Edo, Bayelsa Govs Meet over Ijaw Crisis, Regional Integration

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Saturday in Yenagoa, met to find a lasting solution to the standoff between Ijaw people and the Bini kingdom, as well as to seek greater regional integration of the South-South.

Obaseki, who visited Dickson at the Government House, noted that he was able to get assurances from Dickson on the best way to handle the crisis and foster greater cooperation in the region, stressing that very soon the Bayelsa governor would be visiting the area to assure the Ijaw of their safety and fairness in government’s dealings with them.

He also said he would work with other stakeholders to take measures to resuscitate the BRACED Commission, adding that revamping the commission will harness the economic opportunities in the South-South region.

“I’m here today to discuss with our chairman of the South South Governors Forum on regional cooperation and other issues affecting our region particularly economic, social and security matters.

“I have gotten assurances from him that we will continue to work closely as states within the region despite our political differences, and that in the next coming months we will undertake measures to further strengthen regional cooperation.

“You know we have the BRACED Commission and we haven’t done too much with it. Working with him closely now, we are going to ensure that we resuscitate the commission and look for common understanding.

“As regards the issue of the Edo Ijaws, we have invited His Excellency to visit and to further enunciate the decisions we have taken today and to make all of them (the Ijaws), feel included in Edo State and be part of the economic growth, which we envisage will occur in the next few years”, Obaseki said.

In his comments, Dickson noted that both governors also agreed to support and mobilise their states for the restructuring of Nigeria, adding that the report of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on restructuring was a pointer that all Nigerians regardless of political and ethno-religious backgrounds have adopted a common position on restructuring as a necessity.

Dickson said: “The report of the APC on restructuring shows that all Nigerians irrespective of political and religious differences are convinced about the need to restructure and they have seen that restructuring has become a necessity.”

The Bayelsa governor also called on the Ijaw communities in Edo State to be law-abiding and live peacefully with their neighbours, assuring them that their concerns and fears would be addressed by Governor Obaseki. He promised to, in no distant future, visit Obaseki and the Ijaw communities in Edo State.