Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has warned youths in the state to be cautious of failed politicians who plan to use the proposed national protest to disrupt the peace in the state.
Speaking in Yenagoa on Monday, Diri said security reports indicated that politicians who lost the last governorship election in the state were plotting to cause mayhem.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor appealed to the youths to avoid being used by such politicians, saying they do not mean well for the state.
“We will not fold our arms and watch self-serving politicians disrupt the peace we have worked hard to achieve,” he said.
Diri acknowledged that there were challenges in the country but called for dialogue as a way of resolving the issues. He stated that his administration has continued to engage genuine groups, such as the Ijaw Youth Council led by Jonathan Lokpobiri and student leaders.
The governor emphasized that peaceful protest was the right of individuals and groups in any society and that the doors of his administration were open to those who genuinely love the state and want to see it progress. He also called for the arrest of any other person parading themselves as IYC president apart from Lokpobiri.
Diri warned: “There are threats to peace and security across the nation, not only our state. We have heard from reliable sources that the impending protest is being sponsored. While we appeal to the youths of Bayelsa to avoid being used, especially by failed politicians, let me sound a note of warning to all those sponsored to kill our people that this will never be allowed in Bayelsa State. We have empowered the security agencies to deal with such people.”
He continued: “To our youths who sincerely love Bayelsa State, we will continue to engage you and continue to dialogue with all those who feel aggrieved. Yes, there is hardship, but as a government, we will not stand idle to watch anybody try to bring down this state.”
Diri also announced that the distribution of 20 trucks of rice received from the Federal Government would start immediately, and directed that it should only be given to those in the communities who do not benefit directly from the government.
He said, “The rice has no PDP or APC face.
“I urge all Bayelsans to continue to support their government.”
