Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has called for calm over moves by the Federal Government to create new local government councils across the country.
Bayelsa State was created in 1996 with just eight local government councils — falling short of the constitutionally required ten — and there have been calls over the years to address the deficit.
Recently, residents of the Kolo community in the Ogbia Local Government Area protested over the alleged relocation of a proposed local government headquarters from their community to the neighbouring Emeyal community in the same council area.
Following the dispute, Governor Diri met with representatives of both Emeyal and Kolo communities at Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, and explained that the state government had not received early notice from the Federal Government regarding the creation of new local government areas.
According to a statement released on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, the governor said the short notice left the state government with limited time to act.
Diri noted that upon receiving the information, he immediately alerted the state House of Assembly to quickly propose new local government councils.
He stressed that no councils had yet been created and that no one could predict how the ongoing process would end, pointing out that historically, no civilian administration had succeeded in creating local government councils in Nigeria.
The governor therefore urged calm, stating that Kolo remained the headquarters of a rural development authority. He expressed disappointment over the protest and advised those aggrieved to express their grievances legally and through official channels.
Diri also warned Bayelsans to be cautious of individuals who politicise every issue and sow division for personal gain, saying such people do not have the state’s best interests at heart.
He further stressed the need to prioritise the development of the state over historical disputes, insisting that the push to create new councils was in Bayelsa’s interest.
‘I heard about the protest. For your information, no local government has been created. These issues are widespread, not just in your area.
‘Let us be more development-oriented than our forebears. Yes, we value our history, but if adjustments are needed, we should make them. Protest should not be the first step in resolving issues.
‘It was an emergency, and I asked the Speaker and members of the Assembly to handle it swiftly. It was hastily packaged, and I appeal to you — protests should be a last resort.
‘We do not want Constituency 3 in Ogbia to be in conflict. If there are issues, pursue them through legal and proper channels. Do not beat the drum of war.
‘God brought us together for a reason. Above all, we are Bayelsans and Ijaw people. For those in Constituency 3, local governments have not yet been created, and we all know that it is difficult for a civilian government to create councils. My advice to the Kolo group is that the process is already underway. Follow up through legal means.
‘Let the youths of Bayelsa understand that not everything requires a protest. Many matters can be resolved amicably. Protests damage the state’s image.
‘No matter the misunderstanding, we are still one people. Let us try to tolerate one another and not be manipulated by those with political ambitions’.
Earlier, Hon. Gabriel Ogbara, Chief Whip of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and representative of Ogbia Constituency 3, said lawmakers from the area consulted widely within the limited time available before reaching a decision on the proposed council headquarters and appealed for understanding from those aggrieved.
Also speaking, King W.D. Amakiri, the Obenobhan of Emeyal, stated that historically, Emeyal was the rightful community to host the headquarters.
In his remarks, High Chief Solomon Agimaye expressed concern that the interests of the people of Kolo were not adequately protected in the proposal for the new council, and urged the state government to address what he described as a ‘gang-up against Kolo’.
