt payment of salaries, his government has been servicing N330billion debt that he allegedly inherited from the administration.

Iworiso-Markson said: “When the Restoration Government assumed the mantle of leadership on February 14 2012, Bayelsa State ranked as one of the states with the highest debt profile. Strange enough, a debt burden of N330 billion was the albatross we have to shoulder.

“But despite paying salaries as and when due, running an efficient government with unprecedented level of infrastructural development and various projects in all sectors of the state economy, we have also been consistent in servicing the N330 billion debt, now reduced to N90 billion because of the Dickson-led government’s prudence and strict discipline in managing the finances of the state.

“As at today, Bayelsa is one of the least indebted states in Nigeria, which is a credit to Dickson’s ingenuity in sound financial management. This clearly contrasts sharply to Ogoriba’s crude remarks, struggling to distort a glaring reality.”

Meanwhile, the governor has called on Nigerians to discontinue calling President Muhammadu ‘Buhari baba go slow’. He said such tagging is very demeaning to the occupier of the number one position in the country.