Rivers State Head of Service, Mr Rufus Godwins (middle), with Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission for Rivers State, Dr Alpheaus Paul-Worika (4th left) and the commission’s workers, during a working visit to the Head of Service in Port Harcourt, recently.

Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital was on a standstill yesterday, as thousands of people abandoned their usual church service to attend the inauguration of Governor Seriake Henry Dickson for second term as governor of the oil rich state .
But his godfather, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and his wife Dame Patience Jonathan, were conspicuously absent from the occasion which seven governors of the party attended.
Among the governors were Chief  Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Fayose Ayodele  of Ekiti, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Okezie Ikpeazj of Abia, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe and Darius Ishiaku of Taraba.
Also at the occasion were Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus,  the  Senate Minority Leader, Chief Godswill Akpabio, and the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor.
No reason was given for the absence of the former president and his wife but sources said they may have travelled outside the state.
However, the oath taking ceremony was performed by the state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, who quoted the relevant sections of the Constitution that empower her to administer the oath.
Responding after taking the oath, Dickson pledged to consolidate on the  achievements he had made in the past four years saying that his re-election was a renew mandate given by the people of the state.
He listed a number of projects he had carried out, saying this could not have been possible without the support of the people and called on the opposition to join his administration in moving the state of the federation.
“To the opposition” Dickson said, “let me say, I respect your right to hold different views. Your participation in the process made this contest more vibrant, and our victory more worthwhile, and legitimate. Yesterday, we were opponents; today, we must be partners for the security, development and prosperity of Bayelsa State. I now invite you all to join me in this enterprise of consolidating the gains of restoration.  Let us work together to move our state forward”.
“Now that elections are over, we must strengthen the synergy between citizens, the state government and security agencies to recapture the peace and security that prevailed prior to the elections. Bayelsa is the epicenter of the Niger Delta, critical to the security, stability and economic prosperity of our country and the Gulf of Guinea region. Therefore, our government remains committed to working with the Federal Government and security agencies to secure our nation and its people, he stressed.