DICKSON NOMINATES 26 COMMISSIONERS IN BAYELSA

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has forwarded 26 names to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for approval as members of the State Executive Council (SEC).

The proposed 26-member SEC would be the largest cabinet to be formed by any governor since the creation of Bayelsa State.

In a meeting with permanent secretaries, Dickson had intimated them about the creation of new ministries, which he said would accelerate development programmes of the administration.

Checks indicated that the list of commissioners-designate, which Dickson kept close to his chest, was arrived at after weeks of horse-trading, consultations and negotiations by different power blocs that brought Dickson into power.

The list includes loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan and former lawmakers that contested the 2011 elections on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

Those that made the list include former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. James Dugo, former Ogbia Local Government chairman, Chief Mietmar Obodo, the Secretary of the Financial Management Review

Committee that indicted former governor Timipre Sylva in its report recently, Mr. Daute Iyabi, former secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr. James Agari, the first president of Ijaw Youth Council, Dr. Felix Tuodolo and Mrs. Marie Ebikake.

Others are Francis Egele, Francis Ikio, Sarafina Otazi, Sylvanus Abila, Akpoebide Alamieyeseigha, Furuebi Akene, Thomas Commander, Salo Adikumo, Lawrence Erudjakpo and Kuroekigha Walter Ben-Wari.

Also on the list are Ayakeme Massah, Dein Benadoumene, Fred Obuah, Nelson Belief, Ambrose Alfred, Markson Fefegha, Zuwa Konugha, William Alamene, Gesiye Isowo and Ball Oyarede.