Gov. Diri Warns Against Secret Signing of GMoUs
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by Our Correspondent
YENAGOA: Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has warned against the secret signing of GMoUs between communties and companies in the State.
condemned the attack on the chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, King Dappa-piriye , Diette Spiff by youths of Twon Brass.
Governor Diri gave the warning on Monday, May 24th, during a meeting with leaders of Twon-Brass in Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State in quest to calm the rising tension in the area.
Residents of Twon-Brass had embarked in a peaceful protest for days, that was said to have later snowballed into violence.
Members of the community were said to be protesting the inability of Agip to restore power supply for about two months.
The power outage was said to have affected economic activities adversely.
He stated that to forestall conflicts in communties arising from Memoranda of Understandings ( MoUs), government had made it compulsory that it would be part of the signing GMoUs with companies.
“Part of what we have done the moment we assumed office was to enforce a new system of signing GMOUs between community and all other companies including oil companies operating in our State. To this end, i have instructed that all GMoUs that are to be signed will be witnessed by the Bayelsa State Government through the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General. No GMoU should be kept secret because we have seen that as a point of conflict between communities and companies operating in Bayelsa State.
Reacting to the protest, he warned the youths to shun acts of violence, urged Bayelsans to explore other means of resolving grievances instead of the notoriety to embark on protest at the least disagreement.
“Let this be a warning to those who perpetrated that act. Please, let this be a final warning. We are happy with the relative peace we have in Bayelsa compared to other States and would like to keep that peace”
“There are other avenues to be explored. We have the local government chairman there, if all avenues fail, protest should come as the last resort. Let us not wake up every minute to protest. I applaud you for your peaceful disposition with the Nigerian agip oil company over the years.”
The governor described Twon-Brass as important and strategic to the State and Nigeria in general, being host to two International Oil Companies (IOCs) – Agip and Shell. He added that all avenues would be explored to resolve contentious issues and prevent a break down of law and order.
He revealed that government is aware of the divide and rule tactics employed by companies in their operations in host communties, and condemned the act, frowning at some community leaders who shortchange their people for their selfish interest.
The Governor thanked the people for their peaceful disposition over the years, promising that government would resolve contending issues with the company.
He further revealed that government is working on a Community Administration Bill that would ensure harmonious co-existence in communties.
Responding, King Diette Spiff, stated that power supply which led to the protest has been restored on Thursday, May 20th, adding that the blockade had also been dismantled by the protesters .
He opined that the protest must have been hijacked by youths who were not from his domain as he earlier had a reasonable deliberations with the protesters who invited him to maintain peace in the kingdom.
