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BAYELSA SATE GOVERNOR IN QUESTIONABLE USD14.1MILLION FISHERY PROJECT.......
Gov. Seriake Dickson today shocked his listeners when he admitted to making payments to two foreign firms for a project that he said were still being negotiated.
The governor's response to a question by a reporter on the value of the contract raised eyebrows.
Dickson, who presented payment instruments for 80 per cent of the contract, had declined to mention the contract value but merely said that the government was making a 30 per cent and 50 per cent payment to the two contractors.
Curiously the heavily-indebted state is still servicing a commercial agricultural loan and sundry bond obligations undertaken by his predecessor, Gov. Timprie Sylva.
Responding to the question on the contract sum denominated in dollars, Dickson committed blunders as he said that he was still looking at the figures with a view to arriving at the final figures.
In a lengthy and convoluted explanation, the governor failed to give reasons for making such a princely upfront payment for a contract that is still being negotiated.
Bayelsa governors are notorious for using projects to siphon public funds, then abandoning them.  President Goodluck Jonathan, for instance, commenced a multi-billion hotel project in Yenagoa that is still in the “abandoned” category.
Silva also awarded many phantom projects across sectors where contractors got upfront payments and simply abandoned the site.

YOUTHS ARE BIGGER FRAUDSTERS THAN POLITICAL LEADERS.....

Centenary Committee.

The Centenary committee has raised the alarm over the level of corrupt practices in the country.

The committee, which was commissioned by the Federal Government and is saddled with the task of organising activities to mark the 100th anniversary of the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates, said its interaction with the youths on the social media had confirmed that some Nigerians are more fraudulent than the political leadership they often accuse of corruption.

It made this statement on Facebook, in reaction to an allegation that some of those participating in its various competitions on the social networking site had committed plagiarism.

In one of the contests themed 'Thank God it's Centenary', participants competing for prizes, ranging from laptop computers and ipads to branded plaques, may be given an official invitation to attend dozens of events scheduled for the celebrations.

Worried by the alleged plagiarism, the committee remarked on its Facebook page that it was a "huge embarrassment'' to the FG that some Nigerians are more "fraudulent than the ones you accuse."

It lamented that the purpose of the interaction with Nigerians on the social media, especially the youths, which was to raise role models against the backdrop of alleged corrupt practices among government officials, was being defeated.

It said, "First, we wish to remind you that this platform was set up in response to the cries of Nigerian youths for recognition by the government. This is why most of our programmes are focused on the youths.

"Secondly, you have been pointing accusing fingers at government officials for corruption and fraudulent practices. As a result of this, we decided to engage the youths on this platform so that they will be of good behaviour and become proper role models in our society.

"It is therefore a huge embarrassment to you the youths, to us the Centenary team and to the government and people, as you have demonstrated, to be even more fraudulent than the ones you accuse."

The committee noted that those who indulged in fraudulent acts on its Facebook wall had done  a great disservice to the group, especially its social media team, which had "been working round the clock to ensure that young Nigerians have a platform they can boast of.''

It added that members of the committee had "given up private time with family and friends" to ensure that it meets some of the dreams and aspirations of the youths, in commemoration of the centenary celebration of the country.

A statement on the group's Facebook page said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, who coordinates the centenary celebrations, had shown enormous  commitment to the activities of the committee on social media.

"He (Anyim) has rewarded you (youths) accordingly, to the point of cancelling his official engagements just to meet with you,'' the statement added.

The group said it had floated a social media disciplinary board in order to check fraudulent activities in the competitions, which are aimed at rewarding Nigerians for displaying mastery and understanding of "societal needs and current issues" affecting the country.

It said the board was set up to "ensure that the primary objectives for setting up this platform are achieved."

"This platform will continue to give Nigerians, especially the youths, the opportunity to be recognised and to be the change they desire for the country, as well as an opportunity to rebuild our dear country Nigeria,'' a statement posted on the Facebook page, which boasts a following of over 43,000 people, read.

Meanwhile, some of the youths who follow the committee on the social network have disagreed with it on the development. According to them, it was wrong for it to label all Nigerians, especially the youth, as fraudsters because of the alleged  misgivings of a few.

 One Adekunle Adetayo lamented, "Why address everyone as if the minority involved in this fraudulent act sought the consent of the entire youths before perpetrating the embarrassing act? I wouldn't want to say I'm highly disappointed at the originators of this write-up for including me a youth while pointing fingers at those involved.''

Also Ojonuba Samuel-Akexstinger stated, "I'm urging and begging everybody to be conscious of what they say. Just because some of our centennial brothers made simple mistakes, shouldn't give them the right to use spiteful and insulting words on them.''

In a message posted on the wall on Tuesday, Anyim expressed the hope that those who emerge winners in the competitions will engender the "spirit of patriotism'' as they strive to actualise their dreams as Nigerians.

He also charged them to "motivate others to dedicate themselves to similar services and continually use the platform offered by the Nigeria Centenary to exhibit collective enthusiasm for the "Nigeria of your dream."

Desperate Zone::: by Funke Egbemode

Every woman’s desperate zone:::: by Funke Egbemode.....Pls take
time and read..Quite educating and interesting!!!

When a woman thinks her biological clock is ticking, she is
vulnerable. When she begins to set wedding dates between one
birthday and the next, she is easy prey. When all she has achieved
and is achieving pale into insignificance beside her desire to ‘settle
down’, that is when she becomes a plaything in the hands of men.

She is finally in that place called the desperate zone. Here, she can no
longer see a simple friendship for what it is.

She reads meaning into everything her boyfriend says even when
the guy can’t remember what he said or when he said it. Every man
who winks or smiles at her is a prospective husband. She attends
every singles meeting in her church and every church, believing Mr
Right is hidden in next week’s singles summit or at worst at the end
of the year ‘love feast for singles’. She watches out for such themes
as ‘ I must marry this year’ on church posters. She is obsessed,
totally desperate. She is at that point where she feels incomplete,
and that is putting it mildly. Most women actually at this point feel
like failures.

They feel all the witches and wizards in their villages are behind the
problem. The evil ones have covered their faces with evil veil or
caged their prospective husbands. That could be true and it may be
far off the mark. I have learnt not to tell a desperate 37 or 40 year old
woman searching for a husband that I know how she feels. It just
does not work. What further compounds the troubles of the 40-year-
old desperate sister is the army of marauding opportunist males
who know what she wants, dangle it in front of her nose, do what
they wanna do and move on, leaving her bitter and more desperate.

It’s awful and men like that need instant justice, if you ask me. But
since you didn’t, let’s move on.

So, a man meets a woman in her late 30s, beautiful, stylish, great
job, independent and single. Her guard down, she let it slip that she
is looking forward to becoming a wife and mum now that her career
is at a cruising altitude. He smacks his lips and sinks his teeth into
her. He knows he will not marry her or even allow his seeds get
anywhere near her womb but he still strings her along, probably
waste another one year she can ill afford. When he has had his fill,
he discards her like used tissue paper and moves on. Another one
comes along and goes as far as introducing her to his family, and
then zooms of just when she thinks they have something going. She
tries a younger man, lets him use her cars which he also deploys to
taking his sweet 16s to the movies. He worships her . She keeps the
juice flowing and when he’s done sucking the juice out of her
orange, he throws her away.

Isn’t that what you do when you are done with an orange? Truth is,
a single-and-desperately-searching- senior- babe goes through so
much. Her self esteem is left battered. The men walking through her
life leave her damaged. And for as long as she is determined to
settle-down-by-fire-or-by-force, she’s putty, easy prey and
vulnerable. The predators will continue to mill around her and milk
her. Yes, getting married is good. Marriage itself is a good thing
once you get the bone of your bones but if you are unlucky to end
up with someone else’s bone stuck in your throat, you will gasp all
the way to your grave or into a wheel chair.

There is nothing wrong in wanting a man by your side, in your bed,
one you can call your own with a license to prove it and a Certificate
of Occupancy for good measure but if you buy the wrong property,
you cannot occupy it or you do so at the risk of broken life or limbs
or both. And that is why every mature babe should avoid that
desperate zone. It is in every woman’s path. Some get married
before they get there, others must pass through it. So if you must,
make sure you happen to the desperate zone, don’t let it happen to
you.

In other words, take charge because at the end of the day, it is your
life. When you take a wrong turn in the road, always remember that
you are in the driver’s seat. You can stop and mope and you can
choose to turn and make a fresh start. Do not allow men to turn you
into a ping pong ball, a pawn on their chess board, a topic over their
evening beer. Okay, I admit that it is easier said than done,
especially when menopause is staring you in the face. But never
ever forget that the same process that gets you pregnant is the
same one that gets you HIV. Ah, you didn’t think of that? There you
have it.

Don’t get so desperate as to get sucked in into having unprotected
sex with every man who comes your way just because you want to
beat your biological clock. You may be signing your death warrant.

Resist the temptation to think each man that comes along is the one
you’d been waiting for. You may even decide to make do with the
chicken since you couldn’t find the pigeon but never lose sight of the
fact that it is your choice, your life. A little slip can have you
careering into disaster.

Tell yourself constantly that this is just a phase and if you have made
it this far, even this phase will pass. Beyond this cloud is a silver
lining. Do not let these men take advantage of you. You actually
should turn the table and use them, if you get my drift. Now, if you
wake up one morning vomiting and hating your favourite perfume
( I still can’t stand the one I wore on my wedding day till today), you
should just waltz through that desperate zone. Don’t spend a minute
longer. If the man responsible for your thickening waist decides to
disgrace his father by denying responsibility, just shake your head
and sing; It shall be permanent What the Lord has done for me It
shall be permanent.

Don’t lose any sleep. Concentrate on your pregnancy and start
shopping like crazy. Buy the best kaftans and sexiest flowing tops.

He is a coward who didn’t learn anything his mother taught him. We
all should be ashamed of him because one day, like a prodigal son,
he’ll return with his stupid tail in between his legs to ask for his son
or come claim his daughter or twins when they become stars. So
thank God who did not let you labour in vain. Carry your pregnancy
with pride and let him worry about his cowardice
. That child is essentially yours, a sign that God still answers prayers.

And you know God does not share His glory with anybody. Now, that
you can no longer be called unfruitful vine, why should your blood
pressure not be normal? The worst thing you can do when a coward
impregnates you is not appreciating God’s favour, by fixating on the
shivering bloke. Your baby will be born with all his features, bald
head, sexy eyes, dimples and that little dark birth mark on his
shoulder will be right where the whole world can see it on your
baby. Trust me. Such babies always arrive with their DNA
certificates....Good morning people and do hv a fruitful week ahead....Xoxo

BEGINNING

This is the moment of embarking.
All auspicious signs are in place.

In the beginning, all things are hopeful. We prepare ourselves to start anew. Though we may be intent on the magnificent journey ahead, all things are contained in this first moment : our optimism, our faith, our resolution, our innocence.In order to start, we must make a decision. This decision is a commitment to daily self-cultivation. We must make a strong connection to our inner selves. Outside matters are superfluous. Alone and naked, we negotiate all of life's travails. Therefore, we alone must make something of ourselves, transforming ourselves into the instruments for experiencing the deepest spiritual essence of life.
Once we make our decision, all things will come to us. Auspicious signs are not a superstition, but a confirmation. They are a response. It is said that if one chooses to pray to a rock with enough devotion, even that rock will come alive. In the same way, once we choose to commit ourselves to spiritual practice, even the mountains and valleys will reverberate to the sound of our purpose.

ABLUTION

Washing at dawn:
Rinse away dreams.
Protect the gods within,
And clarify the inner spirit.

Purification starts all practice. First comes cleansing of the body -- not to deny the body, but so that it is refined. Once cleansed, it can help us sense the divine.Rinsing away dreams is a way of saying that we must not only dispel the illusions and anxieties of our sleeping moments but those of our waking ones as well. All life is a dream, not because it isn't there, but because we all project different meanings upon it. We must cleanse away this habit.
While cleansing, we naturally look within. It is believed that there are 36,000 gods and goddesses in the body. If we continually eat bad foods, intoxicate ourselves, allow filth to accumulate anywhere outside or inside of ourselves, then these gods abandon us in disgust.
Yet our concerns must ultimately go beyond these deities in the temples of our bodies to the universal One. After we clear away the obscuring layers of dirt, bodily problems, and delusions, we must be prepared even to clear away the gods themselves so that we can reach
the inner One.

DEVOTION

Make the crooked straight,
Make the straight to flow.
Gather water, fire, and light.
Bring the world to a single point.

If we have devotion -- total faith and commitment to our spiritual path -- our determination will naturally build momentum. Fewer and fewer obstructions will come before us. Our path becomes like a crooked one made straight. No matter what tries to keep us from our purpose, we will not be deterred.Proper devotion lies not simply in a headlong course. It also requires fortitude. Our bodies, our hearts, and our spirits must be totally concentrated upon what we want. Only by uniting all our inner elements can we have full devotion.
If we see our path clearly and our personalities are completely unified, then there is no distinction between the outer world and the inner one. Nothing is faraway anymore, nothing is not open to us. That is why it is said that the world is like a single point : So strong is devotion that there is nothing that is not a part of it.

Hilarious yet True.

Heineken Signs Senator Heineken

ONCE again, the life of another prominent figure from Bayelsa State is proving the fact that a man’s name opens or closes doors for him. Nigerians are aware of how the name ‘Goodluck’ catapulted Nigeria’s president from the creeks to Aso Rock. Now, it’s the turn of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. The Senator, who sponsored a bill in the Senate last week, seeking to effectively hinder the ability of unions to embark on strike actions, was recently visited by unusual favour, as Heineken beer signed him up as a ‘Beer Ambassador.’ The spokesman of the beer revealed in a statement that, “It was a really easy decision to sign up Sen. Heineken. It wasn’t just because he’s our namesake. He’s an asset of inestimable value, because it’s only a man high on beer who can sponsor such a bill.”

Innovation Boom In MDAs

Contrary to the views of some critics, the recent music talent hunt show organised by the State Security Service (SSS) wasn’t a misplaced priority, but is part of an innovative strategy by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to diversify the nation’s economy. Information Minister, Labaran Maku, told newsmen that MDAs have finalised plans to hearken to the transformation message of the president and diversify operations. Hence, he said, the CBN would diversify into a philanthropic/donor agency, the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) into a soft sell/gossip magazine, the police force into a fashion house with specialty in camouflages, and the NNPC into a lottery agency.

Nigerians Miss Obasanjo

Barely a week after ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo celebrated his 75th birthday, many Nigerians thronged his Ota residence to apologise for rejecting his third term offer. First to speak were comedians who lamented that since Obasanjo left Aso Rock, business has nosedived as there’s nobody so harsh to the eyes that they can “yab at will and get paid doing it.” Makers of Baba Blue, Vicks, lamented that they missed his croaked voice, which used to remind them of the enormity of the task and spur them to work harder to ensure that no other person lives with that condition. Also present were terrorists and militants who said they missed someone who would at least give them a good fight. The EFCC on its part, confessed that they wished he could return if only to make them a little relevant again, even if it’s only to fight his many enemies. The only notable absentees were members of the Association of Professional Praise Singers who said they didn’t miss Obasanjo because even though they had it good with him, business was now booming more than ever before. They said they couldn’t join the protest because they were busy at the new Goodluck Jonathan district praising FCT minister Bala Mohammed for praising President Goodluck.

CROWNED CLOWN (CeeCee) OF THE WEEK

Today we consider three truisms. Truism 1: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Ask Herman Hembe, the House Committee chairman on Capital Markets, and he’ll tell you so. The man somehow managed to bring out the sting in Arunma Oteh, the delectable and usually delicate head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a two-day mudslinging contest they called a committee hearing.  He’d probably forgotten Truism 2: He who lives in a glasshouse does not throw stones. Here’s what A Pinch... thinks about the whole episode so far. Oteh’s queries as regards Hembe’s credibility and impartiality are legitimate. But so are Hembe’s queries as regards Oteh’s profligacy and irresponsibility. Both of them are playing a high stakes game of Russian roulette. Unfortunately, it’s clear from their body language that their only aim is to play to the gallery and wage a propaganda battle. A Pinch has no time for such nonsense. That’s why Truism 3 is the most important of all: Arunma Oteh and Herman Hembe are clowns. They jointly pick the CeeCee this week.

The heart of a home is a mother
Whose love is warm and true,
And home has always been "sweet home"
With a wonderful mother like you!

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Just one little wish for you, Mom,
But it's loving and happy and true-
It's a wish that the nicest and best things
Will always keep coming to you!

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Sending this, Mom, especially to say
Wishing you a happy
And wonderful day...
And to tell you this day will always be one
For remembering the many
Sweet things you have done!

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Here's wishing you a Mother's Day
That's filled with every pleasure,
And a future that's as happy
As the memories you treasure!