Posted by By FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa on
The Federal Government has deployed a contingent of soldiers and mobile policemen to parts of Bayelsa State.
The Federal Government has deployed a contingent of soldiers and mobile policemen to parts of Bayelsa State. This is coming at a time embattled governor of the State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, presided over an executive council meeting of the state.
Daily Sun investigation revealed that soldiers have taken over riverine areas of Bayelsa State, while mobile policemen drawn from Imo and Anambra states, are manning the streets to maintain law and order.
Confirming the presence of soldiers in the state, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Strategy, Mr Oronto Douglas, said the military men were drawn from Operation Restore Hope team, which, he said arrived with 10 military gun-boats.
"We have been informed that a detachment of 10 boats of military men from Operation Restore Hope had been moved into Amabolu. We don't know why they have been moved there and we are still expecting to be briefed," he said.
On the activities of the state government, Douglas said Bayelsa had purchased substantial shares in Linkage Assurance Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc and also bought Chelsea Hotel, Abuja. He said that the state's executive council deliberated on the 2006 budget, adding that the government wants to make life better for the people.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council World-wide (IYC), the umbrella body of Ijaw youths in the Niger Delta, has raised alarm over the deployment of troops to Bayelsa State, warning that it would resist any move to harass any Ijaw man in Bayelsa State.
The National President of the council, Mr. Oyeinfe Jonjon, in a world press conference, said it has come to the knowledge of the council that the "intention of the British and Nigerian governments is to use Interpol and the Army to arrest Alamieyeseigha."
Jonjon, making references to Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, who had earlier jumped bail from London and former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, currently on political asylum in the country despite international pressures that he should be repatriated home, wondered why Alamieyeseigha's case should be different.
According to him, there is panic in the state as residents are "agitated and apprehensive of the said Army troops marching to Yenagoa," adding since the arrival of Chief Alamieyeseigha from London Monday, November 22, 2005, the state has been peaceful and tension-free. But the presence of the soldiers reminded the people of the travails of the people of Odi in 1999 and Odioma in 2005. Residents of Yenagoa and people of the state have good reasons to be agitated and apprehensive of the coming Army troops particularly as their motives and agenda are not clear," he said.
In a related development, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Alamiseyesiegha, Chief T.K.O Okorotie has appealed to President Olusegun Obasanjo to temper justice with mercy as regards the governor's return.
Speaking on Africa Independent Television (AIT) Kakaaki Wednesday, the aide said "although they are not happy with what happened, what we are saying is that he is our son and if he has erred, he should be forgiven. Nobody is a saint''.
He said that protesters who insisted that the governor should return to London to face trial were hired to carry out such actions.