…sues for peace among Bayelsans
Yenagoa—Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa tate, has urged the federal government to implement the judgement by an Abuja Federal High Court on Monday, ordering the payment of $951million to Bayelsa State, Mangrovepen.ng has gathered.
According to a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri made this known during the weekly state executive council meeting on Wednesday.
Daniel quoted the governor as saying: “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to please implement the consent judgement that has been delivered.
“We are prepared for dialogue to ensure that we have a smooth relationship with the Federal Government. We believe that governments are one and the same and we have the task of protecting and bringing peace to our country. Litigations would not bind us together as a people.
“What is right is right. These are monies and finances that are due to Bayelsa State by the Constitution and the 13% derivation principle,” Governor Diri reiterated.
In a related development, Governor Diri admonished Bayelsans to put their differences aside and live in peace.
He gave the charge when he received a report of the committee set up by the state government on the Peremabiri community crisis.
In his words: “As a people of Ijaw ethnic extraction, l like to call on all of us to continue to live in peace and harmony.
“That is the only way that we can confront challenges that come our way. That is the only way we can develop as a people and bring prosperity to the state.
“Today, we are handling issues about Peremabiri. But there are pockets of conflicting situations dotted across the state.
“As you are aware, this administration has been trying its best in handling most of these crises by nipping them in the bud.
“We cannot afford fratricidal wars, inter and intra-communal conflicts that have dotted all the spaces of Southern Ijaw and the state. It is time for us to go back to those good old days that our forebears lived in peace.”
Leader of the committee, Senator Moses Cleopas, mentioned absence of a generally accepted constitution, frequent change of leadership, divide and rule tactics by Shell Petroleum Development Company as some of the findings of the committee.
The committee recommended the enactment of a new constitution, signing of a peace accord by major actors, signing of a new Global Memorandum of Understanding by SPDC, among others.
