Diri calls for calm over move to create new LGAs

Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, has called for calm over moves to create new LGAs across the country.

Bayelsa state, established in 1996 with only eight LGA, continues to grapple with calls for an increase in their number to meet governance needs.

Residents of Kolo community in the Ogbia LGA recently staged a protest over the alleged relocation of a proposed council headquarters from their community to Emeyal.

In the wake of the dispute, Diri met with representatives of Emeyal and Kolo communities on Wednesday at the Government House in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The governor said the federal government’s notice on the creation of new LGAs reached the state “late”, leaving little time for consideration.

Diri said he alerted the state assembly to draft proposed councils, adding that Kolo was still the headquarters of a rural development authority.

He asked Bayelsans to be wary of those who introduce politics into everything and create divisions because of their personal interest.

“I heard about the protest. For your information, nobody has created any local government. These issues are everywhere and not only in your place,” Daniel Alabrah, Diri’s spokesperson, quoted the governor as saying.

“Let us be development-oriented more than what our forefathers have done. It is true we do not want to lose our history, but if we have to adjust, then we should. Protest is not the first recourse to settle issues.

“It was an emergency that I asked the Speaker and members of the assembly to handle it. It was hurriedly packaged and I like to appeal to you that protests should be the last resort.

“We do not want constituency 3 in Ogbia to be at loggerheads. If there are issues, pursue it through the normal and legal process, and not beat the drum of war.

“God has a reason for putting us together in one place. First and foremost, we are Bayelsa and ijaw people.

“For all of us from constituency 3, it is not as if local governments have been created and we all know it is hard for a civilian government to create councils.

“My advice to the Kolo group is that the deed is already done. Follow it up legally.

“Let the youths in Bayelsa know that it is not everything that requires protest when you can amicably resolve the matter. It is giving the state a bad name and image.

“No matter the misunderstanding, we are still one and the same. Let us try and tolerate one another and not be manipulated by those with political ambition.”