Group faults Dickson’s attacks on ex-chief of staff over diversion of property allegations

NEDU MARK, Yenagoa

Barely days ahead of Governor Seriake Dickson’s official declaration to contest the 2016 gubernatorial polls, frontline socio -political group in the state, the Youth Forum for Progressive Change, has faulted the governor for attacking his former Chief of Staff, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, over alleged government property diversion.

In a statement issued, Friday, by National Coordinator, Aye Itare; Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Okwu and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Amambogha John, the group described the attack on Ikiogha, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, by the Dickson government as ‘unwarranted and misguided.’

It would be recalled that Ikiogha, a former Chief of Staff of Governor Dickson at the Bayelsa Government House, was dismissed by the incumbent governor on allegations bordering on misconduct. He subsequently defected to the APC and is presently vying for the governorship ticket of the party in the forthcoming elections in the state, December 5.

According to youth group, the allegation that Ikiogha absconded with government’s property was ‘an orchestrated attempt by the government to tarnish his image’.

The group said the allegation by government that Ikiogha diverted government properties was borne out of fear over the rising profile of the APC leader.

“We are immediately taken aback by a recent report in which the unblemished image and person of Ikiogha was dragged to the mire on spurious allegations of diversion of public properties at his disposal during his tenure as Chief of Staff, Bayelsa Liaison Office, Abuja.”

“Every sane and rational Bayelsan is abreast of the fact that Ikiogha is a man of undeniable impeccable track records in all his endeavours, both in his political and social life. We are rather ashamed of the government’s desperate efforts to malign him.”

There has been cross-fire between government and Ikiogha over allegations of diverting government properties.

The Dickson-led government had accused Ikiogha of failure to return government’s properties in his possession nearly six months after his disengagement from service.

A source in Government House, who craved anonymity, had alleged that the former Chief of Staff only returned some properties while others were still being kept in his possession.

However, in a reaction to the allegation, Ikiogha had said he was amazed by the statement that he absconded with government properties, as he wondered what nature of property the state government was talking about, further insisting he had returned all government properties in his possession.

“I would not have bothered to reply this infantile statement which was not specific on what government properties are in my possession and which I absconded with, but for the wrong impression that may be created in the minds of Bayelsans and Nigerians as, I may indeed be, God willing, Governor Seriake Dickson’s rival in the governorship elections scheduled for December 5, 2015.

“When I left government, the only government properties that were with me were the two Hi-Lux vehicles given to me by Dickson personally, which I have since returned with the official plate numbers as demanded by the Governor himself.”