‘This is not Rivers state’ — Diri warns against planned protest by pro-Wike group in Bayelsa

Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa, says a planned protest by a group loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), can lead to unrest in the state.

Diri, in a statement issued on Thursday by Daniel Alabrah, his media aide, warned that his administration would not condone any act that would disrupt the peace of the state.

The governor spoke during a meeting with members of the Bayelsa Elders Council.

He urged security agencies, youths, elders and traditional rulers in Bayelsa to be on the alert.

Diri noted that  a suspended Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, had been recruited to engineer factions within the state’s party.

The governor cautioned that hosting such an event during Rivers state’s political crisis, which has increased ethnic tension, may turn into state-wide violence.

He said the warning is necessary because the FCT minister had threatened to trigger a crisis in the nation’s PDP-ruled states.

“Any attempt to import the Rivers State political crisis into Bayelsa will be resisted,” Diri warned.

“I urge security commanders in the state to be on the alert. Parents and traditional rulers should discourage their wards and children from being used by unscrupulous elements to cause trouble in the state.”

Diri, who insisted that the peaceful disposition of the Ijaws should not be misconstrued for cowardice, said the state would not allow a faceless group to foment trouble in Bayelsa, which is the homeland of all Ijaw people.

“As you are aware, we have threats from our sister state. The political crisis there is threatening us and we will not allow what is happening there to come into Bayelsa state,” he added.

“We had in our party a renegade, who has decided to form a parallel PDP in Bayelsa State, working with an ex-governor.

“The party in our state suspended him for gross misconduct and for now he is not a member of our party in Bayelsa State.

“He was a part of the kangaroo PDP South South zonal congress that was rejected by the National Working Committee of our party and he is threatening the peace of this state.

“This is not Rivers state. Bayelsa is the cradle of every Ijaw man. I have always said that being peaceful is not cowardice. We are very courageous and we can stand up for the truth at all times.

“Every public facility owned by the Bayelsa State government cannot be used except with the express approval of the state government.”