Desist from Arming People’s Children for Election; Gov. Diri Advises Politicians
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Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, has called on politicians to stop arming youths for election purposes.
Governor Diri made the call during the presentation of a report by the Policy Advocacy Committee of Niger Delta Dialogue led by a former Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Tonye Isenah, in Government House, Yenagoa.
He identified political patronage of criminals to perpetrate electoral malpractices as one of the greatest security challenges in Nigeria.
In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor called on the political class to stop giving youths drugs and guns for the purpose of achieving their political ambitions.
He said, “As a government, we abhor political patronage of criminals. I advise politicians to stop using other people’s children by equipping them with AK-47 rifles and introducing them to hard drugs to actualise their political interests rather than providing them with sound education.”
He advocated a law that would curb the menace, which he said was traceable to most criminal activities in the State.
He also recommended that the law on kidnapping be amended by the legislature to stipulate a minimum of 10 years jail term for kidnappers in the state.
Senator Diri equally thanked members of the committee for keying into the State government’s policy of zero tolerance to crime.
“We need to tinker with that piece of legislation bordering on kidnapping in the State and amend it. The jail term should be a minimum of 10 years to serve as a deterrent to others.”
The governor expressed his administration’s readiness to partner with the committee to ensure that cultism, kidnapping and sea piracy were curbed to the barest minimum.
He also added that security in the State had improved significantly because of the proactive strategies put in place by government coupled with the collaborative efforts of the security agencies in the State.
In his speech, chairman of the Policy Advocacy Committee of Niger Delta Dialogue, Hon. Tonye Isenah, stated that the body in conjunction with the European Union was carrying out a study on security issues across the States of the Niger Delta region with a view to proffering solutions.
Isenah explained that the committee would work closely with other relevant stakeholders such as traditional rulers, security agencies and leaders in the three senatorial districts of the State.
