From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State Douye Diri has said that despite the recent upsurge in cult-related criminal activities and last Saturday’s abduction of Justice Ebieyerin Omukoro by yet-to-be-identified armed men, the state remains one of the most peaceful in the country.
Governor Diri also said his administration was committed to the safety and security of residents of the state and was leaving no stone unturned in tackling pockets of insecurity experienced in recent weeks.
The Bayelsa governor spoke to a mammoth crowd on Wednesday at the Oxbow Lake Pavilion in Yenagoa during the grand finale of his thank-you tour across the eight local government areas in the state.
Diri contended that no state in Nigeria was immune to security breaches and that recent criminal activities were not peculiar to Bayelsa, urging people of the state not to play politics with security issues.
Assuring that the kidnapped state high court judge will regain his freedom, he implored traditional rulers and the people of Yenagoa to join hands with the government to sustain peace in the state capital.
“Your government has invested so much in security, and we recently installed CCTV cameras in Yenagoa.
“There is no state without some level of insecurity. No government can give you total security. But we will continue to solve the issues as they arise.
“The recent Gestapo-style kidnapping of a high court judge was unfortunate and condemnable. But we picked up footage of the incident that we are using to ensure he is released.
“My dear people, you all have a job to do to keep the peace and security of Yenagoa. We are not spirits in government, and we need credible information from you.”
Diri, who described Yenagoa as a window to the state, assured the people of his administration’s commitment to opening up the state capital and making it comparable to any city in Nigeria.
“We came to say thank you to our people and non-natives in Yenagoa. We came to say we appreciate you for re-electing my deputy and me for another term.
“Yenagoa is the window to the whole of Bayelsa State, and that is why we have taken its development seriously. Today, we no longer have only one road into the capital as was the case. Yenagoa now has a ring road constructed by this administration.
“My predecessor started the transport terminal at Igbogene, and we completed it. We are developing a new Yenagoa city comparable to any in the world. As we speak, your government is building an ultramodern, FIFA-standard stadium in Yenagoa.
“We are also improving the skyline of the capital city with the construction of a nine-storey civil servants’ secretariat. We are equally making headway with our search for investors to complete the Tower Hotel. We will continue to invest in Yenagoa.”