By Sampson Boroh
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State says 2,069 political aides appointed by his administration will be dropped by January exactly a month to hand over date of the incoming administration of Governor-elect David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He, however, declared that his administration has officially gone into transition mode and ready to ensure a successful hand over to the incoming APC government in the state.
The governor stated this on Tuesday in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kemela Okara.
Okara, in the statement, said the present administration was battling to meet up with “our diverse financial obligations.”
Okara, who doubles as the Chairman of the State Transition Committee, said In seeking to manage these financial obligations, it became imperative to give priority to the payment of salaries to Civil Servants who have since been paid their November salaries.”
“We have now commenced the processing of political appointee salaries which will be paid in the coming week.His Excellency the Governor seeks to use this medium to thank all political appointees for their hardwork and commitment to the Restoration government over the years and especially at this time of transition”.
Meanwhile, the over 3,000 political Appointees under the Governor Seriake Dickson administration have pledged their loyalty and support to the Peoples Democratic Party and the State Governor, the Hon. Seriake Dickson.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Fyneman Wilson, who spoke on behalf of the appointees, commended the Governor for sustaining a large number of appointees throughout the eight years of his administration.
Wilson said that Dickson deserves commendation for combining such a large number of appointees numbering up to three thousand with the development of the state
He urged all political appointees to show the expected understanding that government has come to and end in less than two months to record eight years of unprecedented development in the state, stressing that Governor Dickson had done his best for the state, during the period thanked him on behalf of all political appointees.
He charged all appointees to be resolute in supporting the PDP and the Governor and to pray for the party’s success in the election petition tribunal and other pre-election matters, “First let me use this opportunity to thank Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for maintaining such a large number of appointees in the past eight years”.
“The appointees should show understanding that government has ended and the Governor has done his best during this period. I am using the medium to thank the Governor on behalf of all appointees for engaging such a large number of people while still developing the state.
“It is a fact that this has not happened before. The government is in transition and it is a great thing that they resolved to continue to work for the party and pray for its success in the court.”
