Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the opposition to unleash violence in Ogbia Local Government Area during the governorship election on November 11, urging security agencies to be on alert.
Diri also accused the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, of being anti-development and anti-progress.
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The second-term-seeking governor, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, spoke at the Ogbia Constituency 2 rally held at Otuokpoti after campaign stops at riverine Anyama-Ogbia and Emadike communities.
This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Mr Daniel Alabrah, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and member, Publicity Directorate, Bayelsa PDP Governorship Campaign Council.
While revealing that the opposition was planning to bring in thugs to cause mayhem in Anyama-Ogbia, Diri said, “This battle is between those who are for and against development. It is between light and darkness. We are talking about your development as individuals and communities.
“Let the world know what they are planning is that in Anyama where we are strong, they are going to bring youths who are not from here, sew them military uniforms and cause mayhem in connivance with one or two people from here. Let the world and the military take note.”
Reeling out projects embarked upon by his administration in the local government, the governor promised to do more when re-elected into office.
He further said, “They were in government for five years and what did they do in Ogbia land? Today, we are building a road from Akaba in Yenagoa to Okodi and Emadike. The Otuoke-Onuebum road was destroyed and impassable. But now that road is almost completed.
“Elebele community was cut off and one of the first projects we started was to build that bridge. We did the same with the Imiringi community bridge too. The old bypass to Elebele had a metallic bridge. But we have built a befitting road there. For us, it is how we can develop the state.
“Since we came, we have been teaching the youths how to fish. Today, we have the Diri skills acquisition programme through which thousands of our youths are acquiring skills they can use without begging. Today, we give grant of N200,000 monthly to 420 individuals across the 105 wards in the state to support small and medium scale enterprises.”
At Anyama-Ogbia, the governor stated that the Akaba-Okodi-Emadike road, which had been at the planning stage for several years, is under construction and would soon be completed to enhance economic activities in the area.
He promised to work with relevant agencies to embark on shoreline protection to check the erosion that had ravaged the community, when he returns for a second term.
He equally said that one of the responsibilities of government is to ensure the protection of lives and property, and called on traditional rulers to maintain peace in their domain.
Diri, who received scores of defectors from the APC, thanked the people for their support, noting that the gesture would motivate him to do more.
At Emadike, the governor promised to work with relevant individuals to fasten the resettlement of people displaced several years ago due to inter-communal crisis. He also inaugurated a playground in the community.
Speaking at Otuokpoti, the senator representing Bayelsa East, Benson Agadaga, said the Ogbia people owe the PDP a favour as the party had produced a Nigerian president from the area.
Also speaking, the Director General of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council and member representing Ogbia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mitema Obordor, stated that Diri deserved to be re-elected due to his numerous achievements.
Other speakers were a former member of the House of Representatives from the area, Sodaguwo Festus-Omoni, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Federal Otokito, a former House of Assembly member, Robert Enogha and Jude Ogbuku.
