Niger Delta
I’m Obssessed With Journalism – Dickson
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Bayelsa State, Barr. Seriake Dickson, said he would have wished to be a journalist.
According to him, as a journalist, he would have prefered an investigative journalism instead of writing rumours and been paid to tarnish people’s reputation as some media men are been paid to do.
Barrister Dickson who spoke to journalists in his house in Yenagoa expressed pains that some local media based in the state were publishing damaging stories about him without his own part of the stories were not fair to him more over when it was discovered that those reports were sponsored.
He stressed that the authors of those publications aught to have investigate their facts properly before publications.
He referred to the claims by the state House of Assembly that he misappropriated the sum of N150m being money meant for the Ministry of Justice library project in 2006 when he was the commissioner in charge of the ministry.
Dickson said the state government wanted to tarnish his image because of his political ambition, stressing that the N150m was approved by then Governor of the State and current President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, but the money was not released to the ministry where he was a commissioner.
According to him, the State legislature had no proof of the money which they claimed he misappropriated.
Dickson revealed that he sued the state government and assembly at a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, presided by Justice Aganaba, and the matter was ruled in his favour as the court ruled that he should be paid N500,000 as cost.
He also denied claims that the state government awarded a N500m road contract to construct Ididie street in Yenagoa, noting that he was neither a contractor nor a businessman.
The governorship aspirant said very soon, the public would know who had been misappropriating their money, stressing that the wind of change blowing across the state will bring positive things.
“Look at our neigbouring states, and see the kind of development going on, we in Bayelsa deserve such changes”, he insisted.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
