BAYELSA NEWS ONLINE

By Gabriel Ukuta Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has applauded the ongoing consensus-building efforts between the Senate and the House of Representatives aimed at restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system. Speaking as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Program, Senator Dickson described the collaboration between both chambers of the National Assembly as a “crucial step toward strengthening democracy and ensuring credible elections.” According to the former Bayelsa State Governor, about fifty members of the joint National Assembly team are currently in Lagos for a retreat of which he is the moderator, to deliberate on strategies for electoral reform.  The discussions, he noted, will center on refining the legal framework governing Nigeria’s elections to prevent practices that undermine democratic values. “The retreat is not just another meeting,” Dickson emphasized. “It is an opportunity to re...

 By Ebikiye Benson Believers and followers of Christ have been charged to conduct themselves in line with Christian values, strive for moral purity, humility, be spiritually vigilant and rededicated to Godly principles, stating that Jesus Christ died to give mankind freedom. This charge was given as the various branches of God’s Kingdom Society, GKS, Church of the Living God, Bayelsa State chapter gathered to observe the 2025 Freedom Day.  Teaching on the sermon title 'When was Jesus Christ born?, Brother Godson-Okechukwu Nadi, the Resident Minister of Yenagoa, said the Freedom Day is a solemn and spiritually focused event commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrated throughout the Sundays in October across all GKS branches globally, the Day highlights the significance of Christ’s birth, His mission on earth, and the moral and spiritual transformation expected of Christians. He emphasized that the essence of the celebration lies in understanding the liberating power of ...

  By Gabriel Ukuta  In the annals of Ijaw history, few leaders have demonstrated the level of commitment, foresight, and unyielding passion for Ijaw unity and cultural preservation as Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State. His tenure was not just about infrastructural and economic transformation, it was a renaissance of Ijaw identity, a deliberate and well-coordinated rebirth of the people’s pride, culture, and heritage. From the onset of his administration, Governor Dickson understood that a people without cultural consciousness are a people without direction. He thus made it a cornerstone of his governance to restore the dignity of the Ijaw Nation through cultural promotion, education, and empowerment. One of the most enduring legacies of Dickson’s administration was his commitment to institutionalizing Ijaw culture. The establishment of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat and the consistent support given to monarchs and custodi...

  By Gabriel Ukuta  There was excitement across Bayelsa West Senatorial District as Senator Henry Seriake Dickson rolled out another round of empowerment support for youths and women through community-based cooperative societies. The support, which comes in the form of grants disbursed through a microfinance bank, is designed to strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship and boost local economic development. According to reports, several cooperative societies across the senatorial district benefited from the initiative, which aims to promote financial inclusion and empower small-scale business owners to expand their operations. The grants target youths and women engaged in productive ventures such as agriculture, trade, and services. Senator Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, explained that the empowerment program is part of his continuous effort to enhance economic self-reliance among his constituents. He emphasized that sustainable development can onl...

  By Gabriel Ukuta  In the evolving political landscape of Delta State and the Niger Delta region, one name that continues to resonate with consistency, integrity, and transformational leadership is Chief (Dr.) Chris Ekiyor. From his youthful days as a vibrant student leader to his current standing as a respected statesman and accomplished entrepreneur, Chief Ekiyor’s journey is a compelling story of service, courage, and excellence. Chief Ekiyor’s leadership traits became evident early in life. At the University of Benin, where he studied medicine, he earned the confidence of his colleagues and was elected President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) a position that honed his skills in administration, advocacy, and people management. His tenure was marked by inclusiveness, intellectual engagement, and a deep sense of justice. These early experiences laid the foundation for the leadership philosophy that continues to define him today: service anchored on integrity, compas...

  By Gabriel Ukuta  There was widespread euphoria across Bayelsa West Senatorial District as Senator Henry Seriake Dickson’s empowerment programme reached musicians dedicated to promoting the rich Ijaw culture through music. As part of the initiative, five music bands received financial support of ₦3 million each, amounting to a total of ₦15 million. The gesture, according to the organizers, was aimed at encouraging local artists to sustain and expand their cultural influence through their craft. The beneficiaries, expressing their gratitude, lauded Senator Dickson for recognizing their contributions to preserving the Ijaw heritage. They noted that the support would enable them to repair and upgrade their musical instruments, improve their performances, and remain motivated to project the Ijaw identity through music. One of the band leaders who spoke on behalf of the group said the gesture came at a crucial time when many artists were struggling with the high cost of equipment...

  By Gabriel Ukuta  In a move aimed at reducing maternal mortality and improving healthcare delivery in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has launched a free medical support and empowerment programme for pregnant women and nursing mothers across Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas. The initiative, which forms part of the Senator’s broader empowerment agenda, provides free medical treatment, antenatal care, delivery support, and postnatal services for women. The goal is to discourage home births and ensure that expectant mothers receive proper medical attention during pregnancy and childbirth. Speaking during the flag-off of the programme, Senator Dickson ably represented by Hon. Fyneman Wilson, and Chief Suru Oyarede both from Sagbama and Ekeremor noted that the initiative was borne out of his commitment to safeguard the lives of women and children, particularly in rural communities where access to healthcare remains a challenge. He empha...

  By Emem Edidiong  I don’t even know how to begin this. Maybe because I’m afraid of what these words will sound like once I’ve written them down. Maybe because writing them will make everything feel too real. It happened weeks ago — a night that was supposed to be harmless, an experiment between my husband and me. We thought it would be exciting, something to talk about later with laughter and ease. His friend was the third. Someone familiar. Someone safe. But since that night, something in me hasn’t been the same. I can’t stop thinking about him. The way he looked at me, the quiet calm in his eyes, the gentleness in his voice when everything around us felt uncertain. It’s wrong, I know. It shouldn’t mean anything and yet it does. Every time my husband mentions his name, I feel something tighten inside me. I try to smile, to nod casually, but my mind drifts back to moments I can’t erase. I hate myself for it. I hate that my heart betrays me every time I think of him. I’ve tri...

  By Emem Edidiong It was meant to be a moment of freedom a daring spark in a marriage built on trust. My husband had suggested it with an easy smile, as if it were something we could explore and then leave behind. I agreed, believing our love was strong enough to hold anything. But that night changed something inside me. His friend the one I had always known, always greeted politely, always kept at a distance — looked at me differently that evening. Not with curiosity, but with quiet knowing. In the low light, when laughter softened into silence, I felt a connection that both frightened and thrilled me. And though it was over before the morning sun rose, it never truly ended. Days became weeks, yet I carried his presence like a shadow stitched to my heart. I would catch myself thinking about him in the stillness between breaths  his voice, his calmness, the gentle strength he carried even when saying nothing. When my husband mentioned his name, I smiled too quickly, spoke too...

  By Gabriel Ukuta  The Ofurumampepe Youths of Bayelsa West Senatorial District have condemned in strong terms the recent claims by some political actors alleging a supposed zoning agreement aimed at stopping Senator Henry Seriake Dickson from seeking reelection in 2027. In a statement by Hon. Preye Okoriye, Director General of the group that was released after their emergency meeting in Sagbama, the group described the zoning narrative as a “selfish political gimmick” orchestrated by a few desperate individuals who are bent on truncating the quality representation that the people of Bayelsa West currently enjoy under Senator Dickson. According to the group, those pushing the zoning propaganda are not motivated by fairness or equity but by personal ambition and greed. The statement noted that these politicians have chosen to “align with external opposition forces” in a bid to retire Senator Dickson from active politics. “We have observed with disappointment the activities of s...

  By Gabriel Ukuta  In the build-up to the 2027 general elections, certain political actors in Bayelsa West have begun to peddle claims of a so-called “zoning agreement” aimed at discrediting Senator Henry Seriake Dickson’s reelection bid. While they attempt to cloak their motives in the language of fairness and balance, it is increasingly clear that these politicians are driven not by the collective good of Bayelsa West, but by narrow, selfish interests. The truth remains that Bayelsa West has, for decades, been one of the most politically stable and well-represented senatorial districts in the state. Under the leadership of Senator Seriake Dickson a two-term former governor and a serving senator the people have enjoyed quality representation anchored on vision, courage, and an unrelenting commitment to development. His track record in the National Assembly speaks volumes: from legislative advocacy and infrastructure development to educational scholarships, empowerment progr...