x

Diri expresses displeasure over attack on Twon-Brass King

..Warns Against Secret GMoUs

Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has condemned the attack on the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, by youths of the kingdom.

King Diete-Spiff was the first Military Governor of the old Rivers State and current chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council.

Governor Diri expressed his displeasure on Monday during a meeting with leaders of Twon-Brass in Brass Local Government Area to resolve misunderstandings in the area.

In a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah and made available to Daybreak News, the governor acknowledged the right of people to embark on peaceful protests but frowned at the recourse to the misguided attack on the monarch.

He warned the youths to shun violence, adding that government would not condone further attack on the revered king under any pretext.

Governor Diri also urged Bayelsans to explore other means of resolving grievances instead of the penchant to embark on protest at the slightest disagreement.

His words: “Let this be a warning to those who perpetrated that act. We are happy with the relative peace in Bayelsa and would like to maintain and sustain it.

“There are other avenues to explore. We have the local government chairman there. If all avenues fail, protest should come as the last resort. Let us not wake up every minute to protest. I however applaud your peaceful disposition with the Nigerian Agip Oil Company over the years.”

Describing Twon-Brass, host to Agip and Shell, as important and strategic to the state and Nigeria in general, Diri stated that all avenues would be explored to resolve the contentious issues and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

According to him, government was aware of the divide and rule tactics employed by companies in host communties, and  condemned the act of compromise by community leaders that shortchange their people for selfish interest.

He said that as one of the safest states in Nigeria, Bayelsa residents should work  with government to maintain the prevailing peace, adding that as the only homogeneous Ijaw state, the people should live in unity.

Diri  further disclosed that to forestall conflicts in communties arising from Global Memoranda of Understanding (GMoUs), government had made it compulsory that it would be part of the signing of GMoUs with companies.

He added: “Part of what we have done the moment we assumed office was to enforce a new system of signing GMoUs between community and all other companies, including oil companies operating in our state. To this end, I have instructed that all GMoUs that are to be signed would be witnessed by the state government through the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s office. No GMoU should be kept secret because we have seen that as a point of conflict between communities and companies operating in the state.

He revealed that the government was working on a Community Administration Bill that would ensure  harmonious co-existence in communties.

In his response, King Diette-Spiff stated that power supply, which led to the protest, had been restored last Thursday, adding that the blockade had also been dismantled by the protesters.

The monarch also noted that the protest must have been hijacked by youths who were not from his domain as he earlier had a peaceful and meaningful interface with the protesters, who had invited him to maintain peace in the kingdom. 

Hot this week

Several Common Fallacies on the Taiwan Question

By Ambassador Yu Dunhai The 80th session of the United Nations...

20 Dead, Several Missing in Fresh Boat Mishap in Kogi

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja At least 20 people have been...

Youth Activist Prince Miaphen Felicitates Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru at 63

By Israel Adamu, Jos Former President of the Plateau Youth...

Kogi Boat Mishap: Death Toll Rises to 36, 40 Rescued

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)...

NNPC Foundation Boosts Economy with Agricultural Intervention, Say Kano Farmers

By Jabiru Hassan Farmers in Kano State have commended the...

Kogi Boat Mishap: Death Toll Rises to 36, 40 Rescued

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)...

Nigeria @65: Claims of Progress Are Deceptive – Activist Ukegbu

A social rights activist, Comrade Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu, has...

Nigeria @65: Northern CAN Urges Hope, Calls on Leaders to Strengthen Nation-Building

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),...

Group Presses Nasarawa Assembly for Speedy Passage of Climate Change Bill

y Leo Zwanke, Lafia The Nasarawa State Network on Environment...

PCRC Zone 4 Trains Members on Community Policing in Lafia

By Leo Zwanke, Lafia The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC),...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img