. Urges Nigerians to embrace PDP
By Amos Okioma
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday tasked the Muslim community in the state on the need to be law abiding and ensure a harmonious and peaceful co-existence in the conduct of their affairs in line with the government’s posture on zero tolerance to crime.
Dickson gave the charge when members of the Islamic Affairs, led by its President, Alhaji Yakubu Otobo, paid him a visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
He said that Bayelsa was home to all Nigerians regardless of ethno-religious and political differences.
Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, urged the people of the state to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing useful information on the activities of criminals, noting that, it is the collective responsibility of all to promote peace and stability.
Commending the Muslim community for its peaceful disposition, Dickson observed that, there has not been any major incident of conflict involving the Muslims in the state and urged them to sustain the prevailing peace, as Bayelsa has been adjudged as one of the most peaceful states in the country.
Responding to their request for sponsorship to holy pilgrimage, Governor Dickson explained that, for now, government lacked the financial capacity to sponsor, both intending Christian and Moslem pilgrims to the holy lands.
He, however, said, soon, the government would institute a policy, whereby his administration would support churches, mosques, organizations and the private sector, towards assisting intending pilgrims.
His words: “I want to commend all of you; I want to say that, we are happy with the moslem community in this state. Let me commend all of you for the peaceful way you have been going about your activities so far. In this state, we have not had challenges; we have not had negative reports about the conduct of our moslem brothers and sisters and so you all deserve a round of applause. I want to request that you keep it that way.
“The government of Bayelsa State is a government for all people. All Nigerians and all human beings, who live in Bayelsa state. In this state, I have said it over and over again that everybody who is here is a Bayelsan irrespective of where you come from and feel free to practice your religion and carry on with your business but you to respect and abide by the laws of this country and the laws of this state.
“I urge you to continue to work closely with our security leaders and they are on to listen to you to get information from you about activities of people who want to create problems in this peaceful state. Those from other places who may want to come here and hide under any guise to create any problem, we call on you, just as we call on all residents of Bayelsa to identify them; people whose mission and livelihoods are suspicious, let us know. The security agencies are there to work with you quietly to fish out any bad egg.
“We want to work with all of you, with all leaders of state, both Christians as well as Muslims to ensure that the peace and stability that we have worked hard to establish continues to remain.”
In his remarks, the President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Bayelsa State chapter, Alhaji Yakubu Otobo, had commended Governor Dickson for his visionary leadership and dogged commitment to the development of the state, especially in the areas of education, security, infrastructure and other key sectors of the economy.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson on Thursday appealed to Nigerians to rally round the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to rescue the country from its litany of woes.
Dickson made the appeal, when he hosted the PDP presidential aspirant and former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and his campaign team in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Francis Ottah Agbo, the governor described the current security and economic challenges in the country as unparalleled, stressing that, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has failed to deliver on its mandate to the citizenry.
The governor, who noted that the APC has shown gross incompetence in the last three years, pointed out that, it is only the PDP that has the capacity to tackle the challenges facing the country to foster a united, prosperous and stable Nigeria, where even the minorities would have a sense of belonging.
He expressed gratitude to Alhaji Sule Lamido and other progressive minded stakeholders of the party for giving the Niger Delta, which is a minority region, the opportunity to produce a president in the person of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Describing Alhaji Sule as a consistent, dependable and courageous mobilizer, Governor Dickson emphasized the need for all contestants to pursue their aspirations with the collective interest of the PDP at heart to enable the party organize a free, fair and credible primary that would produce a widely accepted flag bearer.
In his remarks, the PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Sule Lamido, commended Governor Dickson for his resilience and the critical role he has been playing to keep the party together.
