By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

The chairman of LEEMEX Group, a non governmental body, Chief Alex Ikiotenne, yesterday urged Bayelsans to rally round the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson with a view to actualizing his restoration agenda for the state.

Chief Ikiotenne who lauded the governor for the noticeable change in the governance of the state in the last four months said the present administration has restored hope and confidence in the minds of the generality of the people as they looked forward to a true restoration of the state lost glory.

Speaking to newsmen in Yenagoa, Chief Ikiotenne said the administration having laid a solid foundation and framework in the last four months has set a right path for transformational development for the next four years and beyond.

His words, “I know Dickson too well as a man who has unflinching passion for the development of Bayelsa State. For the first time in the history of the state, a governor is able to make concrete monthly savings of what accrues to the state from the federation account. Perhaps, this is also the first time that Bayelsa will be awarding contracts for infrastructural development with the money for such contracts being readily available.”

Continuing he said, “it is also pertinent to mention that because of the commitment to fast track development of the state, the 2012 budget is crafted in a manner that gives greater percentage to capital expenditure and  this will certainly curb the culture of undue wastage in public expenditure with bogus overhead costs.”

The administration commitment to fight corruption and fraud in public service he noted is demonstrated by the will to get rid of all fraudulent officers in the public service system.

According to him, “Oxes have been gored and toes have been stepped on this fight for probity, accountability and elimination of monumental fraud in the public service system. Personal aggrandizement has been consciously checked and personal sacrifices have been made by the governor and his deputy for this foundation and framework to be laid.”

He added that with the signing into law of the 2012 budget of the state, the stage is set for revolutionary development of all critical sectors of the state economy such as roads and infrastructure, education, health, tourism, transportation, youth development among others even as he enjoined members of the state executive council to operate at the same wave length for the actualization of the restoration agenda.