Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reiterated his commitment to peace and security, saying they cannot be compromised for political rallies.
Diri also said his administration would always abide by the constitution of the country in respecting the fundamental rights of individuals.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said the governor made the comments on Wednesday at the 158th State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor explained that his administration would not stop any group from holding rallies in the state. But he emphasised that such rallies would be unwise and counter-productive at a time lasting peace was being sought and attempts were being made to address the political crisis in neighbouring Rivers State.
He said Rivers and Bayelsa were sister states and whatever happened in Rivers had a ripple effect in Bayelsa.
Diri enjoined well-meaning Bayelsans to work with the government in maintaining law and order in the state.
He stated, “Let me make this clear. We are not a government that goes against the rule of law. We cherish and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And in so doing, we abide by every bit of the constitution.
“A state of emergency has been imposed in Rivers State. President Bola Tinubu has the power to do so. All we can do from our end is to see how we can bring lasting peace to Rivers State.
“Bayelsa and Rivers are sister states and whatever happens there has some degree of effect on our state and vice versa. And then some persons say they want to hold a mega rally and all that here.
“We are not yet in a political season. I am not stopping anybody from exercising his fundamental human rights but as the chief security officer of the state, and with information at my disposal, we must keep the peace of the state. Nobody should come and rock the peace and security of this state.”
The governor stated that the proper protocol for such rallies should be followed by first informing the state government just as the wife of the president and First Lady did before her visit to the state on Thursday on the invitation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He urged people of the state to turn out en masse to accord the first lady a rousing reception.
Similarly, President of Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, warned that the planned rally in Bayelsa State could spark violence, saying there is no guarantee for safety of lives.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on the The Morning Show of ARISE News Channels, Okaba said while the right to assemble was constitutionally guaranteed, security concerns must be prioritised.
“Anybody has the right to convene a meeting. It is a constitutional right. But if there are security issues tied to it, we should pay attention to those issues,” Okaba stated.
The controversy stemmed from a planned rally organised by supporters of former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, which was met with opposition from factions loyal to the Bayelsa State governor.
The state government, citing security concerns, opposed the gathering, warning that it could lead to instability. Okaba supported this stance on the grounds that Diri was the chief security officer of the state.
The INC president said Wike’s political manoeuvres had long been perceived as a deliberate effort to disrupt governance in the Niger Delta.
He stated, “Wike has insulted the sensitivity of the Ijaw people to the extent that we are even trying to examine the mental state and DNA of those who are still supporting him. Bayelsa is sacred to the Ijaw people. You cannot come here to desecrate our land.”
The professor further elaborated on Wike’s past statements, particularly his alleged threats to bring “fire” to any state that opposed him.
He questioned why such an individual should be allowed to hold a political event in Bayelsa.
“Would any responsible leader allow such a person to come in and incite trouble?” he asked.
Okaba said, “This is not a threat. It is an assessment of possibilities. As a professor of sociology and conflict resolution, my duty is to provide early warning signals. There are people beyond our control who may react in ways that escalate the situation.”
