Bayelsa tasks communities on security, condemn attack on NSCDC operatives

• Diri assures of cordial relationship with legislature

The Bayelsa State Government, yesterday, declared that it will sanction any community that aid and abet criminality and directed community leaders to work with security agencies to improve on the prevailing peace and stability in the state.

Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the directive at a meeting with representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Amabulou Community in Ekeremor Council at Government House, Yenagoa.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor stressed the need for effective collaboration between community leaders, security agencies and the government to safeguard life and prosperity in the state.

He said stakeholders including traditional rulers, youth leaders and chairmen of Community Development Committees (CDCs) have a critical role to play for any security arrangement to succeed.

Ewhrudjakpo, who condemned the recent attack on some NSCDC operatives at Amabulou Community, assured the agency that the state government would leave no stone unturned to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

While promising to consult Governor Douye Diri with a view to setting up a committee on the Amabulou issue, he warned that government would deal decisively with community leaders who provide havens for pipeline vandals, pirates and other criminals to carry out their nefarious activities.

MEANWHILE, Governor Douye Diri has assured Bayelsa people that his relationship with members of the State House of Assembly remained cordial since he assumed office almost a year ago.

Diri stated this in Asaba, Delta State, while declaring open a three-day retreat for state legislators with the theme: Building Capacity For An Impactful Legislature.”

He charged members of the Sixth Assembly to focus on the training to enhance their legislative duties and foster better working relationship among the three arms of government.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor urged the lawmakers not to see the retreat as a tea party, but an exercise to enable them to effectively perform their functions.

“The executive, legislature and judicial arms of government are one and the same. Although we accede to the principle of separation of powers, the three arms of government are like a machine. If one part is sick, others are affected. So, we must lubricate all parts to ensure that the machine remains functional at all times,” he said.

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, assured that they would optimise the opportunity of the retreat and bring the knowledge acquired to bear on their legislative business.