Diri: We’ve Resolved Bayelsa, Rivers Oil Well Dispute

*We need each other, Fubara insists

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed delight over the peaceful resolution of the Soku Oil well dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states.
This is coming as Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has stated that both his state and Bayelsa State needed each other to make progress and insisted that they cannot be separated.

Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday during a Yuletide visit to his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Fubara, the Bayelsa State governor said he was delighted that under Fubara, both states have agreed to return to the status quo, thus ending the dispute and withdrawing the case from court.

The Bayelsa State governor said the peaceful relations between both states were necessary for their development and called for its continuity.
Diri also lauded Fubara for his handling of the demolished property of the Bayelsa State government in Port Harcourt, which is still in court while both states are close to reaching an amicable settlement.

He stressed the importance of regular interactions between both states while assuring Fubara of the support of the government and people of Bayelsa State at all times.
The Bayelsa State helmsman also hailed the cooperation of the sister state in tackling vandalism, which has led to a joint task force to tackle the menace and forestall further damage to the government’s facilities, particularly the power infrastructure of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

His words: “We came to pay you a Christmas visit. You surprised us early this year and as brothers, we decided to also visit you. Going forward, we should continue to visit each other to keep both states peaceful and to allow for our development.
“Rivers and Bayelsa are one. Since you came on board, both states have been peaceful. Now we have understanding even in areas where we had issues.
“For instance, the Soku oil well. We have agreed to go back to the status quo before the crisis and there is peace now. That matter is out of court.

“Recently, our state was in darkness for four months due to vandalism of TCN facilities. We waited for TCN but took up the challenge because they were too slow and the vandals destroyed more facilities. Today, we have a joint surveillance team to check vandalism and we are happy.

“We also had issues with Rivers because our property was demolished. We instituted a case but as you came on board, solutions were being sought.”

In his response, Governor Fubara said both Rivers and Bayelsa states needed each other to make progress and insisted that they cannot be separated.

He called on Diri to revive the BRACED Commission and strengthen the cooperation among states of the Niger Delta region.