Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri on Tuesday received a former commissioner of police in the state, Tolani Alausa, now an Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 16(Rivers and Bayelsa), with a piece of advice: do not act the way you acted when you served here as police commissioner.
Also at the Government House to see the governor were other heads of security agencies in the state, including the Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral N.M. Madugu and the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command Rear Admiral Ahmed Gaya.
Diri, who said he had forgiven the former CP for the role he played during the 2023 election in the state told him to turn a new leave as he returns to the state to serve in a higher capacity.
While restating his administration’s commitment to provide more support to security agencies operating in the state, the governor assured security agencies across board that his administration would collaborate with them to protect lives and property as well as critical national assets on land and the waterways by providing patrol vehicles, boats and other necessary logistics.
He promised to work with the Nigerian Police to maintain peace in the state, but recalled the role Tolani played when he was Commissioner of Police in the state during the 2023 governorship election, saying “let bygone be bygone and work according to your conscience. Ensure that you are repentant and do what is right. Your zone covers Bayelsa and Rivers states and let the interest of both states be uppermost on your mind.”
The governor also informed the new OPDS commander that the task force had a responsibility to protect critical national, state and community assets contributing not only to the daily oil production output for the federal government but also to development and growth of the state.
He said: “As a government, we are working round the clock with the security agencies so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed and also ensure that national assets are safe for the benefit of the people and the government.
“Often, it is misconstrued as though these assets are only for the federal government. Rather, they are for the state, communities and the federal government. So we must work hand-in-gloves to ensure they are safe.
“Therefore, it is our responsibility to always ensure that these critical national, state and community assets are kept safe.”
Responding to the request of the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ahmed Gaya, the governor stated that he had signed the Certificate of Occupancy of the land allocated to the Nigerian Navy at the New Yenagoa City as well as approved a secondary school at Toru-Ebeni in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
He said the state government was waiting for the naval authorities to commence development of the land.
The new JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Madugu, stated that the visit was to formally introduce himself and to solicit the government’s support to achieve his aim of protecting the critical oil and gas facilities in his area of operation as well as fulfil the presidential mandate of increasing oil production to 2.5mbpd.
On disputes among community youth associations, the state’s helmsman wielded the big stick and announced the dissolution of the body in Famgbe community in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
He directed the Commissioner for Youth Development, working with the Commissioner of Police, to ensure a proper election is held in the community.
The governor also warned that traditional rulers whose communities were embroiled in conflicts would be sanctioned.
“Every other feuding community, including Ogboinbiri, we are still watching you. I have told all traditional rulers. If you cannot ensure peace in your domain but waiting for my wrath to dangle on you, then both traditional rulers and youth bodies will be sacrificed.”
