13th August, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
of Bayelsa State
Following the mass defection of prominent members Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa state to the All Progressive Congress, APC, Governor Seriake Dickson has assured the APC in the state of adequate security before, during and after its planned rally, this weekend in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He has also directed the relevant organs of the government to grant the APC and other political parties, the use of the state owned Samson Siasia sports complex and other facilities of the government for political rallies on request.
A Government House statement to this effect, explains that, the gesture is in keeping with the Governor’s commitment to ensuring a level playing ground as well as the peaceful conduct of political activities in the period leading up to the December 5 governorship election in the state.
Dickson also pledged adequate security for all political rallies and campaigns across the state, with a view to ensuring that, such activities are conducted under peaceful and lawful atmosphere, noting that, as the Chief Security Officer of the State, he has a duty to protect the lives and property of the citizenry and ensure that, people go about their legitimate duties, without any form of molestation.
According to the statement, the governor’s decision to provide adequate security for all political activities, is also to check hoodlums, who might want to take advantage of such events to breach the existing peace and security in the state.
It further explained that, the action of the governor is also to forestall activities of some disgruntled politicians, who might capitalize on the situation to create a state of insecurity, just to put the state government in bad light, before Nigerians, warning that, acts of indiscipline and unlawful conducts will be dealt with in line with the laws of the land.
Political parties, have therefore, been charged to prevail on their members to be of good behavior before, during and after rallies and campaigns to ensure that peace continues to reign in the state.