There was public concern over the health of the Bayelsa
State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on Friday.
The Punch correspondent gathered that the
governor had been absent from the state for over three weeks fuelling
speculations that he might have been sick.
While some said Dickson was flown to
the United Kingdom to be treated of an undisclosed ailment, others insisted
that the governor took some days off to rest.
There was also an indication that
Dickson may miss all the activities lined up for the Independence Day and the
16th anniversary celebration for the creation of the state.
But the government broke its silence
over the matter debunking claims that the governor’s absence was caused by
illness.
The government said the governor was
on official and private tour abroad, maintaining that Dickson was on a working
leave.
The Special Adviser to the Governor
on Political Affairs, Chief Fred Agbedi, said the governor was hale and hearty.
He insisted that his absence had not
in any way affected the administration of the state.
He said, “Governor Henry Seriake
Dickson has gone abroad in his bid to woo investors and develop the state. On a
private note, the Governor is also on holiday. He has not gone on holiday since
his election into the House of Representatives, which he won after the
turbulent rerun, and shortly after that, he went into the governorship
primaries.
“He went through a rigorous campaign.
Since then he has not taken a deserved rest and that is what he is doing now.
The Governor did not travel because of ill-health but he travelled for the
interest of the state and to rest.
He added that there was no law that
made it compulsory for the governor to be present during the Independence
anniversary celebration.