*Directs release of illegal detainees
* Eulogises departed INC President, Prof Kimse Okoko
By Emma Ogbuehi
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed support for the ongoing protest against police brutality exemplified by the hashtags #EndSARS and #EndSWAT across Nigeria.
He also vowed that his administration would not condone acts that infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens in the state.
Governor Diri spoke on Saturday evening when the protesters in their hundreds blocked the Government House entrance in Yenagoa to press home their demands.
His spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, noted that the governor, who was returning from inspecting communities ravaged by flood, came out of his vehicle to join the youths that were waving placards and chanting slogans against police brutality.
While addressing them, he noted that as a firm advocate against all forms of police brutality, he moved motions as a federal legislator against extra-judicial killings and illegal detention in the state.
“In 2016, I moved a motion as member of the House of Representatives against extra-judicial killings in Bayelsa. Also, in 2018, I moved another motion in the House for the release of one Collins Opumie from Southern Ijaw that was arrested by the DSS and detained in an underground cell for many years until it came to my knowledge. He was eventually released after that motion.
“So, I’m one hundred per cent in support of you. In a democracy, power belongs to the people. Power belongs to you the youths. You have every right to protest and nobody can stop you from protesting,” he told the cheering crowd.
While commending the protesters for their peaceful conduct, Senator Diri promised to address the demands within his powers and channel others to the appropriate quarters at the federal level.
He thereafter marched with the protesters to the state police headquarters where they were received by the Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli.
Speaking at the Police Headquarters, Diri directed the state police boss to immediately release a youth that was allegedly arrested during the protest, saying citizens had an inalienable right to peaceful protest.
On his part, the Commissioner of Police thanked the youths for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner and urged them to maintain the tempo. He reassured that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) remained disbanded as announced by the Inspector General of Police and promised that any officer caught infringing on the fundamental human rights of Nigerian youths would be dealt with according to the law.
Speaking earlier on behalf of the protesters, Comrade Mathew Ayibakuro called on the governor to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into cases of police brutality in the state with representatives of the youths and civil society organisations.
Ayibakuro also called for the establishment of a Bayelsa State security and human rights committee, a victim compensation fund, the reform and adequate funding of the police among other demands.
In another development, Gov Diri, has paid glowing tributes to the departed former Ijaw National Congress (INC) President, Professor Kimse Okoko, describing him as a rights activist, who despite his class in society, never amassed wealth.
Senator Diri also said the late Ijaw leader’s exemplary lifestyle has taught Bayelsans that material wealth always ended in vanity.
The governor stated this on Saturday at Prof. Okoko’s funeral at his country home in Obunagha community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
His spokesman, Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as eulogising the sterling qualities of the deceased, saying the late scholar paid his dues as an administrator and activist that led the Ijaw struggle successfully.
His words: “Professor Okoko was a socialist; he belonged to the left. He had nothing to do with material wealth and that is why back home, you can hardly find vestiges of capitalism around him.
“On behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, I stand here to honour our great son, who has proven to us that material wealth is all about vanity of all vanities.
“Lying in state before us is a man that has led an exemplary life that we all need to copy and follow. As President of the Ijaw National Congress, he became an advocate and a leader that led the Ijaw nation towards addressing all and what the Ijaws had suffered through the years.”
The governor noted that the state mourns the passage of the late professor of Political Science but was celebrating his life and times, and expressed the belief that his memories would inspire other Kimse Okokos out of the state.
“We should copy from the life and times of our late icon and leader. Again, may I on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State pay our last tribute and condolences to the late Okoko family, the Obunagha community, the Gbarain Clan, the Yenagoa Local Government Area and the people of the state.”
In his funeral sermon, Pastor Samson Michael said there was a time to be born and a time to die but stressed that in between there was an opportunity to live.
Taking his sermon from Ecclesiastes 3:1- 4, the cleric admonished all to have a sober reflection on how they live, pointing out that it is appointed unto man once, to die and after death, is judgement.
“To plan your life here on earth without making preparations for eternity makes you wise for a season but a fool for eternity,” he said.