No fewer than 200 vehicles, belonging to the Bayelsa State Government have been carted away by political appointees of former Gov. Timipre Sylva according to the newly "elected' governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson.
No fewer than 200 vehicles, belonging to the Bayelsa State Government have been carted away by political appointees of former Gov. Timipre Sylva according to the newly "elected' governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson.
Mr. Dickson claims that most political appointees in Sylva's administration, had failed to return the vehicles since they lost their jobs, following the removal of Timipre Sylva by a Supreme Court judgement on Jan. 27 2012.
The development informed the setting up of a Vehicle Recovery Committee by Gov. Seriake Dickson.
The committee was saddled with the responsibility of recovering all government vehicles and property in the custody of former political office holders in the state.
Dickson is insisting that his administration would not procure new vehicles but would ensure that vehicles allegedly carted away by Sylva’s political appointees and aides were recovered.
The former Chief Press Secretary to Sylva, Ola Doife recently alleged a threat to his life by members of the Vehicle Recovery Committee but Dickson debunks claims by the former Mr. Doife that loyalists of Dickson invaded his private residence, Dickson's media aide, Mr Daniel Iworisuo-Markson, said that no amount of propaganda would derail Seriake's restoration agenda.
Doife had in a recent statement entitled: ``Invasion of my residence by Dickson's men: Before I am harmed'', claimed that at about 10.00 a.m. on March 19, 10 men, including four armed policemen, invaded his private residence at Edepie-Yenagoa.
Reacting, Iworisuo-Markson said that ``virtually all the vehicles in the fleet of the Government House, mostly Toyota Hilux Vans, Honda Accord saloon cars, Toyota buses had been driven away by Sylva’s aides, shortly before the apex court ruling, which ousted his government.
“Right now, all the new appointees of the governor have no official cars to use and Governor has completely ruled out plans to purchase new vehicles. ”
Commenting on the failure of Sylva’s aides to return their official vehicles, Iworisuo-Markson said: ``till date, the committee on vehicle recovery has only recovered 15 vehicles out of over 200 or more vehicles in the Government House fleet.
``The Committee on Recovery of Government Vehicles wouldn't have been set up, if political appointees had done the right thing by returning government properties in their possession. ”
He said that individuals were holding on to government property one month after leaving office, even with repeated appeals on radio, for them to return such property, were not being fair to the government.
``It does not portray them as responsible if they decide to withhold such property,” he stated.
Iworisuo-Marskon's statement came on the heels of an alarm raised by Ola, who berated the task force set up to recover government's vehicles for unlawful invasion of his premises in Yenagoa.
“My advice to the former CPS is that he should report the matter to the Police, if indeed, his house was invaded. This government believes in the rule of law.
“Fortunately, we have a governor who is both a law enforcer as well as a lawmaker. He will not condone a situation whereby the rights of anybody are trampled upon,” the statement said.
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