Politics
THE Association of Concerned Bayelsa Professionals, ACBP, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the security agencies to investigate the allegation by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State that some politicians in the All Progressive Congress, APC, were arming militants to destabilise the state.
The governor had specifically accused Timipre Silva, the leader of the APC in Bayelsa State, and the Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for Agriculture, as among those sponsoring violence in the state.
Jasper Oborotobou, the national secretary of the ACBP, in a statement on Monday, urged the president to prevail on the various security agencies to carry out holistic investigations into the grave allegations raised by the governor.
He said that the issues raised by the governor had to do with the lives of the Bayelsa youth and indeed the wellbeing of the state and shouldn’t be treated with levity.
According to him, the ACBP could not afford to be neutral in the emergent sensitive security matter raised by the governor because of its implication on the state
Oborotobou who also called on security agencies to commence immediate investigation into the allegation and if necessary prosecute the culprits, said that only such an action would sustain the confidence reposed in the security agencies by the citizens.
He said: “We the members of the association of Concerned Bayelsa Professionals have found it necessary to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to order a holistic investigation to the alarm raised by Gov Henry Seriake Dickson, that politicians in the state are sponsoring violence for the purpose of electoral contest.
“The decision of our respected organization taken at an emergency meeting of the organization in Yenagoa on Monday is based on the unanimous belief that the issues by the governor have to do with the entire well being of our dear state and indeed the lives of a younger generation of Bayelsans. Therefore neutrality cannot began option.
“As stakeholders in the Bayelsa project, we call on the security agencies to investigate the issues raised by the governor and ensure the prosecution of those found to have contributed to violence and crime in the society irrespective of status.
“Only that would suffice in sustaining the confidence reposed in the security forces by the people.”
The group challenged Lokpobiri to come clean on his relationship with the militant leader at the Ekeremor axis of Bayelsa State who was recently killed by the military.
The ACBP Scribe Who also reacted to a recent statement issued by Lokpobiri on the governor’s allegation, said that the Senator claims were spurious and illogical.
He insisted that Lokpobiri would do well to convince the Bayelsa citizenry òf his innocence rather hiding under abusive adjectives against the Governor.
“It is on this note that we find a recent statement issued by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, strange and devoid of factual strength. Pouring invectives on the Governor cannot be the best way to convince a troubled citizenry. Lokpobiri can do Better!
“Perhaps, the Senator would have done better if he had provided more explanation on his alleged meeting with the late militant leader! In responding to the governor’s accusation that he held a meeting with the deceased militant leader, Lokpobiri said the militant even threatened him and fired some shot into the river! Yet he claimed that he had not met him before!
“As a law abiding citizen, and a Minister of the Federal Republic, one would have expected Lopkobiri to have taken some steps to prove his claim of innocence: Did he report the matter to the police? Why did the militant leader he claimed not to have met threaten him by firing shots into the River? Was it the case of a relationship gone bad? This argument and indeed attempt to exonerate himself of the allegations made against him by the governor amount to standing logic on the head,” he added.
The group called on politicians to desist from the dangerous habit of arming thugs and criminals to subvert the costing, peace, security and stability of the state.
– Jan. 16, 2015 @ 15:00 GMT
Tags: Bayelsa professionals urge Buhari to order probe of Sylva Lokpobiri Bayelsa State GOVERNOR Henry Seriake Dickson President Muhammadu Buhari Timipre Silva
