Stay Off Bayelsa – Gov Diri Warns Wike’s Allies
- Raises alarm proposed rally can ignite crisis
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has raised an alarm that the purported mega rally and inauguration of a group loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, is capable of igniting crisis in the state.
Accordingly, he has warned those planning such gathering to have a rethink as his administration would not tolerate any act likely to disrupt the peace and order being enjoyed in Bayelsa State.
Governor Diri, while cautioning about the looming danger and plot to breach the peace, urged security agencies, Commanders, youths, elders and traditional rulers to be on the alert and take all legal measures to ensure the State is not thrown into crisis.
Speaking during separate meetings held with the Bayelsa Elders Council as well as the 37th session of the State Security Council (SSC) on Thursday in Yenagoa, the state capital, the Governor said holding such event at a time the political crisis in Rivers State had heightened ethnic tensions could degenerate into conflict in neighbouring Bayelsa.
He said the warning was imperative given that the FCT Minister had “threatened to cause crisis in PDP-governed states”, adding; “Any attempt to import the Rivers State political crisis into Bayelsa will be resisted.
“I urge security commanders in the state to be on the alert. Parents and traditional rulers should discourage their wards and children from being used by unscrupulous elements to cause trouble in the state.”
Maintaining that the peaceful disposition of the Ijaw people should not be misconstrued for cowardice, Governor Diri said the State would not allow a faceless group to foment trouble in Bayelsa, which is the homeland of all Ijaw people.
Hear him; “As you are aware, we have threats from our sister state. The political crisis there is threatening us and we will not allow what is happening there to come into Bayelsa State.
“We had in our party a renegade, who has decided to form a parallel PDP in Bayelsa State, working with an ex-governor.
“The Party in our state suspended him for gross misconduct and for now he is not a member of our party in Bayelsa State.
“He was a part of the kangaroo PDP South South zonal congress that was rejected by the National Working Committee of our party and he is threatening the peace of this state.
“This is not Rivers State. Bayelsa is the cradle of every Ijaw man. I have always said that being peaceful is not cowardice. We are very courageous and we can stand up for the truth at all times.
“Every public facility owned by the Bayelsa State government cannot be used except with the express approval of the state government.”
He therefore urged all the people and residents of Bayelsa to continue maintaining the prevailing peace in the state in order to sustain its socio-economic growth and development.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Bayelsa Elders Council (BEC) and immediate past Deputy Governor of the State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), praised the governor for his administration’s developmental strides.
He pledged that the Council would always work to support the administration’s efforts at developing Bayelsa and ensuring the State enjoy peace and stability to move forward.
