Ahead of Guber Election, Diri Warns Troublemakers in Bayelsa Community

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has warned those fomenting trouble and beating the drums of war in Opu-Nembe community in Nembe Local Government Area (LGA) of the state to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the law.

Speaking in Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital, when the members of the Nembe Se Congress paid him a courtesy visit at the weekend, Governor Diri stated that government would not fold its arms and watch a few individuals disturb the peace of the Nembe Kingdom, particularly in the Bassambiri community.

Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed the state governorship election for November 11, there has been tension in some parts of the state.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, expressed displeasure over the actions of a few unscrupulous elements fomenting trouble and playing the victim.

He stated that the government will take appropriate action against anyone found wanting, no matter how highly placed.

He stressed that without peace, development would elude the people of the area, adding that all hands ought to be on deck to ensure that peace prevailed in the Bassambiri community.

Diri lauded the Nembe Se Congress for their interest in the Nembe-Brass road, saying he is encouraged by the group’s partnership with the state government to ensure the project sees the light of day.

He urged other groups in the state to emulate the congress by showing interest in government projects, its activities and raising concerns in appropriate quarters rather than engaging in social media criticisms.

The governor further stated that apart from the economic reasons, the government embarked on the construction of the Nembe-Brass road to reduce travel time to communities in the area as well as reduce the cost and risk of water transportation.

He frowned at those playing politics with the road project, saying since news broke about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited taking over the construction of the road, nothing had been done by the company or the federal government.

Responding to a request to upgrade facilities in schools in Nembe, the governor said the government was not leaving any stone unturned in its effort to transform the education sector.

He explained that the educational direction of the state was science and vocational education to empower the youths beyond paper certificates.

His words: “As a government, we will not sit down and watch anybody make Nembe-Bassambiri ungovernable. 

“Let me say this with all sense of responsibility that those who have been playing politics with security in the area will be dealt with no matter how highly placed.

“Like every other project we have embarked upon, we will not abandon the Nembe-Brass road. The benefits of that road are enormous. 

“I like to thank you for giving serious attention to the road project. We cannot play politics with it. We should move beyond playing politics with our development. 

“Let me also say that since the issue of NNPC coming to take over construction of the road came up, I have not seen any action from them.”

Earlier, the President of the Nembe Se Congress, Dr. Ebiegberi Domo-Spiff, lauded Governor Diri for taking the bull by the horns to kick-start the Nembe-Brass road project.

He called on the government to strictly monitor the project by appointing a consultant with the relevant expertise to ensure that it meets the specification and that it is completed within the timeframe.

Domo-Spiff also appealed to the government to provide ferry boats to ease water transportation in the Nembe and Brass axis as well as ensure strict compliance with maritime laws to improve safety on the waterways.

He equally requested a campus of the Bayelsa Medical University in the area, to which the governor responded that he would look into the law establishing the institution to see if there was provision for a multi-campus structure.