Wike’s Planned Rally In Bayelsa Suffers K-Leg
To avoid the Rivers State crisis experience that has led to a state of emergency, the Bayelsa State governor Senator Douye Diri, has warned against the use of public facilities in the state for any rally connected to the FCT minister, Dr Nyesom Wike.
A few days ago, information got to the public about plans by people who call themselves associates of Wike in Bayelsa State, to organise a rally to thank Wike for standing for and saying the truth.
It came even as Ijaw people have continued to express anger with Wike for deriding Ijaw people in the public, describing them as minorities of minorities, even though it is established that the Ijaws are actually the fourth largest ethnic group in the country.
It was after Wike’s actions and declarations at Abalama, Rivers State, that oil facilities were attacked in parts of the state, leading to the declaration of emergency rule and suspension of the governor.
Diri, who warned that the state government would not condone any act that would disrupt the peace of the state, advised security commanders, youths, elders and traditional rulers to be on the alert.
The Bayelsa governor spoke on the issue on Thursday at separate meetings with the Bayelsa Elders Council and at the 37th session of the state security council.
He warned that a planned mega rally and inauguration of a group loyal to Wike, was capable of igniting avoidable crisis in the state.
Diri noted that a suspended member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah, had been enlisted to create factions in the party in the state.
The governor also stated that holding such an event at a time the political crisis in Rivers State had heightened ethnic tensions could degenerate into conflict in the state.
He said: “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.”
Diri, who insisted that the peaceful disposition of the Ijaws should not be misconstrued for cowardice, said the state would not allow a faceless group to foment trouble in Bayelsa, which is the homeland of all Ijaw people.
“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 (Wike).
“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.”
The Bayelsa helmsman enjoined the people to continue to maintain the prevailing peace in the state in order to sustain its development.
At the meeting with the elders council, the governor assured the elders of judicious use of the state’s resources.
Responding on the electricity situation in the state, Diri explained that the current blackout resulted from vandalised towers in Rivers and assured that he would work with relevant bodies to restore power.
He added that with the procurement of a gas turbine, the state would soon experience steady power supply.
He also revealed that the state was set to employ about 1000 Bayelsans into the civil service.
“Again, we are going to employ another 1000 Bayelsans. That process is already on. From information I got from the civil service commission, they have received about 36,000 applications. It is like what we are doing is a drop of water in the ocean, but it is a good way to start.”
Diri further stated that the teachers recruitment exercise was cancelled because of irregularities and that he had to set up a committee headed by his Deputy Chief of Staff to oversee a new exercise.
Earlier, chairman of the Bayelsa Elders Council, who is the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), commended Diri for his administration’s infrastructure development strides.
